Three AFL players earned more than $1.2 million in 2022, with a huge increase in spending helping the average wage pass $400,000 for the first time.
The AFL released its Total Player Payment (TPP) for last season on Wednesday, revealing the average wage across the 659 listed players had jumped to $406,000.
It marked an increase of more than $30,000 from $372,224 in 2021 as part of the total of $257.6 million in AFL player payments handed out.
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In total, 12 players earned over $1 million in 2022, a huge jump from just five in 2021.
While the exact players in the group are not known, Richmond superstars Dustin Martin and Tom Lynch, Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe, West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern and midfielder Tim Kelly, and new Melbourne ruckman Brodie Grundy were among those reportedly on the biggest contracts.
Sydney’s Lance Franklin, Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron, Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli and Melbourne pair Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca were in that range as well, along with GWS trio Toby Greene, Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly.
Only 11 players earned less than $100,000, with the majority of players – 360 – earning between $100,000 and $500,000.
The player payments did not include those given to rookies.
AFL player wages bounced back in 2021 after taking a hit during the Covid-19 affected 2020 campaign, rising by 10.14 per cent last year.
The average wage has risen by more than $150,000 in the past decade.
