AFL reveals 19 players earned seven figures in 2023 amid big average salary jump

The AFL has disclosed its latest financial data to clubs, revealing an increase in player salaries for the 2023 season.

According to the figures released on Monday, the average salary for AFL-listed players during the 2023 season stood at $441,464, marking a significant rise from $406,105 in the preceding year.

The 2023 season marked the inaugural year of a new collective bargaining agreement, with all 18 clubs benefiting from a $15 million allocation in Total Player Payments. This allocation represented an 11 percent increase compared to the 2022 figure.

Total gross player payments surged to $280.9 million for the 2023 season, an increase from the $257.6 million recorded in the previous season.

Nineteen players attained seven-figure salaries in the 2023 season, marking a substantial increase from the mere three players who achieved this milestone in 2022. Eight players received salaries exceeding $1.2 million, while five players fell within the range of $1.1 to $1.2 million, and six players earned between $1 and $1.1 million.

19 players were in the million-dollar club last year, up from 12 in 2022.@barrettdamian provides the full breakdown: https://t.co/JpxQBfMrb9 pic.twitter.com/RAi9d9cvpS

— AFL (@AFL) February 12, 2024

These figures represent an upturn from the financial impacts of the COVID-19-affected seasons in 2020 and 2021, where average wages were $260,000 and $372,000, respectively.

The total number of million-dollar earners increased by seven from 2022, reflecting a growing trend in player remuneration. In 2021, amidst the ongoing recovery from the pandemic’s impact, only five players earned salaries exceeding $1 million.

Some of the contracts in 2023 may have been structured with back-ended payments, with veterans like David Swallow and Andrew Gaff believed to be recipients of substantial contracts.

A total of 159 players earned salaries exceeding $600,000 in the 2023 season, highlighting a significant increase from just 41 players surpassing this threshold in 2013.

Every primary listed player in the AFL earned a minimum of $100,000 for the first time in the League’s history.

Player names are not publicly linked to specific wages by the AFL and its clubs, but Dustin Martin (Richmond), Nat Fyfe (Fremantle), Jeremy McGovern (West Coast), Tom Lynch (Richmond), Brodie Grundy (Melbourne in 2023, Sydney in 2024), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs), Toby Greene (GWS), Stephen Coniglio (GWS), Jeremy Cameron (Geelong), Christian Petracca (Melbourne), Patrick Cripps (Carlton), Tim Kelly (West Coast), Clayton Oliver (Melbourne), Lachie Neale (Brisbane), Darcy Moore (Collingwood) and Josh Kelly (GWS) are believed to be in the top bracket of highest-paid performers.

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