AFL Salaries

[IrishHawksFan]

Lads always wondered but could never get a straight answer

1 What are the the big superstars of AFL making a season, im talking the likes of Ablett, Nick Riewoldt, Brown, Buddy etc making?

2 What does the average player earn in a season (when I say the average player I mean the vast majority who are good players but not quiet superstars)

3 What does a rookie earn a season

4 Who pays the wages is it the clubs or the AFL and do players get bonus payments if they score more goals or get named best on ground.

5 Will players playing for Gold Coast and GWS get better wages then those playing for other clubs as they try build up these clubs

Cheers in advance

 

[SJ]

This should help a fair bit, with a lot of specifics about 2009 figures, and the Total Player Payments (salary cap) figure for 2010.

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=90746

 

[legend166]

Honestly, I think they need to be more transparent.

And by transparent, I mean player salaries should be public knowledge.

It's the best way to ensure the salary cap actually works. I don't know how much is known amongst players, but they should be able to compare their own salary to that of their peers to ensure they are getting what they are worth. On top of that, club members should be able to know how much the players are being payed.

It's not exactly a unique thing, either.

NBA: http://content.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/salaries/default.aspx
MLB: http://content.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/default.aspx
NFL: http://content.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/salaries/default.aspx
NHL: http://content.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/salaries/default.aspx

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

Ablett's on about 3 million for the next two years, but in reality is on about 1.5 million a season. (Front loaded contract).

Franklin resigned this year for 3 years - about 650k pa.
Brown's in the last year (?) of a contract for about 1.4 million (back ended, really 800k)
Reiwoldt was rumoured to be on about 900k (don't know if that's a weighted figure or not).

Draftees who don't play any games are around the 70k mark, going up to about 130k if they play every game. Most draftees are on 2yr contracts.

'Average' player gets about 220k per season, but a better value would be median, or say 20th highest paid player per club, who gets around the 180 mark.

There's not a great deal of performance-based component - my understanding is the majority of contracts are guaranteed, with only small bonuses (generally along the lines of Club B&F finishes, etc).

 

[Godzke]

Rookies are around 55k aren't they?

 

[strategy]

Demetriou
$1.8 million plus per season

 

[IrishHawksFan]

Cheers for that lads. Surely if a club was breaking the salary cap other clubs would know from looking at the accounts and books of that club. Would be intresting to see alright what each indivdual player is earning. Whats the rule or policy or is their one on AFL players being used in advertisments or is this seen as their own private buisness?

Some players are sorted for life so with the money they make (still this puts into perspective the ridiculous amount soccer players get) Looking forward to seeing how Ablett does this season, $1.5 a year seems like an amazing amount of money for just one player (even if he is class) I wonder will this stunt by GC work or backfire, I would have thought they could have got two exceptional players for that kind of money????????

 

[Zahki]

Demetriou
$1.8 million plus per season

You realise that is extremely low for a CEO of a buisness as big as the AFL, right?

 

[Rioli magic]

Honestly, I think they need to be more transparent.

And by transparent, I mean player salaries should be public knowledge.

It's the best way to ensure the salary cap actually works. I don't know how much is known amongst players, but they should be able to compare their own salary to that of their peers to ensure they are getting what they are worth. On top of that, club members should be able to know how much the players are being payed.

It's not exactly a unique thing, either.

NBA: http://content.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/salaries/default.aspx
MLB: http://content.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/default.aspx
NFL: http://content.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/salaries/default.aspx
NHL: http://content.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/salaries/default.aspx

Don't agree with this, it's none of your business what these players earn individually. Making them public in no way enforces the salary cap, off the books payments will not become public just because legitimate payments are. Independent auditing of the clubs books, which is what I believe already happens, is the best way and would do far more to enforce the cap than public knowledge. This idea is only in the interests of the people like yourself IMO.

Members already know what the TPP are so I don't see how knowing individually serves them any purpose. Players have managers and unions to assist them and are free to work for whatever they are happy to work for - under the cap.

Market value individually will never work with the salary cap, Geelong players know they have been paid under market value but it doesn't mean they can demand more because less talented teams who have achieved less can afford it. When you work in an industry that is operating under what some argue to be an illegal system, market vaule doesn't wash when there is limited capacity. How would you like all the employers in your organisation to be only allowed to earn a certain amount of money, regardless of the business and profit you generate? And then tell the public what part of the pie you are earning?

 

[Tasmaniac]

Demetriou
$1.8 million plus per season

Probably well worth his money too.

Successful CEO's are generally extremely well paid.

He's running a large organisation successfully, so he gets good $$$.

 

[The Final Word]

You realise that is extremely low for a CEO of a buisness as big as the AFL, right?

Crikey took an interesting look at this:

http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/03/05/what-has-demetriou-done-to-deserve-the-dough/

 

[Tasmaniac]

Cheers for that lads. Surely if a club was breaking the salary cap other clubs would know from looking at the accounts and books of that club. Would be intresting to see alright what each indivdual player is earning. Whats the rule or policy or is their one on AFL players being used in advertisments or is this seen as their own private buisness?

Some players are sorted for life so with the money they make (still this puts into perspective the ridiculous amount soccer players get) Looking forward to seeing how Ablett does this season, $1.5 a year seems like an amazing amount of money for just one player (even if he is class) I wonder will this stunt by GC work or backfire, I would have thought they could have got two exceptional players for that kind of money????????

The AFL organisation oversees the policing of the salary cap, punishments for deliberate transgressions are severe.

Whatever private income they can earn externally 'in arms length' transactions to football is there own, and is not included in the salary cap.

However, there is significant concern regarding some clubs/players using this fact to effectively pay players outside of the salary cap. A great way of fielding a stronger team than a club otherwise could.

If the AFL signs off on the deal, then it's considered kosher, no matter how devious it looks to everyone else in Australia. One Melbourne based superstar is paid enourmous money as an 'environmental ambassador' by the same company which sponsor's his football club.

A lot of the money paid to Ablett is a premium to pry him away from Geelong. If he is actually being paid $1.5M then he isn't actually expected to play as well as two players on $750k each. Think of it as $500k premium, and then $1M for being the best or second best palyer in the AFL.

 

[Freo Blood]

Crikey took an interesting look at this:

http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/03/05/what-has-demetriou-done-to-deserve-the-dough/

I read this and the comments to the article. I think the increase from $780k to $1.4m and now higher is not justified. It is a market place and I don't believe AD would be able to get near that in another organisation. So why should he get the increase?? AFL and us punters are being ripped off!!

 

[chardonnay]

I read this and the comments to the article. I think the increase from $780k to $1.4m and now higher is not justified. It is a market place and I don't believe AD would be able to get near that in another organisation. So why should he get the increase?? AFL and us punters are being ripped off!!

John O'Neil was on $1mil plus when he walked from soccer - now at ARU.

Compare Andy & Ben Buckley. Andy is worth every dollar. Why? Because the AFL continues to grow, warts & all.

Significantly less onerous job but similar money is ex Demon Glenn Lovett:
http://www.octagon-uk.com/news.aspx?pk=61&md=0

 

[James23]

Abletts on almost $60,000 a week for the next couple of years, then you add sponsorships on top of that

 

[darcytiger]

Abletts on almost $60,000 a week for the next couple of years, then you add sponsorships on top of that

wow thats depressing that I only make that in a year

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

3 Million for 20 games = 150k per game = >$1000 per minute!

So every premium supporter that signs up for the 'maximum' package, contributes one minute of Ablett playing time.

Puts those figures in perspective - and why no-one cares about the 'members' anymore.

 

[IrishHawksFan]

Some of that makes for very intresting reading alright, Strange that a club is able to employ somone twice, as a player and in another role eg an environmental ambassador as you say above, Its obvious that this is a way around the salary cap so what does the AFL say about this or does it turn a blind eye?

I see what your saying about Ablett now, Would the Cats see any of that money or is their compensation simply more and higher picks in the draft?

 

[magic_johnson!]

I would have thought they could have got two exceptional players for that kind of money????????

Except they can only have a limited number of people on the list.

 

[The_Reaper]

Some of that makes for very intresting reading alright, Strange that a club is able to employ somone twice, as a player and in another role eg an environmental ambassador as you say above, Its obvious that this is a way around the salary cap so what does the AFL say about this or does it turn a blind eye?

I see what your saying about Ablett now, Would the Cats see any of that money or is their compensation simply more and higher picks in the draft?

A club is not allowed to employ someone twice.
If a player is doing additional work for the club (as a physio, ambassador etc) then it goes under the salary cap.
All payments go under the salary cap.

The issue with 'environmental ambassador' was that Judd was given a job as an 'environmental ambassador' as Visy, which was the company of the then Carlton President, Dick Pratt.

 

[Duggie]

forgive my ignorance here but where does GC get its money from??? it a new club so how does it work? it hasnt the years of build up revenue of crowds and sponsers etc. does the AFL just go here is 10 mill go start out on the ladder or what???

 

[WCE_phil]

Abletts on almost $60,000 a week for the next couple of years, then you add sponsorships on top of that

Compare it to tendulkar or woods and it seems like a pisstake.

 

[The_Wookie]

forgive my ignorance here but where does GC get its money from??? it a new club so how does it work? it hasnt the years of build up revenue of crowds and sponsers etc. does the AFL just go here is 10 mill go start out on the ladder or what???

Pretty much, theres a hefty budget for setting up both gold coast and western sydney.

 

[gaelictiogar]

Lads always wondered but could never get a straight answer

1 What are the the big superstars of AFL making a season, im talking the likes of Ablett, Nick Riewoldt, Brown, Buddy etc making?

2 What does the average player earn in a season (when I say the average player I mean the vast majority who are good players but not quiet superstars)

3 What does a rookie earn a season

4 Who pays the wages is it the clubs or the AFL and do players get bonus payments if they score more goals or get named best on ground.

5 Will players playing for Gold Coast and GWS get better wages then those playing for other clubs as they try build up these clubs

Cheers in advance

Welcome to the site mate. Just a point though. Irish people go for the Tigers or the Maggies. The good looking clever ones are tiges. The toothless and bootless are maggies.

Get aboard the tiger train like me and all the best of the Aussie Irish.

PS. Congrats on Cork winning the Gaelic football flag this year.

 

[chardonnay]

A club is not allowed to employ someone twice.
If a player is doing additional work for the club (as a physio, ambassador etc) then it goes under the salary cap.
All payments go under the salary cap.

The issue with 'environmental ambassador' was that Judd was given a job as an 'environmental ambassador' as Visy, which was the company of the then Carlton President, Dick Pratt.

This arrangement is the elephant in the room as far as player payments go yet the footy media ignore it.
Time the AFL introduced some financial reporting standards to allow ordinary fans enough transparency to ensure all clubs are getting the same treatment (we all know the AFL play favourites in the fixturing).

In the pre salary cap days, wives/girlfriends were on the payroll.

Richmond arranged land deals with the players & the club president.

I'm not having a shot at the clubs, its the AFL to blame for lack of financial reporting standards.