Why the AFL’s promise to give AFLW footy stars the same prizemoney as the men isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

AFLW players will still receive less than men despite the league’s commitment to double the prize money for the 2023 season.

The announcement was made by new AFL chief Andrew Dillon on Monday, less than two weeks before the first round of season eight.

The prize money will drop from $632,922 to $1.1 million to match the men’s competition, but the purse will be split among the top eight teams, as opposed to the top four split in the men’s league.

Despite the uneven split, AFLW chief Nicole Livingstone is confident the new season will be the best iteration given that it comes after the success of the Women’s World Cup.

Richmond skipper Katie Brennan poses with the premiership trophy – but 14 of the competition’s captains tip Melbourne to win back-to-back flags this year

“With the passionate enthusiasm currently in Australia around women’s sport, we truly believe there is no better time than to burst onto the scene with the AFLW,” she said on Monday.

“We’ve been here for seven years and we really think this year will be our best season yet.”

“The message is really clear, if you love women’s sports, support the AFLW.

“Go to a game or watch a game (on TV) and support our players and our clubs.”

All 18 club skippers in the league gathered at Marvel Stadium for the start of the new season, and 14 of them have told an AFL poll they expect the Demons to start again.

In the 2022 pre-season questionnaire, eight captains correctly predicted that Melbourne would knock out season seven.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan is pictured with wife Laura and daughter Sidney on the red carpet at the AFLW season launch on Tuesday night

The AFL has raised the price of AFLW to $1.1m, the same as the men’s – but it will be split to give women’s teams less than their male counterparts (pictured, Power star Angela Foley with Crows player Ebony Marinoff)

The 2023 campaign marks something of a new era for the Demons, who have retained 28 players but will be without inaugural skipper Daisy Pearce as they bid for back-to-back titles.

Two-time All-Australian Kate Hore got off to a promising start in her task of filling Pearce’s boots, leading the team to two dominating pre-season wins.

“It’s not something I thought I’d be doing in 10 or 15 years, but to be here now – I’m just super pumped, very honored and looking forward to leading the girls this season,” said Hore at AFLW Captain’s Day.

‘Obviously big shoes to fill with ‘Dais’ but I feel so well supported.

“It certainly won’t be just me or left to me. Everyone has such great strengths to contribute.

“We don’t really listen to outside noise too much and we’ll just keep going about our business.”

The eighth season of the AFLW begins on September 1 with a showdown between Melbourne and Collingwood at Ikon Park.