Collingwood is one of the most successful and popular clubs in the Australian Football League (AFL), with 15 premierships and a large fan base. However, the club has also faced some challenges in recent years, especially with its salary cap management and list turnover. In this article, we will look at the salaries of Collingwood players, coaches, and staff, as well as the highest and lowest paid players in the team. We will also provide some information about the club’s schedule for the 2024 season.
How much do Collingwood players earn?
The average AFL salary for players in 2021 was $363,430, according to Indeed. However, this figure varies depending on the player’s experience, performance, and contract terms. The AFL has a salary cap system that limits the amount of money that each club can spend on its players. The salary cap for 2021 was $13.17 million, but it is expected to increase by 5% in 2022 and 2023.
Collingwood has 45 players on its list for the 2023 season, including 41 senior players and four rookies. The club also has six players who are eligible for the veterans’ allowance, which means that they can exclude up to $118,000 of their salary from the cap. These players are Taylor Adams, Mason Cox, Jack Crisp, Jamie Elliott, Jeremy Howe, and Will Hoskin-Elliott.
The highest paid player at Collingwood is Jordan De Goey, who signed a two-year contract extension worth $1.5 million per season in 20203. De Goey is a star forward who has kicked 157 goals in 157 games for the Magpies. He is followed by Brody Mihocek, who earns $800,000 per season after signing a four-year deal in 2020. Mihocek is a key forward who has kicked 125 goals in 125 games for the club.
The lowest paid players at Collingwood are the rookies, who earn a minimum of $85,000 per season. These players are Aiden Begg, Josh Carmichael, Charlie Dean, and Oleg Markov. Begg and Dean are tall forwards, Carmichael is a versatile midfielder, and Markov is a rebounding defender. All of them were recruited from other clubs or state leagues in the 2022 draft or rookie draft.
How much do Collingwood coaches and staff earn?
The average AFL salary for coaches in 2021 was $505,000, according to Indeed1. However, this figure also varies depending on the coach’s experience, performance, and contract terms. The AFL does not have a salary cap for coaches, but it does have a soft cap for football department spending, which includes coaches, assistant coaches, medical staff, fitness staff, and other support staff. The soft cap for 2021 was $6.2 million, but it is expected to increase by 10% in 2023 and 2024.
The head coach of Collingwood is Craig McRae, who was appointed in 2021 after Nathan Buckley resigned mid-season. McRae is a former Richmond assistant coach and Brisbane premiership player who has also coached in the VFL and the SANFL. His salary is not publicly disclosed, but it is likely to be in the range of $500,000 to $800,000 per season, based on the salaries of other AFL head coaches.
The assistant coaches of Collingwood are Justin Leppitsch (senior assistant), Scott Burns (midfield), Hayden Skipworth (forwards), Matthew Boyd (defence), Brenton Sanderson (development), Tarkyn Lockyer (VFL), and Robert Harvey (consultant). Their salaries are also not publicly disclosed, but they are likely to be in the range of $150,000 to $300,000 per season, based on the salaries of other AFL assistant coaches.
The staff of Collingwood include Graham Wright (football manager), Geoff Walsh (list manager), Nick Maxwell (leadership and culture manager), Marcus Wagner (recruiting manager), Kevin White (high performance manager), and Dr. Rohan White (medical services manager). Their salaries are also not publicly disclosed, but they are likely to be in the range of $100,000 to $250,000 per season, based on the salaries of other AFL staff.
What is Collingwood’s schedule for the season?
The AFL has not yet released the fixture for the 2023 season, but it is expected to follow a similar format to the 2022 season, which had 23 rounds and a pre-finals bye. The season is likely to start in late March and end in late September, with the grand final being held at the MCG.
Collingwood will play 11 home games and 11 away games, plus one game at a neutral venue. The club’s home games will be split between the MCG and Marvel Stadium, with the majority being at the MCG. The club’s away games will be against teams from all states, including Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and Tasmania. The club’s neutral game will be part of the AFL’s international expansion, which will see one game per season being played overseas. The location and opponent for this game are yet to be confirmed, but it could be in China, India, New Zealand, or the USA.
Collingwood will also play in the pre-season competition, which will consist of two games against other AFL clubs in February or March. The club will also participate in the AFLW competition, which will run from January to April, and the VFL competition, which will run from April to September.
Conclusion
Collingwood is a proud and passionate club that has a rich history and a loyal fan base. However, the club has also faced some difficulties in recent years, especially with its salary cap management and list turnover. In this article, we have looked at the salaries of Collingwood players, coaches, and staff, as well as the highest and lowest paid players in the team. We have also provided some information about the club’s schedule for the season. We hope that this article has given you some insight into the financial and operational aspects of the Collingwood Football Club.
Most Asked Questions and Answers
Q: How many premierships has Collingwood won?
A: Collingwood has won 15 premierships, the most recent being in 2010. The club has also been runner-up 27 times, the most recent being in 2018.
Q: Who is the captain of Collingwood?
A: The captain of Collingwood is Scott Pendlebury, who has been in the role since 2014. He is a seven-time All-Australian and a six-time Copeland Trophy winner.
Q: Who is the best player at Collingwood?
A: The best player at Collingwood is subjective, but some of the contenders are Jordan De Goey, Brody Mihocek, Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard, and Taylor Adams. All of them are All-Australians and key players in their respective positions.
Q: Who is the coach of Collingwood?
A: The coach of Collingwood is Craig McRae, who was appointed in 2021 after Nathan Buckley resigned mid-season. He is a former Richmond assistant coach and Brisbane premiership player who has also coached in the VFL and the SANFL.
Q: How much does Collingwood spend on its football department?
A: Collingwood spends about $6.2 million on its football department, which includes coaches, assistant coaches, medical staff, fitness staff, and other support staff. This is the maximum amount allowed by the AFL’s soft cap for football department spending.
Q: How much does Collingwood earn from its membership and sponsorship?
A: Collingwood earns about $25 million from its membership and sponsorship, which are two of its main sources of revenue. The club has about 80,000 members and several major sponsors, such as Emirates, CGU, Nike, and La Trobe Financial.
Q: How much debt does Collingwood have?
A: Collingwood has about $6 million of debt, which is mainly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its finances. The club has been working to reduce its debt by cutting costs and increasing revenue.
Q: How many fans does Collingwood have?
A: Collingwood has about 1.2 million fans, according to the AFL’s fan survey in 2020. This makes it the most popular club in the AFL, followed by Richmond and West Coast.
Q: What are Collingwood’s colours and mascot?
A: Collingwood’s colours are black and white, and its mascot is a magpie. The club’s nickname is the Magpies, or the Pies for short.
Q: What is Collingwood’s motto and song?
A: Collingwood’s motto is “Floreat Pica”, which is Latin for “May the Magpie Flourish”. The club’s song is “Good Old Collingwood Forever”, which is sung to the tune of “Goodbye, Dolly Gray”.