Tom Elliott and Greens leader Richard Di Natale debate pay deal for female footy players

Tom Elliott says women’s football is an ‘untried form of entertainment’ and the AFL can’t justify paying female footy players hundreds of thousands of dollars yet.

The AFL had proposed to pay players in the national women’s league $5000.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale has written to AFL chief Gillon McLachlan campaigning for fairer pay and said it was important to invest in the league for it to succeed.

‘Let’s not forget yes footy is sport, but it’s also entertainment,’ Tom Elliott said.

‘You can’t justify giving female footballers hundreds of thousands of dollars yet, on the basis of one game.’

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Senator Di Natale said there’s a real appetite in the community for women’s footy.

‘You can say with absolute clarity $5000 for a season – and the lack of health insurance – it’s not enough,’ he said.

‘You do have to put a bit of money upfront.’

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The letter sent to AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan