Hawthorn will pay the better part of a million dollars for Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara to play for rival clubs in 2023, it’s been revealed.
The Age reports the Hawks will cough up around $500,000 for O’Meara to turn out for Fremantle next season, while the club will also contribute around $250,000 to Mitchell’s pay packet at Collingwood.
It’s believed the players were on a combined $1.5 million, meaning their departures will free up around $750,000 in the salary cap – despite having to continue to pay them.
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The Hawks aren’t the first club to move players on but still needing to make salary contributions.
The Magpies copped plenty of criticism for its decision to trade Adam Treloar to the Western Bulldogs in the infamous 2020 “fire sale” to clear $2 million off the books.
As a result of Treloar’s trade, Collingwood were forced to contribute $1.5m to the midfielder’s wage to play for another club.
This year, the Magpies confirmed they’re still paying for Brodie Grundy to play for Melbourne after moving the ruckman on this trade period.
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It’s believed the Grundy departure is costing the club an estimated $200,000 per season.
Geelong essentially bought their way into a top draft position by opting to take on Gold Coast’s Jack Bowes and his entire wage.
The Suns had looked to move Bowes on given his heavily back-ended deal and their salary situation.
After the Gold Coast packaged the defender with their pick 7, the Cats pounced and will absorb Bowes’ $1.6m wage.
