AFL Rich 100: The big name players not in the game’s highest paid players for 2023

Tom Mitchell has not missed a game this year and is leading Collingwood’s tackle, clearance and contested possession counts. And he’s barely costing the Magpies anything.

The biggest names not on the AFL’s Rich 100.

Tom Mitchell is the cut-price bargain recruit of the year and he might yet prove to be the difference in Collingwood’s quest for a record-equalling 16th VFL-AFL premiership.

The 30-year-old will earn slightly less than $500,000 in 2023 in the first year of a reworked three-season contract with his new club.

Incredibly, Collingwood will only pay for around half of that, with Mitchell’s previous club Hawthorn chipping in around $250,000.

That’s exceptional value for a player of Mitchell’s status, as a Brownlow Medallist and clearance specialist who was precisely what the Magpies needed in their 2023 campaign.

The bargain price tag means Mitchell, along with Essendon’s Jake Stringer and Peter Wright, and Geelong great Tom Hawkins as well as North Melbourne stopper Ben McKay didn’t make it in the Herald Sun’s Rich List featuring footy’s top-100 paid players.

It is a shock Stringer is not on a chunkier pay packet for 2023 as one of the game’s most electric goal kickers and powerful clearance-winners.

Stringer’s salary is around the $550,000 mark and well under the $600,000-season cut-off which separates the most expensive 100 players in the game.

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Tom Mitchell has been an exceptional addition for Collingwood. Picture: Getty Images

The Bendigo product won the clash against North Melbourne with two desperate defensive acts in the final moments to seal the Round 12 victory, while he launched one of the goals of the season with a 60m barrel against GWS Giants in Round 4.

Stringer’s key forward co-pilot Peter Wright will also take him about $550,000 as part of an upgraded deal secured before his shoulder injury struck in the pre-season.

The man who won the club’s best-and-fairest last year signed a new deal after the Suns chipped in hundreds of thousands of dollars on his contract to move from Gold Coast to Tullamarine.

It has been a super pick-up for the Bombers who landed the full forward for a fourth-round draft pick at the end of 2020 in one of the best-value pick-ups of recent years.

Mitchell has not missed a game this year and is leading Collingwood’s tackle, clearance and contested possession counts, slotting seamlessly into his third AFL club.

But the chase for a flag has come with a serious salary sacrifice after earning more than $700,000 in his prime at Hawthorn, following a trade from Sydney Swans.

The Magpies had some serious salary cap issues a few years ago and are still paying the price of that, contributing around $250,000 towards Adam Treloar’s Western Bulldogs contract, and between $250,000 and $300,000 on Brodie Grundy’s Melbourne deal.

But the Mitchell deal has almost cancelled out one of those contract hangovers for the Pies in a major boost for Craig McRae’s men heading into 2023.

Collingwood had been interested in securing Mitchell leading into last year’s trade period, but not at any cost.

Collingwood had to move off Brodie Grundy’s money in the off-season. Picture: Getty Images

And for a time, it seemed as if it was going to be too hard to orchestrate as the Magpies fought hard to convince young forward Ollie Henry to stay with the club.

Gold Coast’s Brayden Fiorini was also on the Magpies’ radar, but the club opted for Mitchell and have hit the jackpot.

The Mitchell trade went down to the wire and only went through in the frantic final minutes, as Mitchell went to the black and white, Henry went to Geelong, and Cooper Stephens went to Hawthorn, along with some pick swaps.

While Collingwood was disappointed that its two-year investment in Henry ended, Mitchell coming in has played a big part in their 2023 fortunes.

There was also no room for North Melbourne bookends Nick Larkey and teammate McKay in the Herald Sun’s Rich List, but that will change next year with both players facing considerable pay rises.

Larkey, 25, is on about $450,000 this year despite his standing as one of the top forwards in the game, bagging 39 goals over the first 14 rounds to sit equal-second in the Coleman Medal race.

He has already re-signed at Arden St for five more seasons in the face of strong interest from Essendon and Sydney Swans.

Nick Larkey’s salary is likely to double over the duration of his next contract. Picture: Getty Images

Larkey’s salary is likely to double over the course of the next contract in reflection of his standing as one of the best – and most accurate – key forwards in the game.

Likewise, McKay is weighing up a big decision on his future, but his elite form from last season has not yet carried into 2023.

It means the stopper’s value remains a discussion point at clubs including Port Adelaide and Collingwood, who are eyeing the full back.

McKay is set to pocket about $550,000 for his efforts this year, but it remains to be seen whether a club such as Port Adelaide would pay him the $800,000 salary required to secure the Roos’ an early first-round compensation pick in return.

Geelong spearhead Hawkins, who kicked a career-high eight goals in the win over Essendon in round 7, just missed out with a wage of about $500,000.

The veteran continues to provide enormous value for the Cats and could play on next season pending conversations with the club’s list management crew at season’s end.

Originally published as AFL Rich 100: The big name players not in the game’s highest paid players for 2023