AFL player salaries and the salary cap in 2021 and beyond

[Dry Rot]

Interesting article claims that only 4 AFL players had salaries > $900k in 2020.

Of those four, one was Jack Martin who had a dodgy front ended contract to get to Carlton, and Dusty Martin, worth every cent.

Remarkably the other two, Franklin (Swans) and Cameron (Giants), did not even play in 2020.

So moving forward, what will happen to top end players' salaries, the salary cap and Bont's contract?


https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/money-ball-high-flying-afl-players-take-a-major-hit-20210226-p576a4.html

Money ball: High-flying AFL players take a major hit

Jon PierikFebruary 26, 2021 — 7.37pm

The financial setback experienced by AFL players in 2020 has been revealed, with only four earning more than $900,000 last season.

The AFL on Friday released its total player payments list for a campaign impacted by the fall-out of COVID-19, and it has hurt players in the hip pocket.

There was a 29.17 per cent reduction in the TTP through all clubs, with the overall figure of $170 million a major reduction from 2019 ($242 million), and more akin to what was enjoyed by players in 2012.

Three of the four players in the $900,000-plus club were Richmond’s Dustin Martin, Jeremy Cameron, the former Greater Western Sydney star now with Geelong, and Sydney Swans veteran Lance Franklin, who did not play a game because of injury. Carlton recruit Jack Martin, who was on a huge front-ended deal when snared from the Gold Coast, was reportedly the fourth.

There had been 16 players who were paid $900,000 or more in 2019.

A closer examination shows that only 10 players earned more than $700,000 last year. Of this, there was one in the $1 million to $1.1 million range and one who still pocketed between $1.1 million and $1.2 million.

Before the pandemic, Franklin had been due to earn $1.4 million last season, and a high mark of $1.5 million this year, as part of his nine-year contract. Martin was on an estimated $1.2 million to $1.3 million a year deal as part of his seven-year contract before last year’s cuts.

However, millonaire’s row took a substantial hit, for there had been nine listed players in 2019 who enjoyed a seven-figure salary, including two in the $1.2 million-plus range.

Across the board, players took more than a $100,000 hit, with the average wage plummeting from $363,000 in 2019 to $260,000, excluding rookie-listed players.

The pay range with the most listed players was $100,000 to $200,000 (189) with $200,000 to $300,000 (142) the next best. There were 131 players in the $300,000 to $400,000 range and a surprising 113 in the $60,000 to $100,000 range.

“The summary shows that in 2020 AFL clubs paid a total of $170.3 million in player payments, before deductions allowed for injury allowances, veterans’ list payments, finals incentives and other reasons, decreasing 29.8 per cent from the 2019 figure of $242.3 million,” the AFL said in a statement.

Playing groups have tackled the thorny issue of cuts in different ways, with St Kilda agreeing to an across-the-board seven per cent cut to ensure the list is not impacted in years ahead.

[Topdog]

That all due to Covid payment reductions so I would expect that it just goes back up and quickly.

[bornadog]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E5fhCgIVoAAUeZG?format=jpg&name=medium

[bornadog]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E5fhEsRVIAA6CKL?format=jpg&name=medium

[Axe Man]

For anyone interested our players in the Rich 100 list according to the HUN:

AFL Rich 100 list 2021 (https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/news/afl-rich-100-list-2021-who-is-footys-highest-paid-player/news-story/821b9a916a6f57e67c1953cdc3a00deb)

98. Jason Johannisen $575,000-$625,000
97. Lachie Hunter $575,000-$625,000
63. Tim English $650,000-$700,000
42. Jack Macrae $700,000-$750,000
38. Aaron Naughton $725,000-$775,000
11. Adam Treloar $850,000 - $900,000
9. Marcus Bontempelli $900,000 - $950,000

[Grantysghost]

For anyone interested our players in the Rich 100 list according to the HUN:

AFL Rich 100 list 2021 (https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/news/afl-rich-100-list-2021-who-is-footys-highest-paid-player/news-story/821b9a916a6f57e67c1953cdc3a00deb)

98. Jason Johannisen $575,000-$625,000
97. Lachie Hunter $575,000-$625,000
63. Tim English $650,000-$700,000
42. Jack Macrae $700,000-$750,000
38. Aaron Naughton $725,000-$775,000
11. Adam Treloar $850,000 - $900,000
9. Marcus Bontempelli $900,000 - $950,000

Didnt realise Naughts was already commanding so much at 21.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Anyone willing to do a club-by-club breakdown?

[Axe Man]

Anyone willing to do a club-by-club breakdown?

It's not in an easily copied form. I've pinched this from BF:


They’ve put $25k - $50k ranges on each player, so I’ve used the midpoint of each range for these numbers.

1) $1.475m
L Franklin (Syd)

2) $1.225m
D Martin (Rich)
J McGovern (WCE)

4) $1.087m
N Fyfe (Fre)

5) $950k
B Grundy (Col)

6) $925k
M Bontempelli (WB)
S Coniglio (GWS)
P Cripps (Car)
P Dangerfield (Gee)

10) $875k
J Cameron (Gee)
A Treloar (WB / Col)

12) $850k
I Heeney (Syd)
R Sloane (Ade)

14) $825k
J Daniher (BL)
M Gawn (Mel)
T Greene (GWS)
B Hill (StK)
J Kelly (GWS)
T Mitchell (Haw)
C Petracca (Mel)
L Whitfield (GWS)
O Wines (PA)

23) $800k
A Gaff (WC)
D Moore (Col)
L Neale (BL)
J O’Meara (Haw)
L Parker (Syd)
D Shiel (Ess)
L Shuey (WC)
J Weitering (Car)
Z Williams (Car)
E Yeo (WC)

33) $775k
T Cotchin (Ric)
J Darling (WC)
T Kelly (WC)
C Oliver (Mel)
D Swallow (GC)

38) $750k
A Naughton (WB)

39) $725k
H Andrews (BL)
C Cameron (BL)
B Cunnington (NM)
J De Goey (Col)
M Duncan (Gee)
J Macrae (WB)
S May (Mel)
M McGovern (Car)
S Pendlebury (Col)
J Polec (NM)
D Rampe (Syd)
J Riewoldt (Ric)
J Sicily (Haw)
J Steele (StK)
C Wingard (Haw)

54) $700k
T Adams (Col)
J Billings (StK)
M Crouch (Ade)
C Curnow (Car)
R Laird (Ade)
R Lobb (Fre)
T McDonald (Mel)
D Prestia (Ric)
J Ziebell (NM)

63) $675k
T English (WB)
D Heppell (Ess)
M Hurley (Ess)
J Lever (Mel)
Z Merrett (Ess)
S Sidebottom (Col)
T Taranto (GWS)
T Walker (Ade)
M Walters (Fre)
J Witts (GC)

73) $650k
B Crouch (StK)
J Gresham (StK)
D Hannebery (StK)
B King (GC)
S Lycett (PA)
H McCluggage (BL)
A Saad (Car)

80) $625k
T Boak (PA)
C Dixon (PA)
S Docherty (Car)
B Ellis (GC)
C Guthrie (Gee)
T Hawkins (Gee)
C Hooker (Ess)
J Lloyd (Syd)
J Lukosius (GC)
A McGrath (Ess)
C Mills (Syd)
N Naitanui (WC)
T Papley (Syd)
C Salem (Mel)
D Talia (Ade)
J Viney (Mel)

96) $600k
M Blicavs (Gee)
L Hunter (WB)
J Johannisen (WB)
R O’Brien (Ade)
T Stewart (Gee)

[Axe Man]

Didnt realise Naughts was already commanding so much at 21.

Both English and Naughton higher than I would have thought.

Has to be taken with a grain of salt though, it's educated guesswork at best and some are sure to be well off.

[bornadog]

Both English and Naughton higher than I would have thought.

Has to be taken with a grain of salt though, it's educated guesswork at best and some are sure to be well off.

sounds like what they can command in the future

[jeemak]

We're getting great value out of our top twenty candidates, providing Treloar gets back on the park and stays there.

[bornadog]

For anyone interested our players in the Rich 100 list according to the HUN:

AFL Rich 100 list 2021 (https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/news/afl-rich-100-list-2021-who-is-footys-highest-paid-player/news-story/821b9a916a6f57e67c1953cdc3a00deb)

98. Jason Johannisen $575,000-$625,000
97. Lachie Hunter $575,000-$625,000
63. Tim English $650,000-$700,000
42. Jack Macrae $700,000-$750,000
38. Aaron Naughton $725,000-$775,000
11. Adam Treloar $850,000 - $900,000
9. Marcus Bontempelli $900,000 - $950,000

So about $5 million (without adding it up) for 7 players

[EasternWest]

Am I the only one that thinks this is an absolute grotesquery?

Am I the only one to think "grotesquery" is a word?

Edit: it's ok guys I looked it up - it's a word.

[azabob]

Am I the only one that thinks this is an absolute grotesquery?

Am I the only one to think "grotesquery" is a word?

Edit: it's ok guys I looked it up - it's a word.

How many scrabble points for grotesquery?

[EasternWest]

How many scrabble points for grotesquery?

All of them I think.

[hujsh]

Am I the only one that thinks this is an absolute grotesquery?

Am I the only one to think "grotesquery" is a word?

Edit: it's ok guys I looked it up - it's a word.

That we're looking at and comparing people's salaries or that people get that amount of money for being good at sport?

[boydogs]

Surely English is not getting that much

And I'm assuming Treloar is getting some of that from Collingwood

[jazzadogs]

Surely English is not getting that much

And I'm assuming Treloar is getting some of that from Collingwood

Treloar is his total salary, of which approx 250-300k is being paid by Collingwood.

I'm surprised that Naughton and English are being paid so much, but I don't have any issues with those 7 being our highest paid 7. I would imagine Dunkley gets up into that range, with Libba deserving but unlikely to command it given his injury history.

I agree that the amounts are grotesque (full time teachers and nurses can be on less than 60k ffs) and that having all of them publicly listed is also pretty gross.

[Hotdog60]

I still have the opinion that players should be on a set wage with increments for each year and set match payments and just be given team bonuses come finals time the further you go the more the team gets.
This may cut down poaching and players would only leave if they weren't happy in their environment or chasing finals success.
With the chance of less stars moving to power clubs may just see a more even competition.
Although this could all fall through if Carlton pay the secretaries 15 times above the standard wage. :)
Also to push this through maybe the AFL also puts up some sort of Superannuation scheme for players post footy.

[EasternWest]

That we're looking at and comparing people's salaries or that people get that amount of money for being good at sport?

tHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT. tHE afl IS A MONEY MAKING MACHINE SO I'M HAPPY FOR THE PLAYERS TO GET A SLICE OF THAT, I JUST FIND IT BEING DISCUSSED IN THE PUBLIC A BIT WEIRD.

Also apologies for shouting at you I didn't realise the caps lock was on and can't be bothered changing it.

[bulldogtragic]

$1,200,000 for JJ this year and next. Top 100 paid player in the league. Huge salary for an inconsistent forward pocket.

[Topdog]

That Naughton figure cant be accurate. We signed him to a 4 year contract in April 2019. At that stage he was nothing more than a promising player.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

tHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT. tHE afl IS A MONEY MAKING MACHINE SO I'M HAPPY FOR THE PLAYERS TO GET A SLICE OF THAT, I JUST FIND IT BEING DISCUSSED IN THE PUBLIC A BIT WEIRD.

Also apologies for shouting at you I didn't realise the caps lock was on and can't be bothered changing it.

I'm ok with it. Sometimes I think the secrecy around salaries is for the benefit of employers to underpay people.

[bulldogtragic]

That Naughton figure cant be accurate. We signed him to a 4 year contract in April 2019. At that stage he was nothing more than a promising player.

From memory, he had his rookie contract. Then we extended him. Then we extended him again not soon after. I assume we paid him a good chunk more to extend his contract. Looks like a bargain now, would be even better if he could kick straight.

[SquirrelGrip]

What percentage do the managers take out of these salaries? Liam Pickering gloated how Tom Boyd paid for his pool.

[Happy Days]

Am I the only one that thinks this is an absolute grotesquery?

Am I the only one to think "grotesquery" is a word?

Edit: it's ok guys I looked it up - it's a word.

Someone’s gotta get the money. I’d rather it be the players.

Now executives getting paid $3m for a job where you could actually do literally nothing except schedule the games? That’s grotesque.

[bulldogtragic]

What percentage do the managers take out of these salaries? Liam Pickering gloated how Tom Boyd paid for his pool.

According to a google search:

Typically agents won't charge a fee during a player's first season or if they are on a rookie contract. From their second year on a list, it's usually in the 2% to five per cent range on any football payments a player earns. In relation to any commercial or promotional activities, the typical rate is 20 per cent. (AFL players union)

[SquirrelGrip]

According to a google search:

Typically agents won't charge a fee during a player's first season or if they are on a rookie contract. From their second year on a list, it's usually in the 2% to five per cent range on any football payments a player earns. In relation to any commercial or promotional activities, the typical rate is 20 per cent. (AFL players union)

OK, so between 10-25K for a $500K contract and 20-50K for a $1mil. It's not that much in the scheme of things. In the NFL there are rules preventing agents taking more than 3% and I think something similar in NBA.

[jazzadogs]

I wonder if Pickering lost money when Boyd retired and cancelled the remaining years of his contract...

[bulldogtragic]

I wonder if Pickering lost money when Boyd retired and cancelled the remaining years of his contract...

Don’t they get paid or become a contractual payee based on the contract signing? Leaving aside commercial stuff on the side. Ricky Nixon used to have A LOT of players traded which some speculated was for this reason. He made a killing signing and then trying to trade Andrejs Everitt almost every year across three clubs.

[EasternWest]

Someone’s gotta get the money. I’d rather it be the players.

Now executives getting paid $3m for a job where you could actually do literally nothing except schedule the games? That’s grotesque.

I've clarified I'm referring to it being published, not the players getting it.

They should get it all as far as I'm concerned.

[hujsh]

tHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT. tHE afl IS A MONEY MAKING MACHINE SO I'M HAPPY FOR THE PLAYERS TO GET A SLICE OF THAT, I JUST FIND IT BEING DISCUSSED IN THE PUBLIC A BIT WEIRD.

Also apologies for shouting at you I didn't realise the caps lock was on and can't be bothered changing it.

Well I'd certainly prefer the players get it over the administrators. Could do with it being a bit more evenly spread over the whole group but that's getting into political territory