The AFL Players Association (AFL PA, also simply known as AFL Players) is the representative body for all current and past professional Australian Football League (AFL) and AFL Women's (AFLW) players.
The AFL PA promotes and protects its members through initiatives including workplace relations, advocacy, career development and various community events.
Players' welfare is the primary function of AFL PA, and it aims to ensure the sustainability and integrity of the game by investing in the personal development of past, present, and future AFL footballers.
Established in its current form in 1974, the AFL Players Association provides a means for the AFL and Clubs to consult with players, lobby for players, and collaborate on rules and other issues affecting AFL players.
The current CEO of the AFL PA is Paul Marsh.
History
The formation of a representative body for Victorian Football League (VFL) players was first attempted in 1955. The VFL successfully opposed the registration of this body and the fledgling union was disbanded.
The AFLPA in its current form was established in 1974 at the behest of players Geoff Pryor (Essendon), Gareth Andrews (Geelong), Des Meagher (Hawthorn) and David McKay (Carlton). In 1979, the association appointed three key positions to lead the organisation:
Peter Allen, Administration, Marketing and Public Relations
Len Coysh, Industrial Relations
Bryan Roberts, Legal
At this point, the only source of funding was the annual $35 membership fee.
Fight for recognition
In late 1980, the VFL withdrew recognition of the AFLPA, effectively leaving the players without a negotiating body.
In 1981, a pre-season match between Essendon and Fitzroy was threatened with strike action by the association over the VFL's non-recognition of the body. The VFL halted the proposed strike by agreeing to recognise the association as the negotiating body for all players.
In 1984, Bryan Roberts resigned. Len Coysh left one year later. Peter Allen remained to run the association and stayed committed to the cause for two decades before resigning to head the AFL Coaches Association until his death in June 2007.
Getting organised
By 1990, the VFL had renamed itself the Australian Football League (AFL). The AFLPA followed suit, and signed its first Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in tumultuous circumstances, as it worked through the negotiation process with the AFL. The CBA was eventually finalised and called a Deed of Agreement.
In July 1992, the AFLPA negotiated a new CBA, which included a minimum salary of $7,500, minimum payments of $750 per senior game, and $250 for a reserves game. This signified the start of what was to be a key feature of AFLPA's function.
Industrial turmoil
The AFL withdrew recognition of the association in January 1993, prompting a historic meeting of players at the Radisson Hotel in Melbourne.
The AFL had informed players that the standard contract would no longer exist and that all contracts would be negotiated individually between the clubs and the players. The players again threatened strike action.
In March 1993, the AFL and AFLPA appeared before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC). At this hearing it was determined that a dispute between the parties did exist and that the AIRC had jurisdiction to determine an Award. The AFL and AFLPA were instructed by the AIRC to attempt negotiations away from the AIRC environment. These negotiations led to the CBA of 1994–1995.
Present development
In 1995, negotiations began on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The new CBA period was from 1 November 1995 to 31 October 1998 and increased minimum salaries for season 1996 to $15,000 and match payments to $1,000 per senior game. These payments further increased to $20,000 and $1,500 in 1997, and $20,680 and $1,550 in 1998 respectively. The players gained an increase in the share of revenue from marketing activities and an increase in injury and illness benefits.
By this time, 99 per cent of all AFL players were members of the association.
In 1998, the association underwent significant change. Long-serving president Justin Madden retired from football, and Fremantle's Peter Mann took over the presidency. Peter Allen resigned as CEO after a twenty-year involvement. Former North Melbourne and Hawthorn player, Andrew Demetriou, was appointed as the new CEO.
In 2016, the AFLPA welcomed more than 200 female players from the upcoming AFL Women's competition into its membership. The association is responsible for managing women's pay and condition deals.