AFL Daily: Live rolling footy news from around Australia, April 13, 2018

AFL DAILY: COLLINGWOOD midfielder Josh Thomas is playing himself into a lucrative pay rise after signing on this year for a paltry one-season contract. Plus Damien Hardwick in the bad books at home and all today’s footy news. RECAP.

REBORN Collingwood midfielder Josh Thomas is playing himself into a lucrative pay rise after signing on this year for a paltry one-season contract.

Thomas is repaying the faith of Collingwood with slashing midfield form after the Pies kept him on their list in 2016 despite an ASADA drug ban. EXCLUSIVE: THIS IS THE TOUGHEST RULE TO UMPIRE BIG TEST: YOUNG BULLDOG BRACES FOR BUDDY The 2017 rookie played the last nine games of last season after admitting he took time to adjust to the pace of football after two seasons of banishment. Then he signed a deal worth just over $100,000 that will be boosted by match payments and some incentive clauses. RECAP ALL TODAY’S FOOTY NEWS IN THE LIVE BLOW BELOW That base rate is about a third of the average pay cheque handed to an AFL player last year. His management met with the club recently and while they will reconsider his form mid-year he should earn a multi-year contract with a big pay rise. Heading into tonight’s clash against Adelaide Thomas had been a revelation with seven goals and exceptional midfield numbers. His five-goal Round 3 performance was seen as his breakout game but in the first fortnight he also hit the scoreboard and won five clearances per game with pinpoint kicking skills. During his time away after taking an illicit drug unknowingly laced with clenbuterol he went home to Brisbane, drove an Uber and become a personal trainer. Recruiter Derek Hine and then-footy boss Neil Balme often flew north to have dinner with him and banned teammate Josh Thomas to check on their welfare. Teammate Taylor Adams said this week he was proud of Thomas’ development. “It’s been a tough three years for him and his family. We think he’s a star inside the club. We see it all the time, but to go out and kick five goals and start the year like he has gives us real promise. “I am just really proud of him. He is a great person and made a mistake and he has come back better and is starting to repay the faith.” LIVE stream the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership on FOX SPORTS. Every match of every round LIVE in HD, with no ad-breaks siren-to-siren! Get your 2-week free trial now >

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