The number of AFL players in the highest-paid group more than doubled last year, with a record 19 earning more than $1 million.
Figures released by the league on Monday showed that gross payments to players have increased by more than $100 million over the past decade, from $181,560,623 in 2013 to $280,862,089 last year.
In the first year of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, each player on the roster earned an average of $441,464, an increase of 8.71 percent from 2022.
At the top of the tree, eight players pocketed more than $1.2 million compared to three the previous year, while in 2022 there were more than 12 million people who won.
It is understood that stars such as Brownlow medalists Dustin Martin (Richmond) and Nat Fyfe (Fremantle), West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern, Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli and Melbourne players Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, are among the highest paid players.
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Marcus Bontempelli is among those who earn the most
At the other end of the pay scale, for the first time no AFL player on the list earned less than $100,000 last year.
The AFL’s underlying operating surplus also improved, from $27.7 million to $20.7 million in 2022, as the league continues to recover from the financial hit of COVID-19.
Total payments to AFL executives were $13.6 million last year, down from $11.8 million, but individual salaries were not detailed and the league’s top management was reorganized when Andrew Dillon He succeeded Gillon McLachlan as chief executive.
AFL chief financial officer Matthew Chun said the league’s cash position had a significant boost with the latest $225 million government grant for the redevelopment of Marvel Stadium.
Troubled Melbourne star Clayton Oliver earns huge salary
‘Our balance sheet remains strong. “The coordinated effort to reduce the industry’s cost base and protect revenues means the AFL was able to report a cash surplus for the financial year,” Chun said.
“It is important that we continue to drive cost discipline in 2024 ahead of the new streaming deal in 2025 to ensure we can continue to invest in all levels of our game and ensure it remains affordable and accessible for everyone to enjoy our game.” .’
Also on Monday, the league announced a freeze on general admission prices at the MCG and Marvel Stadium for the sixth consecutive season.