Money Talks.Credit: The Age
The AFL has confirmed that players are free to have separate arrangements with club sponsors as long as they are bona fide and unrelated, as third-party deals around the league come under increased scrutiny.
These types of arrangements are now commonplace in the AFL, enabling the game’s biggest stars to earn extra income – but there are strict rules in place to ensure the league’s integrity is not compromised, including all such deals being lodged with the league.
Christian Petracca in action for the Demons during their pre-season clash with Fremantle.Credit: AFL Photos
The AFL clarified the process to The Age after this masthead reported on Melbourne star Christian Petracca’s deal with yoghurt company and Demons sponsor YoPRO.
That was Petracca’s last business with Connors Sports Management before switching to Anna Scullie.
The AFL does not provide commentary on individual deals unless a breach takes place, so it was unwilling to answer questions around Petracca’s legal arrangement with YoPRO, part of which will be included in Melbourne’s additional services agreements (ASAs).
“Players can have individual separate sponsorship agreements with club partners, all of which need to be approved by the AFL,” a league spokesperson said in a statement.
The league did not provide clarity on how it judges whether a third-party deal is bona fide.
There is an AFL audit underway of two clubs, one of which is Geelong, whereby the Cats’ third-party deals and salary cap are being closely scrutinised.
In Petracca’s case, he is featured with a club jumper and kicking a Sherrin on YoPRO packaging, and league rules state this must be included in ASAs, whereas his appearance in an Instagram video for the brand without any AFL intellectual property does not have to be.
The best-known third-party deal was then-Carlton captain Chris Judd’s “employment agreement” with club sponsor Visy.
However, the league years later ruled that a proposed new deal between the parties would have to be included in ASAs, or their salary cap.
– Marc McGowan
Action on Jackson?
Melbourne’s resolve to hang on to Kysaiah Pickett sets up a fascinating situation as the prospect of a surprise reunion with premiership ruckman Luke Jackson lingers.
Victorian clubs have discussed the possibility of Fremantle star Jackson, who played an integral role in swinging the 2021 grand final in the Demons’ favour, returning to the east coast, even as Dockers coach Justin Longmuir downplayed the chances of him leaving.
Jackson has told Fremantle he is happy and plans to stay, but two sources close to him – who The Age granted anonymity, to be able to speak more freely – stopped short of guaranteeing the situation would not change.
Luke Jackson is under contract, but speculation is rife he would be open to returning to Victoria.Credit: AFL Photos
Melbourne are an obvious landing spot for the 23-year-old, whose girlfriend, ex-Australian Diamonds netballer Kelsey Browne, hails from Victoria and is part of Fox Sports’ NBL and Super Netball commentary teams.
Pickett, who is contracted until the end of 2027 but has conceded he struggles with homesickness, is also regularly linked with a move back to Western Australia. His departure would make a Jackson homecoming more plausible.
If not, the Demons would face a challenge in satisfying Fremantle – two years after scoring two first-round picks and a second-rounder when Jackson requested a trade home – but can trade two years in advance as of 2025.
They have not commented publicly on the speculation about Jackson’s future, but club president Brad Green told this masthead he would expect up to three first-round picks in return for star small forward Pickett.
There are varying opinions across the industry on whether Melbourne could fit Jackson into their salary cap without trading Pickett or another well-paid star.
One industry source, who works in player contracts, told this masthead he believed Jackson would likely need to accept a pay cut in the scenario he wishes to return to his old club.
Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver are on long-term contracts worth as much as $1.3 million annually, while sources believe Max Gawn and Jack Viney are the next-best-paid players at the Demons, ahead of Jake Lever, Steven May and Pickett.
However, another source from outside the Demons said they would have the ability to move hundreds of thousands of dollars into future years if required.
There is also internal belief they are in a good salary cap position.
– Marc McGowan
Watch on Giants defender
How many AFL matches in-demand Giants defender Leek Aleer plays this year will be a factor in whether he stays at the club.
Aleer’s two-year extension expires at the end of this season as he waits to see where he fits into coach Adam Kingsley’s plans.
Leek Aleer has interest from clubs in multiple states, but isn’t rushing to make a call on his future.Credit: Getty Images
The 23-year-old was an emergency in the opening round after choosing to stay loyal to GWS rather than accept rival clubs’ advances at the end of last year, including a six-year offer from St Kilda.
But Aleer, the No.15 pick in the 2021 draft, is at a point where he wants to play regular senior football after only 12 games in three years. None of those was in 2023, when a ruptured ligament in a toe ended his season in July.
“That will obviously be a major contributor to my decision,” Aleer told The Age.
“I love the Giants, I love the boys, I love the coach, and all the staff – and I love Sydney as a whole. But I’m a very aspirational person. This year, I’m very focused on just playing footy and enjoying what is going to hopefully be a fruitful season for us as a football club.
“Playing as many games as I possibly can is my main priority. When I get to that crossroad at the back-end of the year, to decide what I want to do, I will talk about and deal with those things then.”
A source familiar with the situation, who this masthead granted anonymity to speak more freely, confirmed the interest in Aleer remained, from multiple states outside NSW.
– Marc McGowan
No rush on key emerging Cats
Geelong doesn’t expect to lock in out-of-contract forward Ollie Henry beyond 2025 in the early part of the season as negotiations continue on the futures of emerging forwards Henry and Shannon Neale, and premiership defender Sam De Koning.
Ollie Henry has been a handy acquisition for the Cats. Credit: AFL Photos
Henry is entering his third season at the Cats after crossing from Collingwood to play for the club near where he grew up and has kicked 78 goals in 45 games since he arrived.
There is little doubt Henry wants to remain at the club, but discussions about the right terms are expected to take time as each party lands on an agreement that recognises his value.
Neale showed his promise in the back half of the year when he replaced Tom Hawkins up forward after the champion Cat injured his foot. The athletic West Australian kicked 23 goals in 15 matches after arriving at the Cats via pick 33 in the 2020 national draft.
Gold Coast have expressed interest in De Koning, but Geelong remain confident he will stay, with the ruckman/defender hoping to recapture the form he showed in 2022 when he was the game’s best young defender.
– Peter Ryan
Flag contenders could lure Allen
The chase for a flag or a long-term contract are the two things that could make West Coast skipper Oscar Allen consider a move.
However, the Eagles remain optimistic they can strike a deal with the free agent that satisfies both parties, with Allen’s initial preference being to remain at the club.
The Eagles do not have any players on deals stretching beyond the end of 2029 as they attempt to reshape their list to rise from the bottom, having extended Jake Waterman last year until 2029 and signed former Tiger Liam Baker to a five-year deal.
Clubs are keeping a close eye on West Coast skipper Oscar Allen and his contract negotiations this season.Credit: AFL Photos
Between Allen’s management and the club have been attempting to land at the right point to give the club the correct amount of flexibility and the player appropriate security.
Allen’s co-captain Liam Duggan, who re-signed in the middle of last season for four years, is confident his teammate will stay, amid interest from several clubs including the Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn.
The 25-year-old Allen and his fiancee recently bought a house to renovate in Western Australia, but two competition sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the prospect of a premiership and a long-term contract were the variables that would make him consider a move out of his home state to continue his career.
Duggan took time to sign with the Eagles when a free agent last season, and he expects Allen will do the same as the tall forward contemplates his next contract.
He told this masthead he had not spoken to Allen directly about his contract but said if he did he would “be begging him to stay, which I’m sure he will”.
Duggan said negotiating while captain was a little awkward because he wanted to be able to provide the club with certainty as soon as possible.
“There is so much due diligence to go through in terms of a contract. I signed for four years so that was quite a lengthy amount of time,” Duggan said. “In [Oscar’s] mind he just wants to get into playing some footy.”
Allen played just 11 games in 2024 due to a knee injury and has been on a gradual program through the pre-season as he builds towards full fitness.
– Peter Ryan
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