When Caitlin Reid isn't re-arranging a patient's vital organs, you will likely find her dominating the ruck on the training field. Such is the demanding reality for many professional female athletes in Australia, whose sporting income alone is not yet enough to sustain a full-time living.

"A lot of us in the AFLW don't earn enough to survive on footy alone," Reid explains. For the 29-year-old Sydney Swans star, a typical day begins at first light at the SCG, where she refines her ruck craft. By midday, she transitions from the sporting arena to the frontline of medicine, heading to St Vincent's Hospital to begin her shift as a surgical registrar. It is a grueling schedule that sees her working six to seven days a week.

A Sudden Pivot to Aussie Rules

Growing up, Australian Rules football was not an option for Reid, as competitive girls' leagues simply did not exist. It wasn't until she was halfway through her medical degree that she discovered the sport. Initially, her athletic focus was on basketball, where she starred for the Albury Wodonga Bandits in the NBL1. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the basketball season, Reid joined a local AFL Nines competition to stay fit. She quickly fell in love with the game, ultimately choosing the oval ball over the court.

Her commitment to both careers comes with significant personal sacrifice. Reid has not taken a holiday in two and a half years, having exhausted all her annual leave to accommodate her sporting commitments. "There's certainly an element of guilt I feel playing football because I'm not at the hospital, and we are short-staffed as is everywhere in New South Wales," she admits. "But medicine is a team sport, and the closeness you feel towards your footy teammates is the closeness I feel towards my hospital co-workers."

The Wildlife 'Double Life'

Across town, GWS Giants winger Emily Pease is performing a similarly impressive juggling act. When she isn't training with the Giants, the 24-year-old can be found wrangling wildlife at Sydney's iconic Taronga Zoo.

"It's my double life," Pease says. "I'll start with meetings, a gym session, and a field session with the Giants, then flip it to the zoo, greeting guests and interacting with the animals. It's actually really cool having footy life and also having something outside of it which I'm really passionate about."

Originally from Canberra, Pease worked her way through the Giants academy before cementing her spot on the senior list. Interestingly, many of her zoo colleagues are entirely unaware of her sporting prowess. "No-one really expects that I'm playing professional footy. It's like I'm revealing a superpower," she laughs, adding that her ultimate career goal is to become a full-time zookeeper specializing in primates.

The Financial Reality of the AFLW

The balancing acts performed by Reid and Pease are indicative of a broader trend across the league. According to the latest data from the AFL Players Association (AFLPA), 62 per cent of the 540 listed players across the league hold part-time or casual jobs in addition to their athletic careers. Only 3 per cent of players work full-time outside of football, a slight decrease from 6 per cent the previous year.

The financial pressure is slowly easing as the league matures. For the 2026 season, the average wage for an AFLW player stands at $79,414. Major structural changes are also on the horizon: starting in 2027, the league will transition from its current four-tier payment system to a more equitable salary cap model, mirroring the men's competition.

For players like Pease, the dual career path is as much a mental outlet as it is a financial necessity. "Some people ask why I do both jobs. I think for me, it's a bit of an outlet," she says. "I'm able to take my mind off footy when I'm at the zoo and vice versa."

As the new AFLW season kicks off this weekend with a blockbuster clash between St Kilda and Carlton at Docklands Stadium, fans will watch these athletes showcase their world-class skills on the field—knowing that for many, their contributions to the community extend far beyond the boundary line.