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AFL’s top paid players take big hit as league reveals hugely reduced average salaries

Shayne HopeThe West Australian
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Only two AFL players were paid more than $1 million by their clubs in 2020 and the average salary dropped by a six-figure sum because of the agreed reduction in payments caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

AFL figures released on Friday showed the average pay for a primary listed player last year was $259,651; down from $363,430 in 2019.

The result came after the AFL and AFL Players Association negotiated a 29.17 per cent reduction in wages as the competition battled a major financial crisis during 2020.

The AFL this month revealed it lost $22.8 million in 2020, with revenue down $119 million to $675 million as a result of the pandemic.

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The number of players paid more than $1 million by their clubs dropped significantly from a record-equalling nine in 2019.

The 2019 figures included two players - believed to be Brownlow medallists Dustin Martin (Richmond) and Nat Fyfe (Fremantle) - who earned more than $1.2 million.

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Dustin Martin of the Tigers and Nat Fyfe of the Dockers compete for the ball.
Camera IconDustin Martin of the Tigers and Nat Fyfe of the Dockers compete for the ball. Credit: Scott Barbour/AFL Media

That tally was down from a record three the previous year, but the latest figures reveal no players were paid that much in 2020.

Four players were in the $800,000 - $1,000,000 pay bracket in 2020, but two of those failed to play a game.

Of the 698 AFL players on primary lists last year, 113 were paid $100,000 or less.

AFL clubs paid a total of $170.3 million in player payments in 2020 before deductions for injury allowances, veterans’ list payments, finals incentives and other reasons.

The clubs’ overall payments to players decreased 29.8 per cent from $242.3 million in 2019.

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