AFL Rich 100: North Melbourne star Luke Davies-Uniacke could rise into the top-10 highest-paid players in the league next year

This year’s AFL Rich 100 reveals the highest-paid players in footy. But with a few bumper contracts in the works, there’s set to be big shake-up across the league.

North Melbourne’s Luke Davies-Uniacke could make the massive leap from one of the top-100 to top-10 highest-paid players in the game on his new deal next season.

The Kangaroos’ superstar midfielder has declared his intention to re-sign at North Melbourne in the face of bumper interest around the country as a free agent next year.

In this year’s AFL Rich 100, Davies-Uniacke has only scraped in to the top 100 on $600,000-$700,000 a year. But the brilliant Roo is set to catapult up the order and enter seven-figure territory on what the club hopes will be a long-term and likely heavily front-ended deal beyond 2025.

He isn’t the only gun midfielder looking at a bumper pay rise. Brisbane Lions’ free agent Cameron Rayner is certain to cash-in on a career-best year, while Sydney game-breaker Chad Warner will also be given a blank cheque to return home to Western Australia.

The Swans face a tricky challenge trying to balance the books next year with superstar midfielders Isaac Heeney, Callum Mills, Errol Gulden and Nick Blakey all tied up on lucrative long-term deals. Warner is guaranteed to receive a $1-million-a-year offer from Fremantle, in particular, although the Dockers will have to stump up early picks or players to land the jet midfielder in a trade.

Brisbane has already had to pay top-dollar to keep star midfielder Hugh McCluggage, who will soar up the charts next year after holding out on a blockbuster extension at the Lions this year. They will be in a similar boat with Werribee product Rayner, but will try to strike earlier to avoid a costly auction next year.

Western Bulldogs’ father-son prodigy Sam Darcy and Gold Coast’s Mac Andrew are two of the most exciting talls looking at meteoric increases on their next contracts.

The two are also certain to catapult up the AFL Rich 100 in coming years and could vie for the title as the highest-paid player in the game in the prime part of their careers.

It is a similar story for brothers Sam and Tom De Koning, who are also set to receive huge interest from rivals as they weigh up their futures beyond 2025.

Blues’ Tom De Koning has been on St Kilda’s radar and could have the kitchen sink thrown at him to help lead the next-gen Saints, but an explosive midfielder remains the club’s top priority.

Sam Durham in action for the Bombers this season. Picture: Mark Stewart

But Essendon’s Sam Durham may have to wait for his bump-up. Durham signed a contract extension until 2028 in March on bargain money before announcing himself as one of Essendon’s best players this season.

It means Essendon is locked into one of the biggest bargain deals in the AFL as the hard nut midfielder is nowhere near the Herald Sun’s AFL Rich 100 list.

While his current deal represents great value for the Bombers, Durham will want to renegotiate after the best and fairest event where the ball-winner will likely place top-five.

His manager, Peter Lenton, will attempt to draw up a new deal if the Bombers are open to it.

Originally published as AFL Rich 100: North Melbourne star Luke Davies-Uniacke could rise into the top-10 highest-paid players in the league next year