Tassie Devils’ $5 Million Boost Set to Skyrocket AFL Player Wages
The AFL landscape is bracing for a significant shift as the yet-to-be-named Tasmanian team, colloquially referred to as the Tassie Devils, prepares to unleash a substantial $5 million sign-on bonus fund. This substantial injection of cash, operating outside the traditional salary cap, is anticipated to further inflate the earnings of the game’s elite talent. The move comes in the wake of a record-breaking 2025 season, which saw an unprecedented 58 AFL players pocketing over $1 million.
The Devils will have access to this extraordinary financial firepower for the 2028 and 2029 seasons, with a maximum of $3 million available in either year. This strategic allocation of funds is designed to lure the league’s most sought-after players. Speculation is already rife about potential targets, with Collingwood’s sensational young gun Nick Daicos, currently contracted until the end of 2029, and hometown heroes like Western Bulldogs’ emerging star Ryley Sanders being prime examples of the calibre of talent the Devils will aim to attract.
Club Concerns Grow Amidst Intensifying Talent War
While some AFL clubs may possess the financial resilience to resist escalating wage demands from their current rosters, others are likely to find themselves vulnerable. The prospect of losing their most prized assets to the Devils, or indeed to any club able to offer significantly inflated contracts, looms large. This intensified pursuit of talent is only expected to be exacerbated by the near doubling of players earning seven-figure salaries in 2025, which has inevitably heightened player expectations across the board.
The sheer scale of this financial commitment has already sparked apprehension among some club powerbrokers. Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan, speaking to AFL Media recently, voiced his concerns about the substantial sums paid by St Kilda to retain Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and secure the services of Tom De Koning. He described these payments as “a danger for the game,” arguing that they artificially inflate salary demands and create a wider disparity in individual earnings within club lists. The Saints, however, maintain that such aggressive contract offers were a necessity to remain competitive in attracting top-tier talent, acknowledging that many players naturally gravitate towards teams already performing well on the ladder.
Salary Cap Dynamics and Future Collective Bargaining
The Total Player Payments (TPP) cap saw a considerable increase of nearly $2 million in 2025. However, projections indicate a more modest rise of approximately $500,000 in 2026 and a further $150,000 in 2027. Negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) are expected to commence later this year. This crucial agreement will shape the salary cap structure from 2028 onwards, particularly in light of the AFL’s lucrative broadcast rights deal, which has secured the game’s financial future until the conclusion of the 2032 season.
Deconstructing the Million-Dollar Player Myth
While the figure of 58 players earning over $1 million in 2025 is striking, a closer examination reveals a more nuanced reality. It is important to note that not all of these players will consistently command an average of $1 million per season throughout the entirety of their contracts. Clubs often employ sophisticated strategies to manage player payments, front-loading contracts in certain years to accommodate higher salaries for their stars while ensuring the total expenditure remains within the annual salary cap.
A prime example of this strategy can be seen in the case of Richmond’s Tom Lynch. He reportedly accepted a salary significantly below market value in his initial years with the Tigers, allowing for a more substantial payout in later seasons, such as the reported seven-figure sum he received in 2025. St Kilda, recognised for its aggressive approach in the 2025 market, similarly front-loaded the contract of star forward Max King. Despite being sidelined for the entire season due to a knee injury, King reportedly earned between $1.4 million and $1.6 million last year. His annual remuneration will be considerably lower in subsequent years, as the Saints’ salary cap is significantly allocated to the hefty contracts of Tom De Koning and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. King, who recently suffered a calf injury, is contracted until the end of 2032.
AFL Executive Earnings and Financial Performance
In parallel with player wage discussions, the AFL’s financial report for the 2025 financial year reveals that its nine-person executive team, restructured midway through the previous year by CEO Andrew Dillon, collectively earned $10.7 million. The organisation recorded a healthy cash surplus of $67.9 million during the same period.
The departure of former executives Tanya Hosch, Brian Walsh, and Stephen Meade means the league will enter 2026 with a revitalised executive leadership. Dillon has been active in reshaping the team, bringing in former club bosses Greg Swann and Tom Harley, and appointing communications specialist Sharon McCrohan to key executive roles. The $10.7 million figure for executive salaries represents a slight decrease of $100,000 compared to the previous financial year, according to figures up to October 31. However, this figure could potentially increase in 2026, contingent on further structural adjustments and the remuneration packages for the newly appointed experienced executives, who are expected to command higher salaries than their predecessors.
Greg Swann joined the AFL in July as the head of football performance, assuming many of the responsibilities previously held by Laura Kane, who remains on the executive as the head of football operations. Harley and McCrohan commenced their executive duties towards the end of the financial year in October. In total, the AFL distributed $461.5 million to its clubs and generated a revenue of $1.2 billion in 2025.
Yze Issues Warning as Prestia Awaits Court Date
Richmond coach Adem Yze has publicly stated his confidence in Dion Prestia’s non-involvement in a recent alleged brawl, but the incident has served as a stark warning to his entire playing group. Prestia, along with Melbourne’s Steven May, faces criminal charges stemming from an altercation on Point Nepean Road in Sorrento, Victoria, on December 27, 2024. Police allege that two groups were involved in the incident, which resulted in two men requiring hospital treatment. Both Prestia and May have consistently denied any involvement in the fight.
Speaking on SEN, Yze expressed his comfort with the information provided by Prestia, a 33-year-old three-time premiership star. “Yeah, no doubt,” Yze responded when asked if he was satisfied with Prestia’s account. “We understand where all that is, and I think, right now, it’s just time. We are really clear on his non-involvement in that but, like I said, it’s before the courts, and we can’t really say a lot about it.”
When questioned about his confidence in Prestia’s innocence, Yze reiterated, “No doubt.” Prestia has been charged on summons with recklessly causing serious injury, intentionally causing injury, and affray. May faces a charge of affray on summons. Reports from a hearing at Dromana Magistrates Court indicate that the prosecution presented allegations that May was the instigator of the initial dispute, reportedly placing his arm around a woman in the presence of her boyfriend.
Following a challenging year for the Tigers, which included an incident involving defender Noah Balta who avoided jail time but received a curfew for assaulting a man, Yze emphasised the need for his young team to understand their public responsibilities. “No doubt, and we have a really young list that are influenced by those sorts of things. I was really open with the way we went about that,” Yze stated. “Me, being a senior coach, it is exactly the same thing – you understand that the spotlight is on, and you are playing AFL footy and there is a lot of media around.”
Yze stressed that his players must recognise the constant scrutiny they face. “So, if you feel like you are going to do what you can do at a nightclub, or walk through ‘Chaddy’ (Chadstone Shopping Centre), and feel like you can put a hoodie on, and put a hat on and hide, you are kidding yourself,” he explained. “I spoke to the boys, you may as well be going out to a pub in Richmond, with your footy boots on, your socks on, your full kit on, because that is what it’s like. You can’t hide. We would love to be able to, but that’s just the life we live in. Be really clear on our expectations – you are wearing our logo, if you are going to do anything that is going to jeopardise that, you are, obviously, going to be punished.” Prestia and May are scheduled to appear before Frankston Magistrates Court on February 20.
Soldo’s Season Cut Short by Knee Injury
Port Adelaide ruckman Ivan Soldo has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering an ACL tear during training. The 29-year-old, a premiership player with Richmond before his move to Port Adelaide at the end of 2023, sustained the injury on Monday. Soldo played eight games in his debut season with the Power but managed only one senior appearance last year, spending the majority of the season in the SANFL before being sidelined with concussion in the final rounds.
