Joint Media Release from the AFL and AFLPA:
The AFL and the AFLPA are pleased to announce significant increased funding and enhancements to the AFL & AFLW Players’ Injury & Support Fund.
Under the AFL & AFLW Collective Bargaining Agreement 2023-2027, annual funding has more than doubled from the previous CBA, up from $4 million in 2017 to $8.125 million at the start of the new CBA and increasing to $9.5 million by the end of the CBA in 2027. The total contribution to the Fund over the life of the CBA will be $54 million.
A key change to the Fund is the introduction of a new Severe Injury Benefit aimed to provide financial support to former players who demonstrate a loss of earning capacity (by 40% or more) due to a bodily or cognitive impairment caused by their playing career, including those suffering the impacts of traumatic brain injuries.
Eligible former players (or their dependants) can receive up to $600,000 with applications for this benefit being assessed and administered by a third-party expert who will make recommendations to the Fund’s Board regarding whether a payment be made.
The Severe Injury Benefit is in addition to the existing Football Ending Injury Benefit that provides financial assistance of up to $500,000 to recently retired or delisted ex-players who exit the game due to an injury that prevents them from playing football at senior level in any other competition again. This is now available to both AFL and AFLW players, with the payment dependent on the former player’s age and base value of their standard playing contract.
Further, eligible AFLW players will now have access to all benefits in the Fund, previously only having access to some benefits.
In addition to those players previously eligible, benefits under the Fund will now also be available to:
- Former AFL Players who were on a Club list from 1 November 2016* (regardless of whether they played a senior AFL match); and
- Former AFLW Players who were on a Club list from 2023* (regardless of whether they played a senior AFLW match).
* These dates reflect when funding was allocated through their respective CBAs.
Other enhancements to fund benefits include:
- Joints and Dental Benefit – an increase in the cap for reimbursement of surgical treatment costs from $8,000 to $10,000 for those players with private health insurance with hospital cover and from $6,000 to $8,000 for those without private health insurance with hospital cover. In addition, a new benefit will provide for reimbursement of costs for Surgery Avoidant Treatments that have a strong evidence base and are supported by a broad medical management plan.
- Hospital Admission Excess Reimbursement – eligibility expanded to include access for AFLW players and increase in the cap to $750 to reimburse an insurance excess payment.
- Delisted Injured Player Benefit – now also available to former AFLW players who are unable to work immediately following their delisting due to an injury providing access to up to 4 weeks’ pay at the average Australian wage.
- Geoff Pryor Grant – in addition to grants available to former players who experience hardship due to injury, illness or wellbeing issues, this benefit now includes a reimbursement for players who have an inability to work and who require a medical report to support personal insurance claims in respect of football injuries.
- Mental Health Navigator Service – the Fund will continue to provide former players and their eligible family members with access to mental health support and treatment.
The AFL and AFLPA have worked collaboratively on the revised Fund, with a commitment to providing increased services and an improved level of support to former players in retirement.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon acknowledged the contribution past AFL and AFLW players have given to our game and said the revised fund allows the AFL industry to better support past players in need, particularly those who are suffering long-term impact of concussion.
“I am really pleased that we have been able to work with the AFLPA and our current playing group to enhance the support available to former players,” said Mr Dillon.
“Through the revised fund, eligible former AFLW players will now have equal access to all benefits and the introduction of the Severe Injury benefit will now provide substantial assistance to all former players or their families most severely impacted by injuries sustained in their playing careers.
“The end result is we have been able to deliver more support and more funding for more players, to support them in the best way we can.”
AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh said the new fund is significant recognition from current players to those who came before.
“The CBA we negotiated in 2023 has allowed us to significantly expand the support we can provide our past players.
“It is a credit to all current AFL and AFLW players that they have chosen to use funds from their revenue share model to support the past players in such a meaningful way.
“Now that the expanded fund has been launched, we will get on with the work of helping as many past players as we possibly can.”
The AFL and AFLPA acknowledge the efforts of their joint working party in negotiating and formulating these important changes to their Fund, led by Ben Smith of the AFLPA with current AFLPA team members Tim Harrington and Steven Slimming and former team member Megan Comerford. The AFL team was led by Stephen Meade with AFL team members Jonathan Edge and Lauren Handreck. The very important contribution of Gordon Legal, led by partners Peter Gordon and Andrew Grech, is also acknowledged.