AFL player salaries: The financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic saw just four players earn more than $900,000 in 2020

In 2019, 16 players AFL stars earned more than $900,000. But the financial impact of the pandemic saw that number slashed in 2020. See last year’s average player salary.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan at HQ. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw

Only four footballers earned more than $900,000 from the 2020 season due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That is down from 16 players who were paid over the 900k mark in 2019.

It has been reported that Dustin Martin, Jeremy Cameron, Lance Franklin and Carlton’s Jack Martin, on a heavily front-ended deal, were the four highest paid players.

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It’s been reported that Jack Martin’s heavily front-ended contract saw him earn more than $900,000 in 2020. Picture: Michael Willson

Three-time Norm Smith Medallist is also said to be among the game’s top-four earners lat year. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/AFL Photos

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 average salary for a listed player in 2020 was $259,651, down from $363,430 in 2019, with a total of 698 players listed across the competition, not including rookie-list players.

In 2020, the decrease in player payments across the competition arose due to the 29.17 per cent reduction in payments agreed with the AFLPA as a result of the pandemic.

Revealed: How much ‘COVID Cup’ season really cost the AFL

- Michael Warner

The AFL says it lost just $22.8 million in its COVID-plagued 2020 season.

But the league said when including a $14.3 million Victorian Government grant for the redevelopment of Marvel Stadium the AFL only recorded “a statutory loss of $8.4 million”.

In what was feared to have been an “atomic bomb” hitting the competition the league said AFL revenue fell by just $119 million to $675 million – with $231 million distributed to clubs and $67 million spent on keeping the season alive, including the use of hubs.

The AFL said it spent $60 million of its future fund “in order to complete the season”.

It also said payments to its executive team were reduced by 33 per cent across the board — from $10.57 million to $7.1 million.

League CEO Gillon McLachlan promised to take the same wage cuts imposed on the game’s 800-plus players last year but a breakdown of executive pay was not released on Tuesday.

AFL chief financial officer Travis Auld revealed the massive toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty

AFL chief financial officer Travis Auld said the league stood down 85 per cent of its employees — propped up by JobKeeper — during the season and took cost-cutting measures across all of its departments.

In September last year the Herald Sun revealed AFL staff numbers had exploded to a staggering 795 before the pandemic.

About 200 staff are believed to have since been cut.

But clubs fear further interruptions and crowd restrictions in season 2021 could yet force the AFL to dip into a $600 million line of credit secured from the banks at the start of the pandemic.

AFL chairman Richard Goyder said the COVID-ravaged season tested the entire industry.

“Working through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 really tested both the resilience of the AFL and its 18 clubs,” Goyder said.

“Everyone across our football community, from our players, coaches and staff members and our long-serving and committed broadcast and corporate partners all made the relevant sacrifices to put the health of the community first and then ensure we still had a game for the fans.”

The AFL returned an operating surplus of $27.9 million in 2019.

AFL clubs seek training return

- Jon Ralph

AFL clubs are hopeful they can conduct critical match simulation sessions on Friday as the state government prepares to end the five-day lockdown in time for Thursday’s training.

Victorian clubs have spent the week split up into groups of 10 - mostly nine players and a coach - after being given provision to train in specific circumstances despite the lockdown.

The AFL’s general managers have a phone hook-up with the league on Thursday but before then clubs are hopeful premier Dan Andrews will have confirmed the lockdown will end at midnight on Wednesday night.

It would allow clubs a day of training ahead of Friday and Saturday match simulation sessions as teams ramp up their Round 1 preparations.

Non-Victorian clubs have been able to train as usual but if the lockdown extended into next week might have had their training limited for reasons of fairness across all 18 clubs.

But only a new mystery case or case of unexpected community transmission would trigger an extended lockdown.

Clubs continue their weekly COVID testing in Victoria and apart from this week’s lockdown are allowed to move around Melbourne freely like other citizens.

A week of official practice matches will start next Wednesday beginning with the Western Bulldogs taking on Hawthorn at Whitten Oval.

Carlton will take on Essendon at Ikon Park on Thursday week, with Geelong and Collingwood playing a scratch match at GMHBA Stadium.

The AAMI Community Series starts on Thursday, March 4 with Carlton taking on St Kilda and then Collingwood playing Richmond the following night at Marvel Stadium.

With only three days training affected by the lockdown, Victorian clubs have taken the setback in their stride.

But with only a single official practice match then the AAMI Community Series contest, this week’s match simulation is another chance for young players to push for Round 1 opportunities.

Originally published as AFL player salaries: The financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic saw just four players earn more than $900,000 in 2020