AFL Players' Association

Take a look behind the scenes as we kicked off the year with our 2025 Leadership conference.

Last week our first year AFL and AFLW players attended the annual AFL Players' Association Induction Conference alongside counterparts from across the League 💻 The two day summit saw players hear from guest speakers, including 2023 Premiership player Nathan Murphy, and engaged in workshops designed to ensure they are set up for success in their transition to being professional athletes.

As the AFLW season wrapped up, November was a big month for the AFLPA. Our AFLW members were celebrated at the 2024 AFLW Players' MVP Awards, presented by KPMG, where Ebony Marinoff was voted by her peers as this season's Most Valuable Player. Ebony also took home Best Captain, while Chelsea Randall won her sixth Most Courageous Player Award, Shineah Goody was crowned Best First-Year Player, and Jade Ellenger was awarded the Education and Training Excellence Award, presented by Torrens University Australia. Congratulations to all our award winners! AFLW 22Under22 returned, with the fan-voted competition celebrating the best 22 players aged 22 and under for the entirety of the season. Fans selected the final team from an initial 44-person squad that was compiled by foundation AFLW player Kate McCarthy as Chair of Selectors, with support from the AFLPA and Champion Data. This year's team was captained by Georgie Prespakis, with Charlie Rowbottom named as her deputy. Port Adelaide dominated the side, with four players making the final 22. Psychologist Emma Richardson, who works with AFLPA partner Tackle Your Feelings, Australia , joined the Dyl & Friends podcast network for a special five-episode collaboration. In Teach Me Pls, Emma took Dylan Buckley through five different 'thinking traps', along with strategies in how to handle them. Some of our staff attended the AFL Draft to support our Accredited Agents on a big night for them and our new members. A number of our members participated in the Athlete Wellbeing and Development course's two-day in-person workshop at Torrens University Australia Flinders Street Campus. The course, designed for professionals currently in or aspiring to work in athlete support services, equips participants with the skills and knowledge to support athlete development and wellbeing.

A worthy recipient of the Education and Training Excellence Award, proudly presented by Torrens University Australia 👏   Congratulations, Jade Ellenger!

The players have spoken 🏆 At last night’s AFLW Players’ MVP Awards, presented by KPMG Australia, Adelaide Football Club star Ebony Marinoff was named the league’s Most Valuable Player, as voted by her peers. Marinoff also claimed the Best Captain award, presented by The Diamond Guys, reflecting her exceptional leadership on and off the field. Port Adelaide FC's Shineah Goody was recognised as the Best First Year Player, presented by Torrens University Australia, while Brisbane Lions’ Jade Ellenger was awarded the Education and Training Excellence Award, also proudly supported by Torrens University Australia. In an extraordinary achievement, Chelsea Randall of the Crows was honoured with her sixth Most Courageous Award, presented by Tackle Your Feelings, Australia . Congratulations to all of our 2024 award winners 👏

Introducing the Class of ‘24 🎓🌟   Here is your AFLW 22Under22 team for 2024, proudly presented by Torrens University Australia.   This year’s side is captained by Geelong Cats' Georgie Prespakis, with Gold Coast SUNS' Charlie Rowbottom as her deputy. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g49Pq6wT

It's been a busy period for the AFLPA, we completed our second run of AFLW club visits, with two key focus areas. Firstly, to discuss AFLW players key priority areas for advocacy and improvement, and secondly, to communicate AFLW off-season reforms, an important new structure that provides clarity for players and clubs during the summer months.    Our Legal team Megan Comerford, Jessica Cao and Steven Slimming attended the annual Australian + New Zealand Sports Law Association (ANZSLA) conference in Sydney to learn more about the legal issues facing the sports industry. Sessions covered the current anti-doping system, sports broadcasting and regulatory challenges in the digital age, and the rights of professional athletes to express themselves freely on political and religious issues, along with a keynote address from Kat Craig on protecting human rights in sport.   AFLW player Ruby Schleicher made an appearance at KPMG Australia Family Fun Day, helping to raise funds and awareness as part of Fight Cancer's Footy Colours Day.   Following their AFL Grand Final victory, the Brisbane Lions premiership team spent the day signing products as part of the 2024 Premiers licensed Memorabilia Program.

Introducing the 22Under22 AFLW Squad for 2024, proudly presented by Torrens University Australia 🌟 Now it’s your turn! Select your 22Under22 team: https://lnkd.in/gHER3Czk

"My transition to life after footy, I'm still in it, I'm still living it." - In the first episode of Beyond the Boundary, Zachary Smith opens up about the journey of starting his own business, Tall Boy Coffee, and the unknown that comes with exiting the game. 

Proud of the work our Torrens University Australia First Nations Education Ambassadors have been doing 🧡