AFL Rich 100 2021: The Geelong stars who sacrificed to keep the Cats together

Patrick Dangerfield and Jeremy Cameron are making a motza at Geelong, but a number of Cats’ wages fall well-short of their on-field performance.

Geelong skipper Joel Selwood puts club above money. Picture: Getty Images

Inspirational Geelong captain Joel Selwood has made a six-figure sacrifice in the final years of his contract to help the Cats land superstar free agent Jeremy Cameron.

The star onballer remains one of the Cats’ most important players but is on a modest contract worth about $550,000 this year to help Geelong balance its books.

Significantly, Selwood’s deal has helped give Geelong enough room to land Cameron who was the biggest free agency signing in the game last year.

Cameron, who has made an excellent start to the season after hamstring setbacks, signed a six-year contract to help spearhead Geelong in its quest for a fourth flag since 2007.

The Coleman medallist could be the difference to a side which fell short to Richmond in last year’s decider as the Dustin Martin-inspired Tigers clinched back-to-back pennants.

Joel Selwood has made a six-figure sacrifice to land Jeremy Cameron. Picture: Getty

Selwood and Cameron embrace after a goal. Picture: Getty

Sources strongly indicated Selwood, 33, could have commanded more as one of the game’s finest on-field leaders, but his reduced rate in 2021 is part of his determination to help the club clinch its first premiership in a decade.

Superstars Cameron and Patrick Dangerfield are the two biggest earners at the Cats on about $900,000 a season.

But Selwood is on almost half that as he pushes to extend his champion career and play on next season.

The Bendigo product and fierce clearance winner is already regarded as one of the Cats’ greatest players and most influential leaders in club history. He has led Geelong since 2012 and pocketed six All-Australians blazers, three premierships and three best and fairest awards in an illustrious career.

Champion spearhead Tom Hawkins is another who is on a mid-range salary at Geelong of about $600,000 despite playing career-best football over the past two seasons.

Hawkins is on track to receive his third-straight All-Australian selection and his selflessness and creative ruck work have been hailed by the Cats as a key to their goal scoring power.

Super-consistent defenders Mark Blicavs and Tom Stewart are also on about $600,000 in reward for their continued elite efforts and reliability in the back half.

Midfielder Cameron Guthrie is also on about the same wage as he looks to receive an increase this year as a free agent. Guthrie is in career-best form and has emerged as a vital midfield cog at Geelong, forcing the club to find more salary cap room to accommodate his sharp rise.