AFL Salaries Skyrocket as Average Pay Tops $500,000
The financial landscape of Australian Rules Football has undergone a seismic shift, with player salaries reaching unprecedented heights. In the 2025 season, nearly 60 AFL players were on annual contracts exceeding $1 million, while the average salary across the league rose to more than $500,000. This represents a dramatic increase from the previous year, when only 25 players earned at least $1 million.
Record-Breaking Deals and Salary Cap Increases
The surge in player earnings is directly tied to the league's salary cap, which expanded from $15.8 million in 2024 to $17.8 million in 2025. This financial flexibility has allowed clubs to offer increasingly lucrative contracts to both established stars and emerging talents.
Last season, 58 players banked seven-figure sums, more than double the previous year's total. Two players reached the $1.6 million mark, setting new benchmarks for on-field compensation. The average salary climbed to $505,961, up significantly from $459,173 in 2024. Remarkably, only 10 percent of players earned below $200,000 in 2025.
St Kilda's Mega Contracts Draw Attention
St Kilda Football Club has been at the forefront of this salary explosion, securing two of the league's most notable contracts. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has become the AFL's first $2 million man, signing a contract extension worth that amount per season. The defender, who has played just 86 AFL games, led the league last season with 22.3 kicks per game despite his team finishing 12th.
Meanwhile, ruckman Tom De Koning will join Wanganeen-Milera in 2026 on a deal worth approximately $1.7 million annually. De Koning played 100 games for Carlton before accepting St Kilda's offer, which Carlton declined to match. Wanganeen-Milera also attracted interest from Adelaide and Port Adelaide but ultimately chose to remain with the Saints.
Coaching Concerns About Salary Structure
Despite the financial windfall for players, Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has issued a stark warning about the current salary trends. The two-time premiership-winning coach expressed concern that St Kilda's massive contracts represent a potential danger for the sport.
"I'm hoping those numbers we saw last year, via St Kilda, don't become a reality. I saw that as a bit of a danger for the game," Fagan told AFL.com.au. "I think the best players in the competition deserve to be paid the most money and that's not the case at the moment."
Fagan emphasized that his comments were not meant as criticism of individual players, noting that Wanganeen-Milera "is going to be a really good player" and that De Koning has "shown a lot of promise for a long time." However, he maintained that "the better players should get all the big money" rather than players being compensated based on potential rather than proven performance.
Former Players Cashing In Off the Field
The financial boom extends beyond current players to former stars who have transitioned to media roles. In 2025, AFL great Nathan Brown identified Kane Cornes as the highest-earning former player in football media, estimating the outspoken commentator earns approximately $950,000 annually.
Cornes has become a polarizing figure in the media landscape, generating controversy with his commentary style. North Melbourne banned him from club access over what they described as "bullying behaviour" toward players Harry Sheezel and Jy Simpkin. His comments have also drawn criticism from fellow media personalities, including his own co-host David King.
Despite the backlash, Cornes remains a significant presence in football media, demonstrating that financial opportunities in the AFL ecosystem extend well beyond playing careers. This expansion of earning potential reflects the growing commercialization and media interest in Australian Rules Football at all levels.
