Collingwood is delighted to announce the appointment of Jess Burger as the General Manager of Women’s Football. Bringing over eight years of experience in high-performance sports management, Burger joined Collingwood in 2016 as a Performance Analyst. Since then, she has rapidly advanced within the organization and is now poised to oversee the Club’s AFLW and VFLW programs.

In her new role, Burger will continue to spearhead the development and implementation of strategies for the Women’s Football programs while maintaining her responsibilities in analytics and match-day strategy within the Club’s AFL program, where her contributions are highly esteemed. This newly established position will be integrated into the Club’s Executive leadership team.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, Jess Burger, the GM of Women’s Football, stated, “I appreciate the trust placed in me with this new role and the continuous support and guidance I’ve received from colleagues within the Club and across the industry throughout my football journey.”

“I value the chance to maintain a multifaceted role spanning across football programs and the broader business operations, and I extend my thanks to Jeff, Ned, and the Club Board for this opportunity,” she added.

“At Collingwood, there is a steadfast commitment to fostering a high-performance culture across all football programs, and I am enthusiastic about further contributing to this endeavor and showcasing our achievements within the industry.”

Since 2021, Burger has held the position of Head of Women’s Football in addition to her role as AFLW List Manager, a position she was promoted to in 2018.

Recognized as a leading AFLW administrator within the league, Burger has participated in various development programs such as Women in Leadership (2019) and Accelerate Emerging Executive (2022), both facilitated by Andi Pert, as well as the AFL’s Women in Football Talent Program (2022/23), where she was among five emerging female leaders selected to enhance representation and strengthen pathways for women in AFL men’s football departments. Additionally, since 2021, Jess has been a member of the AFLW Competition Committee.

“We extend our congratulations to Jess on her appointment as the Club’s General Manager of Women’s Football,” remarked a Club spokesperson.

“Jess has proven herself as a capable administrator in the women’s football domain, contributing not only to the advancement of our Club but also to the broader development and promotion of the sport.

“Following a rigorous selection process, the Club’s Board, Executive Team, and senior AFL staff unanimously agreed that Jess was the ideal candidate for this role.

“Her wealth of experience in high-performance administration, combined with her exemplary leadership qualities and deep understanding of football, positions the Club’s women’s football program strongly for the future.

“As a Club, we remain dedicated to investing in our women’s football programs and are confident in Jess’s ability to realize the Club’s strategic vision and elevate our women’s football to elite standards both on and off the field.”

Laura Kane, AFL Executive General Manager Football, also commended Burger’s appointment, stating, “It is truly exciting to witness Jess assume an Executive role within the Club. Having worked across both men’s and women’s football programs, she exemplifies the potential for progression within our elite pathway system.

“Having closely collaborated with her, I can attest to her exceptional football acumen, and I am confident that she and Sam Wright will form an outstanding team at Collingwood.”

By admin

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Missed?

Here’s your rephrased and expanded blog post version, over 456 words: — Boston Celtics Legend Weighs in on Caitlin Clark and WNBA Pay Debate The conversation around pay equity in professional sports has once again taken center stage, with WNBA star Caitlin Clark becoming one of the most prominent voices in the discussion. The rookie sensation has been outspoken about the significant pay gap between male and female basketball players, sparking debates across sports media, fan communities, and now even among NBA legends. Clark’s stance on the issue has been clear and unapologetic. Last month, she made headlines when she arrived to warm-ups wearing a shirt emblazoned with the message, “Pay Us What You Owe Us.” The statement wasn’t just about her own salary—it was a call to action for the league and its stakeholders to recognize the value, talent, and growing marketability of women’s basketball. Her boldness has not gone unnoticed. A Boston Celtics legend—whose own career was defined by leadership both on and off the court—has now voiced support for Clark’s perspective. While not delving into the specifics of WNBA contracts or league finances, the Celtics great made it clear that the conversation Clark is pushing forward is both necessary and overdue. The issue of WNBA compensation has been a long-standing point of contention. While NBA players often sign multi-million-dollar contracts bolstered by massive television deals, WNBA players operate under a much smaller revenue pool. The average WNBA salary is a fraction of its NBA equivalent, and even the league’s top earners fall short of the baseline salary of NBA rookies. Critics often argue that pay should be tied to league revenue, while advocates point out that the WNBA has been historically underpromoted and underfunded, creating a self-fulfilling cycle that keeps salaries low. Clark is far from the first WNBA player to use her platform for advocacy. In 2020, players made a united stand in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, wearing shirts and using media appearances to amplify the message. Then in 2022, during the second half of the All-Star Game, every player took the court wearing Brittney Griner jerseys while the Phoenix Mercury star was detained in Russia—a powerful gesture of solidarity that resonated worldwide. What sets Clark apart is her combination of star power and timing. Entering the league with massive attention from her historic college career, she has quickly become one of the most marketable athletes in women’s basketball. Her willingness to speak openly about pay equity not only draws attention from fans but also places additional pressure on league executives, sponsors, and media partners to reexamine how the WNBA is valued. With NBA legends like this former Celtics star voicing support, the conversation gains an added layer of credibility and visibility. While solutions to the pay gap are complex and will require structural changes, the public momentum Clark is generating suggests that the discussion is far from fading. In fact, it may be entering its most crucial stage yet—one that could shape the future of women’s basketball for generations to come. — If you’d like, I can also prepare a more debate-focused version that contrasts opposing viewpoints on the WNBA pay gap for a more argumentative blog style.