The unexpected day jobs of Australia's female footballers
The dual lives that female athletes have to balance to play at an elite level and have a career is often forgotten.
In Australia, many professional female footballers have taken on unexpected day jobs to supplement their sporting incomes. Caitlin Reid, a 29-year-old AFLW player, juggles her role as a surgical registrar at St Vincent's Hospital with her training sessions for the football team. Reid, who initially aspired to be a basketball player, found her passion in AFL during the pandemic when her NBL1 season was cancelled.
Similarly, Emily Pease, a 24-year-old winger for GWS, balances her career as a zookeeper at Taronga Zoo with her football commitments. Pease explained that she loves the "double life" of being a footballer and a zookeeper, as it allows her to follow her passions and have a different outlet for her mind. The latest AFL Players Association (AFLPA) data reveals that 3% of AFLW players work full-time outside of playing, down from 6% the previous year.
Meanwhile, 62% of the 540 listed players engage in part-time or casual jobs. The average salary for an AFLW player in the 2026 season is $79,414. Despite the challenges of maintaining multiple careers, Pease and Reid are passionate about their respective fields and the opportunities they provide. However, Reid admits to feeling guilty for not taking her annual leave to rest, as she uses it to balance her roles in both medicine and football.
The 11th AFLW season kicks off this Sunday with a match between St Kilda and Carlton at Docklands Stadium.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
