AFL Rich 100: The highest-paid players at every club and how they affect the salary cap

Which clubs manage their salary cap better than anyone else? And who is still paying the price for some horror decisions? See the crunch numbers here.

The AFL Rich 100 revealed the highest-paid players in the competition – but what percentage of your team’s salary cap are they taking?

Here’s a look at who is taking the money at every club, and how the salary cap space – or lack of – could affect future list management decisions.

Where do the rivers of gold flow at your club?

ADELAIDE

Rory Laird MIDFIELD, $750,000-$850,000

Rory Sloane MIDFIELD, $700,000-$800,000

Jordan Dawson DEFENCE/WING, $650,000-$750,000

Reilly O’Brien RUCK, $575,000-$675,000

Only four Crows made the Rich 100, including last year’s marquee recruit Jordan Dawson, in an insight into their current spending habits. Most of the top-end money is being splashed on the midfield group but they have a promising crop of key-position talent at each end who will demand their share soon. They are in a rebuilding phase, so maxing out their salary cap wouldn’t make any sense, especially when they seem likely to be on the hunt for more recruits in the coming years as they return to finals contention. Dawson crossed from the Swans on a deal believed to be worth about $3.2m across five seasons, but Rory Laird and Rory Sloane remain the best-paid players at Adelaide. A second club champion award in 2021 sealed Laird’s status as the Crows’ best player. Reilly O’Brien is the club’s other highly paid player as the clear-cut best ruck option. News Corp also revealed Adelaide’s pursuit of electric forward Izak Rankine, who is set to be at West Lakes next year.

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Jordan Dawson lived up to his high price tag in his first season at the Crows. Picture: AFL Photos

BRISBANE LIONS

Harris Andrews DEFENCE $650,000 – $750,000

Hugh McCluggage MIDFIELD $650,000 – $750,000

Charlie Cameron FORWARD $700,000 – $800,000

Joe Daniher FORWARD $750,000 – $850,000

Lachie Neale MIDFIELD $800,000 – $900,000

The Lions have a decent spread across the field when it comes to who is earning the big bucks. Neale has deserved every cent as he charges towards a second Brownlow Medal, while Charlie Cameron and Joe Daniher lead the forward line. Daniel McStay is headed to Collingwood on about $650,000 a year and the Lions have refused to budge on their salary assessment. They’re looking at replacing him with Hawthorn veteran Jack Gunston who could be given a $500,000-a-year wage to make the move north. Cam Rayner will demand more as he develops into a match winner. There haven’t been serious talks about Lance Franklin at this stage and the Lions wouldn’t compromise the cap for him.

Zac Williams is on a big deal at the Blues. Picture: Michael Klein

CARLTON

Patrick Cripps MIDFIELD, $875,000-$975,000

Jacob Weitering DEFENCE $750,000-$850,000

Zac Williams DEFENCE $725,000-$825,000

Harry McKay FORWARD $700,000-$800,000

Mitch McGovern DEFENCE $650,000-$750,000

Adam Saad DEFENCE $600,000-$700,000

Charlie Curnow FORWARD $600,000-$700,000

Few teams have spent as much of their top-end salary cap on defence as the Blues, even if they originally recruited Zac Williams (midfield) and Mitch McGovern (forward) for different roles than they are playing now. Only one starting midfielder in the Blues’ top seven players in the list in 2022, but that will change next year when Sam Walsh’s new deal kicks into action. Adam Cerra accepted less than the Dockers offered him, and he is just outside the top 100. Key forwards Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow will receive a big pay boost in their next contracts. Jacob Weitering and Adam Saad are providing great value for money down back.

COLLINGWOOD

Brodie Grundy RUCK $925,000-$1,025,000

Darcy Moore DEFENCE $750,000-$850,000

Jordan De Goey MIDFIELD/FORWARD $700,000-$800,000

Taylor Adams MIDFIELD $675,000-$775,000

Steele Sidebottom WING/MIDFIELD $600,000-$700,000

Four of the top five money-earners at the Pies spent the bulk of their time in the midfield, with the most contentious deal being Brodie Grundy’s one. He is the highest paid ruckman in the game with the Pies considering a potential trade to see if they can get his long-term deal off the books. Darcy Moore is the only defender in the bracket, though Brayden Maynard’s deal signed last December will see him very well compensated the next three seasons after he rejected free agency. The Magpies’ forwards come relatively cheap, though the likely addition of Dan McStay via free agency could see him enter the Rich 100 next season.

Jake Stringer is among the highest-paid players at Essendon. Picture: Getty Images

ESSENDON

Andrew McGrath DEFENCE $550,000 – $650,000

Dyson Heppell DEFENCE $600,000 – $700,000

Michael Hurley DEFENCE $600,000 – $700,000

Jake Stringer FORWARD $600,000 – $700,000

Darcy Parish MIDFIELD $600,000 – $700,000

Dylan Shiel MIDFIELD $750,000 – $850,000

Zach Merrett MIDFIELD $750,000 – $850,000

The Bombers’ pay profile is about to change significantly next season with Dyson Heppell no certainty to stay and Michael Hurley retired. Their two salaries alone clear up more than $1 million out of the back half as Essendon look to spend more in attack. Essendon have a loaded midfield featuring star ball winners Zach Merrett and Dylan Shiel but what this time needs is a Ben King, Harry McKay or Mitch Georgiades as a No.1 key forward. A main banana in attack could cost up to $1 million a season if they are going to be poached.

FREMANTLE

Nat Fyfe MIDFIELDER-FORWARD $1,050,000-$1,150,000

Andrew Brayshaw MIDFIELDER $700,000-$800,000

Rory Lobb RUCKMAN-FORWARD $700,000-$800,000

Michael Walters FORWARD $625,000-$725,000

The Dockers look in excellent shape from a salary cap perspective given they secured Fyfe on huge wages but could have lost him to rivals offering $1.5 million.

They have spent plenty on their midfield with Andrew Brayshaw worth his weight in gold, but Sean Darcy isn’t yet on the mega-deal he deserves as a top-five AFL ruckman.

It could be argued Michael Walters is coming off the form that sees him deserving of his $650,000 this year but he hasn’t been overpaid over the journey, while Rory Lobb has been extremely well paid to secure $750,000 this year and next. But overall the books are balanced extremely well, which is why they could afford to put in bids for all of Angus Brayshaw, Luke Jackson and Liam Baker.

GEELONG

Mark Blicavs UTILITY $550,000 – $650,000

Tom Hawkins FORWARD $550,000 – $650,000

Tom Stewart DEFENCE $600,000 – $700,000

Mitch Duncan DEFENCE $600,000 – $700,000

Patrick Dangerfield MIDFIELD $750,000 – $850,000

Jeremy Cameron FORWARD $900,000 – $1,000,000

Geelong does a brilliant job keeping all of their star players on reasonable wages which seem modest compared to some of the bigger-dollar deals handed out elsewhere. Yes, Jeremy Cameron and Patrick Dangerfield are the top earners on decent wickets, but there is a flat structure right throughout the next tier of star players such as Cameron Guthrie, Tom Stewart, Mark Blicavs and Mitch Duncan. Stewart, as arguably the best rebounding defender in the game, could earn hundreds of thousands of dollars more on the open market, but he could also be the next captain of the Cats. Andrew Mackie and Stephen Wells may run the best pay spreadsheet in the game.

Gold Coast leader David Swallow. Picture: Getty Images

GOLD COAST

David Swallow MIDFIELDER $775,000-$875,000

Jarrod Witts RUCKMAN $700,000-$800,000

Touk Miller MIDFIELDER $650,000-$750,000

Ben King FORWARD $600,000-$700,000

The Suns have had to pay up for their young draftees in Ben King and Jack Lukosius, which in King’s case will repay them many times over. Lukosius right now on performances is significantly overpaid given he is floating as a mid-forward who doesn’t kick goals.

The deals for ruckman Witts and onballer Miller are strong but not outrageous as the Suns realign their salary cap position. And flanker Brandon Ellis is not overpaid at $600,000 given he was a free agent who provides leadership and durability in the backline. The Suns’ bigger issues are that Brayden Fiorini, Alex Sexton and Rory Thomson are still owed money for next year and Rory Atkins’ deal looks ordinary. The Suns need to save their pennies for Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell’s new deals so can’t splash cash this off-season.

GWS

Stephen Coniglio MIDFIELDER $900,000-$1,000,000

Josh Kelly MIDFIELDER $800,000-$900,000

Toby Greene FORWARD-MIDFIELDER $800,000-$900,000

Lachie Whitfield DEFENDER $700,000-$800,000

Nick Haynes DEFENDER $650,000-$750,000

Sam Taylor DEFENDER $650,000-$750,000

Tim Taranto MIDFIELDER-FORWARD $600,000-$700,000

The Giants have spent vast fortunes on their midfield and as of this year and next have had to pay up big for their backline due in Nick Haynes and Sam Taylor, with the back-ended nature of Phil Davis’ deal still causing problems.

All of Lachie Whitfield, Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly have potentially been worth $900,000 at the peak of their careers, but instead all are on $1m as an average on long-term deals. Whitfield has had ankle problems for much of the year and Coniglio has battled hard. But million dollar players need to be winning you games regularly. Taranto and Jacob Hopper haven’t come cheap either.

Taylor is justifiably well paid but Haynes this year is only average for intercepts and below average for disposals. The Giants back-ended Davis’ deal so heavily, instead of retiring this year they spread a new deal out over two seasons (including next year) to get him under the cap.

Tom Mitchell is out of contract at the end of next season. Picture: Getty Images

HAWTHORN

Jaeger O’Meara MIDFIELD, $750,000-$850,000

Tom Mitchell MIDFIELD, $750,000-$850,000

Chad Wingard MIDFIELD/FORWARD, $700,000-$800,000

James Sicily DEFENCE, $700,000-$800,000

Jack Gunston FORWARD, $600,000-$700,000

Luke Breust FORWARD, $575,000-$675,000

The next 12 months loom as a transition period for Hawthorn. There are some big pay packets on the books at Waverley Park, which is partly why the Hawks were open to moving on experienced players in last year’s trade period. Midfielders Jaeger O’Meara and Tom Mitchell, both lured from rival clubs, have top billing for now but are out of contract at the end of next season. Ex-Power star Chad Wingard’s lucrative five-year deal also expires in 2023. All three will likely need to take pay cuts to stick around. Defender James Sicily was paid handsomely on his two-year contract that finishes at season’s end but his five-year extension signed in May takes him into a new stratosphere. Looking ahead, key forward Mitch Lewis and 2019 Peter Crimmins medallist James Worpel are set to break into this territory next year. The likes of Will Day, Jarman Impey, Dylan Moore, Jai Newcombe, Ned Reeves, Lachie Bramble, Jacob Koschitzke and Worpel will all seek new deals within that period.

MELBOURNE

Angus Brayshaw MIDFIELD $600,000 – $700,000

Jack Viney MIDFIELD $600,000 – $700,000

Jake Lever DEFENCE $650,000 – $750,000

Steven May DEFENCE $650,000 – $750,000

Max Gawn MIDFIELD $800,000 – $900,000

Clayton Oliver MIDFIELD $800,000 – $900,000

Christian Petracca MIDFIELD $850,000 – $950,000

Melbourne has a $3.5 million midfield which led the club spectacularly to last year’s premiership win. Christian Petracca’s Norm Smith Medal performance will go down as one of the most dominant displays we’ve seen in the decider, and he and Clayton Oliver have inked near $1 million a year salaries until 2029 and 2030. But it was the bold investment in defenders Steven May and Jake Lever which proved to be just as significant in the premiership puzzle in a shrewd recruiting move from Tim Lamb and Josh Mahoney. Where do they spend their Luke Jackson money if he leaves? They’re keen on Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy, if Collingwood chip in.

The Jared Polec deal hasn’t worked out for North Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein

NORTH MELBOURNE

Jared Polec WING $650,000-$750,000

Ben Cunnington MIDFIELD $575,000-$675,000

Luke McDonald DEFENCE $550,000-$650,000

Jy Simpkin MIDFIELD $550,000-$650,000

The Jared Polec deal was a bust and still has a year to run, which is hurting the Kangaroos’ purse strings. Ben Cunnington is back now after his battle with cancer while the next two best paid players are the past two Syd Barker Medal winners in Jy Simpkin and Luke McDonald. Simpkin is likely to become the next Kangaroos’ captain and could well be the club’s highest paid player in the years ahead. The forward line could be the focus in the future with Cam Zurhaar out of contract and considering his options.

RICHMOND

Dustin Martin MIDFIELD/FORWARD $1,200,000-$1,300,000

Tom Lynch FORWARD $925,000-$1,025,000

Trent Cotchin MIDFIELD $650,000-$750,000

Jack Riewoldt FORWARD $650,000-$750,000

Dion Prestia MIDFIELD $650,000-$750,000

Nick Vlastuin DEFENCE $600,000-$700,000

Shai Bolton MIDFIELD/FORWARD $550,000-$650,000

Any side that has won three of the past five premierships is always going to be stretched when it comes to the salary cap. But the Tigers have done well to maintain most of their key talent, while still rewarding those who deserve more. Mid-forward Shai Bolton will have to be looked after in his next deal which could potentially push him into the $900,000 or more bracket. Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt are in the final year of contracts, but will likely accept less and play on. There is a sharing of money in terms of the three zones, with the midfield being the most prominent but Nick Vlastuin and Dylan Grimes are still well rewarded in defence. Tom Lynch is finally getting the rewards of his backended deal, and deservedly so, as he is one of the most dangerous forwards in the competition.

PORT ADELAIDE

Ollie Wines MIDFIELDER $750,000-$850,000

Scott Lycett RUCKMAN $600,000-$700,000

Charlie Dixon FORWARD $550,000-$650,000

One of the reasons Ken Hinkley would be feeling so bullish about his list is that the club has money to burn in the off-season given the responsible management of the salary cap.

Ollie Wines is coming off a Brownlow year so his $800,000 deal is well worth it, while the Power paid up for a free agency ruckman in Scott Lycett and it has been justified until this season’s injury-prone four-game effort. Veteran Travis Boak has accepted well less than he might at between $500,000-$600,000 for the benefit of the team and the investment has come in the next-gen stars in Connor Rozee, Xavier Duursma and Zak Butters, who have new deals kicking in next year.

Bradley Hill came in at No. 12 on the AFL Rich 100. Picture: Getty Images

ST KILDA

Bradley Hill DEFENCE, $850,000-$950,000

Jack Steele MIDFIELD, $700,000-$800,000

Dougal Howard DEFENCE, $625,000-$725,000

Jade Gresham MIDFIELD/FORWARD, $625,000-$725,000

Max King FORWARD, $600,000-$700,000

Brad Crouch MIDFIELD, $600,000-$700,000

Zak Jones MIDFIELD, $575,000-$675,000

Spending fairly big across all positions and missing the finals is an unenviable middle ground to be, and the Saints need to be clever in the coming years. The Saints spent big to win the race for ex-Docker and Hawk Bradley Hill in what was a hectic 2019 trade period, where they also brought in Dougal Howard and Zak Jones (among others). Those three all featured in the Rich 100, joining dual club champion Jack Steele, Max King – who will surge on this list from next year – Jade Gresham and 2020 free agent signing Brad Crouch. In that sense, St Kilda has spread the wealth across the ground positionally, but still with an understandable midfield emphasis. The Saints enjoyed immediate success after their 2019 trade hit-and-run mission, winning a final the following year. But they are set to miss finals for the second straight year, which led ex-player Leigh Montagna to call for the club to trade some of its more experienced stars in a “reset”. Whether or not St Kilda goes down that path remains to be seen, but more money must be spent to retain first-round draftee Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Gresham, Hunter Clark, Jack Higgins and co.

SYDNEY SWANS

Lance Franklin FORWARD, $950,000-$1,050,000

Isaac Heeney FORWARD/MIDFIELD, $850,000-$950,000

Dane Rampe DEFENCE, $750,000-$850,000

Luke Parker MIDFIELD/FORWARD, $650,000-$750,000

Callum Mills MIDFIELD, $650,000-$750,000

The Swans’ spending has revolved around Lance Franklin. The superstar’s wage dipped this season from the sky-high levels of the past two, meaning Sydney used back-ended deals to pay other stars, including Dane Rampe. Home-grown talent Isaac Heeney joins Franklin as one of the AFL’s top-15 earners this year and his wage should only rise after re-signing for six years on season eve. Reigning Bob Skilton medallist Luke Parker and another Academy graduate, Callum Mills, also made the Rich List. Parker is understood to have taken a pay cut on the deal he started this season, while Mills’ five-year extension expires in 2023, so his major payday is still to come. Mills is a co-captain as of this season and doesn’t do as much media work as Heeney but his importance is on a par. Unrestricted free agent Jake Lloyd would earn more elsewhere but is nearing terms on a long-term deal. The big one next year is Tom Papley, who will command top dollar as a free agent after being on a generous deal for the club until now. Sydney also needs to find more money for Paddy McCartin, while his younger brother Tom, rising star Chad Warner and Dylan Stephens will expect upgrades in their next contract, too.

Adam Treloar in action against the Hawks in Round 23. Picture: Getty Images

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Tim English MIDFIELD $650,000 – $750,000

Jack Macrae MIDFIELD $700,000 – $800,000

Aaron Naughton FORWARD $750,000 – $850,000

Adam Treloar MIDFIELD $800,000 – $900,000

Marcus Bontempelli MIDFIELD $900,000 – $1,000,000

The Dogs have loaded up in the midfield like few others. When they secured Adam Treloar we all wondered how they were all going to work in the same engine room. And this season the imbalance has showed on the field as the Dogs have been caught short in the back half. Luke Beveridge’s men are set to nab defender Liam Jones after one year out of the game but is he enough to stop the bleeding? Rory Lobb is also on the way there to bolster the forward line alongside Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Aaron Naughton, taking Josh Bruce’s spot. Maybe Josh Dunkley departs to Port Adelaide helping clear some money to nab Lobb, Jones and Fremantle swingman Griffin Logue is also up for grabs. The minted midfield, on its own, couldn’t get the job done this season.

WEST COAST

Jeremy McGovern DEFENDER $1,000,000-$1,100,000

Andrew Gaff MIDFIELDER $800,000-$900,000

Tim Kelly MIDFIELDER $800,000-$900,000

Jack Darling FORWARD $775,000-$875,000

Elliot Yeo MIDFIELDER $750,000-$850,000

Luke Shuey MIDFIELDER $750,000-$850,000

Nic Naitanui RUCKMAN $600,000-$700,000

West Coast coach Adam Simpson has quibbled with some of these numbers but it is no secret the Eagles salary cap is stretched given the determination to keep the list together for an extended premiership tilt.

McGovern was the game’s best defender and had huge rival offers so the Eagles kept him at over $1 million a season, while the midfield is stacked with players on solid deals.

Luke Shuey, Tim Kelly and Elliot Yeo are all on significant deals that they deserved in their prime but injuries, age and form have curtailed their output. Jack Darling has been at times one of the game’s premier forwards so he also earned his contract but this year he has averaged only 11.6 touches and 1.6 goals in an admittedly poor team.