Players in rivers of gold
AFL a millionaire’s hotspot
Clayton Oliver completed a full session as he takes steps towards playing early in the season but Melbourne showed little signs of progress in its forward-line woes on Monday.
Oliver had largely kept to the Demons rehab group since his return to training on February 1, and took his work up a level amid hot conditions, joining in match simulation in the back half of the session. He played in the midfield through match sim, starting in a bib on the ‘B’ team but swapped to the ‘A’ side halfway through.
The Demons haven’t ruled Oliver out of playing in the club’s season opener on
March 7 in Sydney, but there were expectations he could take some time to be passed fully fit to play in a match.
His chances of playing in the opening round could be swayed by how much time he spends on the field on Sunday, when Melbourne hosts Richmond for seven periods of match simulation at Casey Fields.
Defender Christian Salem starred in match simulation, finding the ball at will off half-back and hitting up teammates, after he was recently on limited training due to a hamstring tweak.
Lachie Hunter (calf) puffed through a running session in long sleeves as the mercury slid past 30C, while Tom McDonald (calf) was also running solo.
Forward Ben Brown (knee) took in some light jumping and kicking as Shane McAdam left the track early. Recruit McAdam has been eased through preseason and often pulled out of match play.
Harry Petty watched training and didn’t partake in any running while on the track amid his slow build from a foot complaint.
Footy’s new rivers of gold led to 19 AFL players being paid more than $1m in 2023, with eight taking home more than $1.2m.
The continued explosion in player wages could create as many as 50 millionaires a season as the salary cap hits a remarkable $17.7m in 2025.
The AFL on Monday released its 2023 salary breakdown with the new collective bargaining agreement handing players a 10 per cent backdated pay rise for 2023.
It meant the number of footy millionaires per season jumped from 12 in 2022 to 19 in 2023.
New Corp’s rich list last year identified Richmond’s Dustin Martin ($1.25m-$1.35m), Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe ($1.05m$1.15m) and Eagle Jeremy McGovern ($1m-$1.1m) as the game’s highest-paid players.
West Coast midfielder Tim Kelly took home more than $1.1m, with his wage increasing in 2023 as an example of a contract that averages less over the life of the deal but spikes in specific years to help clubs fit under the salary cap.
Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli, Demons stars Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca, Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron and Carlton captain Patrick Cripps are also players taking home about $1m per season.
Richmond’s Tom Lynch joins Martin as a player who took home more than $1m in 2023, given his seven-year deal worth nearly $7m was heavily back ended.
Factoring in all TPP rises from 2022 to 2023, the average player wages in the AFL increased 11 per cent, up to $441,464. By 2027 average player wages will be $519,000.
The new pay deal brokered last season will lift wages another 5.1 per cent in 2024 and 12.6 per cent in 2025.
So, from the start of the 2023 season to the start of the 2025 season, players will secure pay rises of about 27 per cent – rich reward for their integral role in a game that is breaking records in attendances and revenue as well as TV-rights riches.
This season, Lynch, Martin and fellow Tiger star Shai Bolton will all be paid more than $1m, with Martin out of contract but poised to sit down with Richmond on a new deal.
Collingwood captain Darcy Moore and GWS Giants trio Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly and Toby Greene are also among the league’s highestpaid players.
Brodie Grundy’s seven-year deal was signed with Collingwood on just under $7m and, while the ruckman has moved to Sydney from Melbourne, the Magpies will continue paying about $250,000 of that wage for the life of the deal.
Total player payments will jump from $15,022,778 in 2023 to $15,788,222 this year then $17,761,999 in 2025, $18.29m in 2026 and $18.44m in 2027.
Players are split an additional $1.267m per club in additional services (marketing) across the life of the new collective bargaining agreement from 2023 to 2027.
In 2022, there were 50 players who were paid $800,000 a season. In 2025, as many as 50 players will be paid $1m.