In 2023, Lance Franklin of the Sydney Swans was the highest paid player in the AFL, earning a cool $1.5 million. However, after Buddy’s retirement there is a new name at the top of the list.
If you think it is ‘Lachie Neale’ – who of course won the Brownlow Medal last year – then you’d be wrong. Believe it or not, his 900k salary only puts him 21st on the list!
So, who are the highest earning AFL players this season?
Well, recently Sports Bet, revealed the list. And in case you missed it, you may well be surprised at who is now raking it in the most.
Here are the Top 15 highest paid AFL Players of 2024.
T13. Toby Greene
Toby Greene still has a couple of years to run on his mega-money deal with GWS. However, it is difficult to argue against him being worthy of his bumper pay packet.
The Giants number 4 is arguably the best player in the squad and it’s fair to say he earns his corn. Not least because he was an All Australian last year and he scored a whopping 66 goals last year.
If GWS are to go better than their narrow one point loss to Collingwood in the preliminary final last year, Greene will need to post similar numbers this time around you would think.
Team: GWS Giants
Age: 30
Position: Forward
Salary: $950k
T13. Stephen Coniglio
Both Hawthorn and Carlton were believed to be keen to secure the services of Stephen Coniglio in 2019, though he eventually chose to sign for Greater Western Sydney on a 7-year deal. His position on this list is due to him still enjoying the fruits of that deal.
As the captain of the Giants his influence has not been as strong as he had hoped. Injury and loss of form has plagued his career in recent years, though when he is on form, he is still a major force to be reckoned with.
Team: GWS Giants
Age: 30
Position: Midfielder
Salary $950k
T13. Issac Heeney
The retirement of Buddy Franklin has left a huge hole in the forward line of the Sydney Swans. So if they are to repeat their grand final appearance of 2022, its fair to say that Isaac Heeney will need to play a leading role.
He decent goal kicking record suggests he is more than capable of doing it, which is why he gets paid just under $1 million a year. Now that he is 27, and with over 180 games to his name in 9 seasons, he should be at the peak of his powers.
Team: Sydney Swans
Age: 27
Position: Forward
Salary: $950k
12. Patrick Cripps
Carlton have a real diamond in Patrick Cripps, which is probably why they are happy to fork out $1 million per year for his salary.
Not only is he a past winner of the Brownlow Medal, he also has been an All-Australian twice and a three-time John Nicholls Medallist.
Now in his tenth year with the Blues, and their sole captain, he has recently signed a huge new extension that will likely see him play out his career with them. That said, he has had some injury issues over the last couple of seasons, so will be looking to put a clear run of games behind him.
Team: Carlton Blues
Age: 29
Position: Midfielder
Salary: $1 million
11. Darcy Moore
No doubt his father, Peter, was incredibly proud of Darcy Moore as he lifted the Premiership Trophy last year. A major factor to Collingwood’s success last year, the versatile player more than repaid his hefty salary last season.
His fantastic closing speed, excellent marking ability, and strong natural leap are very difficult to play against. Moreover, his ability to play as a defender, where he excels at shutting out players, or as a forward where he can kick goals for fun, makes him worth his weight in gold.
Team: Collingwood Magpies
Age: 28
Position: Key Defender
Salary: $1.025 million
10. Tom Lynch
With more than 450 goals to his name in just over 215 games for the Gold Coast Suns and Richmond Tigers, Tom Lynch is one of the game’s deadliest marksman. It should not come as a surprise then to see the All-Australian and dual premiership player make this list at number ten.
Having topped the league a few times for the most contested marks, the fate of the Tiger’s season rests, to some degree, on his ability to top the rankings again this year. If he manages to stay injury free, you could well see the Tigers in the eight, if not pushing for a place in the minor premiership final.
If things go really well, he may even end up becoming a three time AFL Premiership Player and a dual All-Australian.
Team: Richmond Tigers
Age: 31
Position: Key Forward
Salary: $1.025 million
T7. Jeremy Cameron
Back in 2020 the back-ended deal Jeremy Cameron had signed with Greater Western Sydney saw him become the league’s highest paid player. While he apparently took a bit of a drop in salary to move to Geelong, he still makes $1 million every year.
Giving his exceptional skill at goalkicking, – he is closing in on 600 goals in only 230 games – it is no surprise that the Cats rate him highly enough to pay him such a wage.
Whether this translates to a premiership in 2024 remains to be seen. But there is no question that Geelong has one of the best key forwards in the game on their books.
Team: Geelong Cats
Age: 30
Position: Key Forward
Salary: $1.05 million
T7. Christian Petracca
Currently in the second year of a huge 7-year contract, Christian Petracca is the kind of player that puts bums on seats.
Widely respected as one of the best players in the league, he took out the Norm Smith Medal as the Demons thrashed the Western Bulldogs in the 2021 AFL Grand Final. Who could forget his 39-disposal game, which equalled the record held by Simon Black?
The Dees are highly fancied to repeat the triumph this season, and with Christian running riot, they have every chance. His ability to play as either a midfielder or forward, both outside and inside with equal aplomb, gives the Dees incredible flexibility, which can make it very difficult for teams to defend against.
Team: Melbourne Demons
Age: 27
Position: Midfield/Forward
Salary: $1.05 million
T7. Clayton Oliver
At just 26 years old, Clayton Oliver is the youngest player on this list, thank to a massive $7 million, 7-year contract he signed with the Demons in 2022.
While his salary is high, he is well-known for his inside capabilities, in particular his clearance and handball work. Something which contributed to him being made an AFL Premiership Player in 2021. He also notably won the Fox Footy Longest Kick award in 2019.
Along with Petracca, he is part of a formidable midfield, which the Dees hope will propel them towards the premiership title this season.
Team: Melbourne Demons
Age: 26
Position: Midfielder
Salary: $1.05 million
T4. Marcus Bontempelli
Having signed a new contract last year, The Bont is one of three players in the league who earn $1.1 million a year.
As a five-time All-Australian and Charles Sutton Medallist, as well as a former AFL Premiership player, his salary is well deserved. He is also captain and a talismanic figure for the Western Bulldogs, so, a lot rides on his shoulders.
However, he will no doubt want to go better than 2021, when he suffered the double blow of losing in the AFL Grand Final and just missing out on the Brownlow medal – which he also finished runner up in 2023.
Team: Western Bulldogs
Age: 28
Position: Midfield/Forward
Salary: $1.1 million
T4. Tim Kelly
Although he started his career impressively at Geelong, resulting in him being an All Australian in 2019, Tim Kelly’s heart has always been in Western Australia. Which is why he requested a move to the Eagles, not once but twice.
His wish was finally granted in 2020, when he signed a monster 6-year contract, thought to be worth over $5 million. But success has been hard to find since then.
Still only 29, he should be in his prime, which is no doubt the reason he was given such a bumper annual salary. Despite, statistically at least, having the best year of his three at WCE, his efforts were in vain.
The AFL’s worst team really struggled last season and they will really need to up their game to have a chance of making the eight.
Team: West Coast Eagles
Age: 29
Position: Midfielder
Salary $1.1 million
T4. Jeremy McGovern
The third of the trio on $1.1 million a season is Tim Kelly’s teammate Jeremy McGovern.
Son to Andrew, who played for the Dockers and Swans in the 1990s and the older brother of Mitch who plays for Carlton, Jeremy has been a stalwart at WCE since debuting in 2011. He missed most of last season due to injury, which no doubt was a major blow to the Western Australian outfit.
However, on his day he is recognised as one of the best defenders in the league and there is no doubt West Coast are a much better team with him marshalling their play than on the sidelines.
Team: West Coast Eagles
Age: 31
Position: Key Defender
Salary: $1.1 million
3. Nat Fyfe
We didn’t see the best of Nat Fyfe in 2023 due to a couple of foot injuries. However, have been an All-Australian on three different occasions and a Brownlow Medalist twice, there is no doubting his quality.
If he stays injury free this season he is sure to be one of the Dockers most influential players, which is why his salary is believed to have been around $1.15 million for the last six seasons.
Although his current deal is due to run out, it is not believed to have been a back-ended one.
Subsequently, Fremantle should be able to afford his salary until he decides to hang up his boots for good.
Team: Fremantle Dockers
Age: 32
Position: Midfield/Forward
Salary: $1.15 million
2. Dustin Martin
If ever there was a Rolls Royce of a player its Dustin Martin. The former Brownlow Medal winner is one of the league’s most consistent performers and has been one of the main reasons why the Tigers have been such a tough team to beat since he debuted for them in 2010.
During the course of his glittering career, Dusty has enjoyed three premiership wins with Richmond, scooping the Norm Smith Medal on each occasion. He had an injury hit campaign in 2021 and 2022, but was back to near his best last year, producing performances that saw him make the 40-strong All-Australian Squad.
With a good pre-season behind him, who would bet against him bettering the 25 goals he kicked in 2023?
Team: Richmond Tigers
Age: 32
Position: Midfield/Forward
Salary: $1.35 million
1. Ben McKay
Did you guess who number one was?
Ben Mckay has catapulted to the status of the highest earning AFL Player thanks to his recent switch from North Melbourne to Essendon on a mega six-year contract.
His new deal is heavily front-loaded, hence his current position at the top of the tree. Subsequently, it starts off with him earning $1.5 million this year, only to average out at about 850k per anum over the entire course of his deal.
Despite having only played 71 games in six, fairly miserable years at the Kangaroos, the Bomber have shown plenty of faith in their marquee signing. Clearly they see potential in him and will most probably mould their defensive unit around the skills he brings to it.
Team: Essendon Bombers
Age: 26
Position: Defender
Salary: $1.5 million