New AFL pay deal could see 20 millionaire players by 2020

THE “middle class” will be the big winners in the new AFL pay deal, which could see 20 millionaire players by 2020. Who could be joining the million-dollar club?

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 27: Tom Boyd of the Bulldogs celebrates a goal during the round 10 AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the St Kilda Saints at Etihad Stadium on May 27, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

THE AFL will be home to 20 millionaire players by 2020, according to a survey of the league’s financial heavy ­hitters.

But the immediate winners of the league’s new pay deal will be the “middle class” of 170 players who earned $400,000-$800,000 last year.

According to official AFL figures, there were 14 players on more than $800,000 last year, including six millionaires.

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The new pay deal will lift this year’s salary cap by 20 per cent, with the cap to jump 28 per cent over six years.

AFL player managers say about half of the league’s biggest deals have clauses that will result in salaries rising in proportion with that jump.

Lance Franklin is one of six players earning $1 million in the AFL. Picture: Getty Images

They include players on $800,000 salaries such as Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield.

His deal will jump to about $1 million with salary cap clauses.

Others such as Dustin Martin and, potentially Josh Kelly, will soon enjoy seven-figure contracts after bumper seasons.

According to former list manager Chris Pelchen, those to cash in will be players negotiating contracts in 12 months’ time.

They include Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch, out of contract next year, and Western Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli, out of contract in 2019.

“You will find a significant uplift in the number (of $1 million players) in the next two to three years, but maybe not within 12 months,’’ Pelchen said.

“It stands to reason player salaries will go up proportionate to that (new cap) figure, but it will be most notable immediately for players who came out of contract in the last 12 months.

“There was uncertainty about the salary cap, so managers put in those clauses subject to negotiations. You are looking at around 15 players getting a million by 2019 and by 2020 more like 20 players.”

Dustin Martin is set for a bumper pay rise. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

It is understood Bontempelli has already benefited from a series of lucrative performance-based clauses. If the price is right, he will be recontracted before his 2019 deal expires.

Lynch is not only the hottest young forward, he is a ­restricted free agent who will easily earn more than $1 million a season.

Players on last year’s $1 million list are believed to include Ablett, Franklin, Tom Boyd, Jeremy Cameron and Fyfe.

Those in the $800,000-plus bracket are Alex Rance, Joel Selwood, Trent Cotchin, Eagle Josh Kennedy, Taylor Walker, Kurt Tippett, Dayne Beams, Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker.

Other highly paid players include Marc Murphy, Adam Treloar, Dylan Shiel and Rory Sloane.

SIX MILLION DOLLAR MEN

The six are believed to be Jeremy Cameron, Gary Ablett, Tom Boyd, Nat Fyfe, Lance Franklin and one other. Two of the earned more than $1.2 million.

Players in the $800,000 bracket include Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Alex Rance, Trent Cotchin, Josh Kennedy, Taylor Walker, Kurt Tippett and Dayne Beams.

RICH LIST

Players paid more than $1m

2014 — 2

2015 — 4

2016 — 6

Source: AFL