Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) 2017 ANNUAL REPORT From the CEO The foundations are now in place for the PFA to drive The players know how quickly football moves. There is Better Football in Australia. no time to look back and our focus must be on using our collective strength and know-how to drive for a Since July 2016, with the support of the players, the Better Industry, a Better Competition and a Better PFA Executive has: Career. • Secured Collective Bargaining Agreements for To achieve Better Football, we need to be ambitious. all members – from Socceroos to Matildas to the Supporting A-League and to the W-League – until June 2019 We need to renew the governance of football in Australia, we need independent professional • Finalised the long form Whole of Game CBA competitions with a clear vision for growth, we need which entrenched a more than 10% increase to to build player pathways that are world leading, player payments and grew funding for Player we need to continue to drive the transformation of Development by almost 40% women’s football at a domestic and global level, we the Players. need to engage with Asia and drive reform of AFC • Secured a foundational CBA for players within competitions, we need to build a genuine partnership the W-League which increased guaranteed between players and other stakeholders, we need payments by over 400%, introduced fundamental to devise a plan for infrastructure, and we need to protections such as insurance and medical devise an economic model that underpins our vision standards as well as embedding a player voice in for Better Football. Building the future development of the W-League The players have always been at the forefront of these • Secured specific recognition from FIFA as a issues because we are the ones whose livelihoods are stakeholder who warrants representation on the inextricably linked to the success of the sport and we Football Federation Australian congress are the ones who live the sport every hour of every day. the Game. • Achieved record levels of players with financial membership This proactive role in driving for Better Football will continue in 2018. • Re-established the financial stability and prosperity of the PFA as a self-sustaining business Warm Regards, • Adopted a new strategic plan to take the PFA from 2017 to 2020 • Secured $5.0million in damages for Australian players around the world, and John Didulica | PFA Chief Executive • Embarked on a mission to evolve the talented player pathway, lead by the release of an historic Player Pathway Study. 2 3 From the President Contents On behalf of the PFA Executive, welcome to the 2017 In representing players, almost $5.0m was secured PFA Annual Report. by the PFA for players from 140 legal cases over the past year. In developing players, the PFA recognises The 2016/17 season has been historic for football in the wellbeing of our members as a key priority, with Australia both on and off the pitch. $120,000 in direct investment going to support and PLAYER REPRESENTATION UNDERSTANDING THE GAME assist PFA members to pursue education and off field The first W-League Collective Bargaining Agreement opportunities. 7. Executive Committee 23. Brand / Communications ensures that W-League players are now paid as professionals, which follows last year’s successful In living this philosophy, the PFA is proud to have establishment of Australian football’s first ever ‘Whole welcomed back a number of ex-players who are 8. Delegates of Game’ Collective Bargaining Agreement. Due to now working at the PFA in some capacity. Former the solidarity and commitment of the players, we now professional footballers Jon McKain, Dean Heffernan, 9. Recognising outstanding service to A POWERFUL ASSOCIATION have a platform to build on to make the W-League Lucas Pantelis and Joey Didulica have joined the PFA their fellow professionals one of the best female football leagues in the world. in Player Development roles, while former NSL striker Francis Awaritefe was appointed to serve as Australia’s 27. PFA Research and Insights The CBA provides a minimum salary of $10,000 representative on the board of FIFPro, the worldwide 10. Membership ensuring players no longer have to pay to play, while it representative body for professional footballers. We 28. Awards also provides critical insurance protection, minimum congratulate them on their appointments. They join 12. Legal and Advocacy medical standards, and access to the PFA’s Player five former players who are already on the PFA staff. 30. Events Development Program. Another fantastic result was having over 100 players 14. Collective Bargaining The deal is foundational and through the continued attend the inaugural mass PFA Player Induction. Held 31. Partnerships support of players, we can make this a first step on over two days, the induction saw players undertake a the journey to a fully professional and world class series of workshops aimed at ensuring members get 33. People competition. the very most out of their careers. PLAYER DEVELOPMENT The Matildas juggernaut, meanwhile, continues Significantly, 2016/17 saw a record number of financial to gain huge momentum following a memorable members for the PFA and we pleasingly continue to 17. Player Development and Wellbeing Tournament of Nations in the USA that saw the see inroads made in all areas and we look forward Programs and Support team defeat the USA, Japan and Brazil on their way to continuing to represent and stand up for all our to winning the tournament. The achievements and members’ interests and concerns. quality of the team’s performances over the past 12 months is testament to the increasingly professional The collective voice of the players is needed now, conditions for the players combined with the players’ more than ever, so thank you for your continued sacrifices for their sport. They are certainly pioneers, support and commitment. both for women’s sport and the increasingly improved conditions and standards for female players. Best Wishes, Meanwhile, the Socceroos continue to do Australia proud on the international stage, their character and resilience constantly tested during a lengthy and arduous World Cup qualifying campaign. The players have conducted themselves with the utmost Alex Wilkinson | PFA President professionalism and commitment to their country. 4 5 PFA Executive Committee ‘Run by players for players’ Player Alex Wilkinson Lydia Williams Mile Jedinak Nigel Boogaard Representation PFA President PFA Executive PFA Executive PFA Executive Gabe Marzano Nikolai Topor-Stanley Kim Carroll Glen Moss PFA Executive PFA Executive PFA Executive PFA Executive Brendan Schwab John Didulica Chairman Chief Executive 6 7 Ante Covic 2007 - 2017 PFA Delegates Tarek Elrich Andrew Redmayne Natasha Rigby Recognising outstanding Adelaide United Sydney FC Perth Glory Taylor Regan Andrew Durante Melissa Maizels Adelaide United Wellington Phoenix Perth Glory service to their fellow Jack Hingert Michael McGlinchey Amy Harrison Brisbane Roar Wellington Phoenix Sydney FC professionals Luke DeVere Robbie Cornthwaite Rosie Sutton Brisbane Roar Western Sydney Wanderers Western Sydney Wanderers Jade North Jonathan Aspropotamitis Ellie Brush Brisbane Roar Western Sydney Wanderers Western Sydney Wanderers Antony Golec Emma Checker Mile Jedinak Central Coast Mariners Adelaide United Socceroos 2017 saw long serving PFA Executive and Vice President Ante Covic step down. We thank Ante Liam Rose Alexandra Chidiac Tim Cahill for his commitment to the game, the players Central Coast Mariners Adelaide United Socceroos and the contribution he made. Manny Muscat Amy Chapman Mark Milligan Melbourne City Brisbane Roar Socceroos James Donachie Michelle Heyman Alex Wilkinson Melbourne Victory Canberra United Socceroos Leigh Broxham Grace Maher Mat Ryan Melbourne Victory Canberra United Socceroos PFA Jason Geria Rahli Dobson Lydia Williams Melbourne Victory Melbourne City Matildas Life Members Jason Hoffman Aivi Luik Emily van Egmond Newcastle Jets Melbourne City Matildas Lachlan Jackson Alexandra Gummer Sam Kerr Newcastle Jets Melbourne Victory Matildas Chris Harold Gulkan Koca Tameka Butt Perth Glory Melbourne Victory Matildas Liam Reddy Jenna Kingsley Elise Kellond-Knight Perth Glory Newcastle Jets Matildas Brandon O’Neill Cassidy Davis Josip Skoko Kate Gill Ante Covic Sydney FC Newcastle Jets PFA Life Member PFA Life Member PFA Life Member 8 9 Nationalities of our members Membership Australia New Zealand Spain Japan Germany PFA Members plied their trade in 27 different countries: USA Australia New Zealand Indonesia Malaysia China India Thailand Japan USA Iceland Uruguay Argentina Brazil Korea Iran Sweden Norway England Spain Germany Switzerland Netherlands Denmark Scotland UAE Russia Cyprus Greece Portugal South Africa Myanmar Denmark England Finland Ireland Senegal Tunisia Albania Croatia Macedonia Turkey Age Breakdown Of members Of members 12 % were under 20 17% were over 30 10 11 LegacyLegal & &Advocacy Advocacy Legal cases by membership group: Matildas: 16.4% Money secured by the PFA Total number of cases: A-League: 46.4% for members over the course Overseas Based Australian of the 2016/17 FY: Professionals: 31.5% 140 New cases National Premier League opened Players: 4.3% National Centre of Excellence: 0.7% $4.85M 131 Cases Other: 0.7% closed Types of cases: Legal cases previous years comparison: Agent Collective Bargaining Contract Enforcement Contract Negotiation 13.6% Agreement 27.8% 26.4% 6.4% 2013 /14 142 2014 /15 115 2015 /16 120 Code of Conduct Image Rights / Transfer Regulations Other 2016 /17 7.9% Commercial 6.4% 7.9% 140 3.6% 25 50 75 100 125 150 12 LegacyCollective & Advocacy Bargaining The PFA were“ instrumental in ensuring we achieved an outcome that we Whole of Game Collective Bargaining Agreement W-League Collective Bargaining Agreement are all happy with The long form drafting of the Whole of Game CBA For the first time, a foundation has been laid for that covers the Socceroos, Matildas and A-League W-League players to play football as professionals.