At an average of $230,000, are AFL players underpaid?

[one-eyed]

At an average of $230,000, are AFL players underpaid?
By Luke D'Anello
January 20, 2009

It may seem like a ridiculous question at first glance, especially to the blue-collar worker who battles for every dollar, but it is worth exploring. The average AFL wage is $230,000 per season. While appearing exorbitant – it is not a pittance either – the figure is hardly enormous when you compare it with other sports.

Full article at:
http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/01/20/they-average-230000-a-season-but-are-afl-players-underpaid/

[Jacosh]

As the heading states it is the average.
As such I don’t think they are underpaid, the better players obviously get more than that and deservedly so.

An average worker gets paid equivalent to their skills and work ethics, with hard work and learning they can progress up the corporate ladder earning better money. Same goes for a football player, train hard play well and you get a longer better paid contract.

Yes I know some of you are going to comment on the average length of a football career is short compared to pretty much any other job that us "normal" people do.  But even average players are given opportunities to either do some kind of degree or more specifically buy into a business that for one expands that time frame considerably or two they wouldn’t necessarily get that opportunity if they hadn’t played AFL.

[WilliamPowell]

Errr NO

Even at an "Average" of $230k that is good dollars

First year draftees on the base contract stand to earn around $150k is they play 22 games. That is amazing money for an 18-19 yo. I would even argue it is too much if you take into consideration what they have do and what benefits they receive (6-8 annual leave a year)

[Jacosh]

Not to mention the other side of the story, the clubs persective.

The ONLY way they could pay the players more is to raise the salary cap. At present time sponsorship dollars and other incom is hard to get and what clubs are making profits are not making large sums of money.  Raising player payment would simply put clubs to far in the black that they wouldnt recover.

[Ox]

230 should be the maximum wage

[Francois Jackson]

Nathan Brown and Sugar made that in 6 months. How pathetic

no player at the RFC deserves over $200k in 2010, except Nahas who deserves a little more as he holds a 13inch slong

[mightytiges]

The top AFL players when you include endorsements would be earning around $1m a year. A certain Visy deal would push a certain Carlton captain above that $1m mark too .

For salaries to go up would mean a significant increase to the salary cap. With a number of clubs barely breaking even or on AFL handouts like North, Dogs and Dees you would kill off these clubs. Less clubs means less games and reduced tv rights next time so less $$$ coming into the game. With 1000 kids applying to be drafted each year and only about 140 making it onto an AFL list the demand would say the money and fame that goes with it is attractive enough.

[Judge Roughneck]

1/4 million for running on a park 20 odd times a year ...