AFL Players Care

AFL Players Care is the players’ official charity initiative and was established in 2014 when the male playing group voted to increase their match fee charity contributions from $25 to $50 per player, per game.

While $25 per game per player is still donated to the AFL Players’ official charity partner, Ladder, to help tackle youth homelessness, an additional $25 per game per player is now contributed to the AFL Players Care fund.

$180,000 of this fund is then equally distributed among all 18 male AFL clubs each season giving each team the opportunity to support one or two charities they are passionate about.

In 2017, the inaugural AFLW playing group elected to become a part of the AFL Players Care program, donating $50 of their football salaries to the cause.

Amounting to a total of $6,050, this donation is then given to a national charity the players choose as a collective.

The AFL Players Care program is also comprised of all social leadership activity conducted by players through campaigns for:

  • Marriage equality
  • Stopping racism
  • Mental health

LADDER – tackling youth homelessness

Ladder is the official charity of AFL Players and for the past 10 years, has supported hundreds of young people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness to get their lives back on track and create better futures for themselves. Futures full of possibility and optimism.

Ladder was established by AFL players and they continue to be at the heart of the organisation, supporting as staff, mentors, volunteers and advocates. AFL players contribute $25 to Ladder from every senior match they play. In total, more than $1.4 million has been contributed to players by Ladder since 2008.

Ladder delivers programs and provides opportunities to young people, 16 – 25 years, to help them build a future free of homelessness and full of possibilities. The Ladder program covers four key areas: health and wellbeing; personal development; mentoring; and work and study. It is designed to be delivered holistically, providing wraparound support to young people, as they work towards independent living.

To find out more about Ladder’s work and how you can support, please visit ladder.org.au.