Winner to hit jackpot too JON PIERIK
August 1, 2010 WHILE holding aloft the AFL premiership cup remains the ultimate prize, this year's grand finalists will have an even greater incentive, with the winner pocketing a $1 million jackpot.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou yesterday revealed the prizemoney. ''The team that wins gets $1 million, up from $300,000 three years ago,'' he said.
Half the money will go to the players while the remainder will go into the club's coffers.
The losing grand finalist will get $500,000.
Poor prizemoney has been a sore point among clubs for many years, although the spin-offs from winning did include a boost in merchandise and membership sales.
While the pay cheque has been fattened, Demetriou has warned that premierships will be even harder to claim once the Gold Coast Suns joins next year and Greater Western Sydney follows in 2012.
Demetriou said the new clubs would be ''super competitive'' within three years. ''On average, the good teams, the Geelongs of the world, probably have got around 12 or 13 first-round draft picks in their squad over time,'' he said on ABC radio.
''This club (Gold Coast) has probably already got around six first-round draft picks with the 17-year-olds they have recruited.
''They are going to get nine of the 15 first-round draft picks in the draft (this year), so they are already starting off with 15 before they sign uncontracted players.''
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/winner-to-hit-jackpot-too-20100731-110o4.html
