AFL Players Salary 2023: How Much Make for Season?

Hello, I will share with you some information about the average AFL salary of coaches and players, as well as the contract details and salary cap rules that govern the professional men’s competition for Australian rules football. If you are interested in learning more about this exciting and popular sport, read on to find out how much the AFL stars earn and how their salaries compare to other sports.

Average AFL salary for players?

The average salary of an AFL player is currently $362,471 per year. However, this figure can vary significantly depending on the player’s value to a club, experience level, reputation and skills. Some players earn over one million dollars per year, while others make less than the average pay.

The AFL has a salary cap of $14.7 million per year per club, which means that the total salaries for all players within a team must be under that limit to ensure fairness among the competition. The salary cap is reviewed regularly and has increased as the league became more popular and each club began to earn more money.

The AFL also has a salary floor of 95% of the salary cap, which means that each club must spend at least $13.965 million per year on player salaries. This ensures that clubs invest in their players and do not underpay them.

The AFL players are paid in different ways, depending on their contract type and performance. The main components of an AFL player’s salary are:

• Base salary: This is the fixed amount that a player receives for playing in the AFL, regardless of how many games they play or how well they perform. The base salary can vary depending on the player’s contract length, draft position, age and other factors.
• Match payments: This is the additional amount that a player receives for each game they play in the AFL. The match payments are based on a fixed rate per game, which is determined by the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) and the AFL. The match payments can increase depending on the player’s experience level and the games played.
• Additional service agreements (ASAs): These are payments that a player receives from their club for performing non-football-related services, such as community work, media appearances, sponsorship activities and club promotions. The ASAs are capped at 9.5% of the total player payments for each club.)
• Incentives: These are payments that a player receives for achieving certain goals or milestones, such as winning awards, playing finals, kicking goals or being selected in representative teams. The incentives are negotiated between the player and the club and are subject to the salary cap rules.
• Other benefits: These are payments or benefits that a player receives from sources other than their club, such as personal sponsorships, endorsements, third-party arrangements or investments. The other benefits are also subject to the salary cap rules and must be declared to the AFL.

How much do AFL coaches earn?

The average salary of an AFL coach is not publicly disclosed, but it is estimated to be around $500,000 to $800,000 per year. However, some of the top coaches in the league can earn over one million dollars per year, depending on their contract terms, performance and reputation.

The AFL coaches are paid by their clubs, not by the AFL. The clubs have different budgets and strategies for hiring and retaining their coaches, so there is no standard salary structure or cap for coaches. However, some factors that can influence a coach’s salary are:

• Experience: Coaches who have been in the AFL for a long time or have achieved success in previous roles tend to command higher salaries than newcomers or less proven coaches.
• Performance: Coaches who deliver results on the field, such as winning games, making finals or improving their team’s performance tend to receive higher salaries than coaches who struggle or underperform.
• Reputation: Coaches who have a strong reputation in the industry, such as being respected by their peers, media and fans tend to receive higher salaries than coaches who have a low profile or negative image.
• Demand: Coaches who are in high demand by other clubs or organisations tend to receive higher salaries than coaches who have limited options or opportunities.
• Contract length: Coaches who sign long-term contracts with their clubs tend to receive higher salaries than coaches who sign short-term contracts or work on a year-to-year basis.

How do AFL salaries compare to other sports?

AFL salaries are among the highest in Australian sports, but they are still lower than some of the global sports leagues. According to Forbes, here are some of the average salaries of players in different sports leagues around the world in 2021:

• NBA (basketball): $9.5 million
• MLB (baseball): $4.17 million
• IPL (cricket): $3.97 million
• EPL (soccer): $3.97 million
• NFL (American football): $3.26 million
• NHL (ice hockey): $2.9 million
• AFL (Australian football): $0.36 million
• NRL (rugby league): $0.31 million

As you can see, AFL players earn significantly less than their counterparts in the NBA, MLB, IPL and EPL, but they earn slightly more than NRL players. However, it is important to note that these figures are based on average salaries, which can be skewed by outliers or exchange rates. Also, these figures do not include other sources of income, such as endorsements, sponsorships or bonuses.

Conclusion

AFL is a popular and exciting sport that attracts many fans and players across Australia. The AFL players and coaches are paid well for their skills and work, but their salaries vary depending on their value, experience, performance and reputation. The AFL also has salary cap and floor rules that ensure fairness and competitiveness among the clubs. Compared to other sports leagues around the world, AFL salaries are relatively high in Australia, but low in global terms.

10 most asked questions and answers

Q: How much does the highest-paid AFL player earn?

A: The highest-paid AFL player in 2022 was Lance Franklin, who earned $1.5 million from the Sydney Swans.

Q: How much does the lowest-paid AFL player earn?

A: The lowest-paid AFL player in 2022 was a rookie who earned $85,000 from their club

Q: How long is the average AFL contract?

A: The average AFL contract is about three to four years, but some players can sign longer or shorter contracts depending on their situation.

Q: How often do AFL players get paid?

A: AFL players get paid monthly by their clubs, but they can also receive match payments, incentives or other benefits throughout the year.

Q: How do AFL players negotiate their contracts?

A: AFL players negotiate their contracts with their clubs, usually with the help of their managers or agents. They can also seek advice from the AFLPA or other sources.

Q: How do AFL clubs acquire new players?

A: AFL clubs can acquire new players through various methods, such as the national draft, the rookie draft, the pre-season draft, the mid-season draft, free agency, trades or delisted free agency.

Q: What is free agency in the AFL?

A: Free agency is a system that allows eligible players to move to another club without requiring a trade. There are two types of free agents: restricted and unrestricted. Restricted free agents are players who have served at least eight years at their club and are in the top 25% of earners at their club. Unrestricted free agents are players who have served at least eight years at their club and are not in the top 25% of earners at their club, or players who have served at least 10 years at their club regardless of their earnings.

Q: What is a trade in the AFL?

A: A trade is a transaction that involves two or more clubs exchanging players or draft picks. Trades can only occur during certain periods of the year, such as the trade period or the exchange period.

Q: What is a delisted player in the AFL?

A: A delisted player is a player who has been removed from their club’s list of contracted players. Delisted players can either retire, nominate for the draft or become delisted free agents.

Q: What is a Brownlow Medal in the AFL?

A: A Brownlow Medal is an award given to the best and fairest player in the AFL each season. The winner is determined by votes from the umpires after each game².