The All-Australian Team Player Payments Based on US Sport Contracts
Imagine, if you will, if AFL player contracts offered to the top echelon of stars were based on the figures being handed out to some sports stars in the Good ol’ US of A.
Recently, the New York Mets lured Juan Soto from the Yankees on a 15-year contract worth an approximate $1.2 billion (plus endorsements), while former Japanese Superstar, Shohei Ohtani, is currently on a contract worth just on $1 billion (plus endorsements) with the LA Dodgers.
The amounts being paid to Soto and Othani got me thinking about how much AFL players would be worth based on a five-year contract with the maximum payment of $1,000,000,000.
I will be valuing all the players in the 2024 All-Australian Team, graded on a sliding pay scale starting at $1,000,000,000 over 5-years, while some other players who for one reason or another didn’t make the AA team will also be valued, for example, Oscar Allen from the West Coast Eagles. The age of a player, their importance and service to their club will also be taken into consideration, for example Dayne Zorko should be at the lower end of the scale given his age but his service to the Lions has been invaluable, and Caleb Serong’s contract will be inflated given his potential and importance to the Dockers.
Bidding starts now.
The Contract for Each Individual in the 2024 All-Australian Team
- Jeremy Cameron – Contract $1,000,000.000 over 5 years.
Most would have expected I would have one of the dynamic midfielder players as the highest-ranked player, however, after asking ten friends who would be the player they would most want at their club, they all answered Jezza.
Cameron is a once in a generation freak footballer, and I hope in his later years the Cats allow him to play solely at full-forward just to give him the chance to kick 100 goals in a season. He is undisputably the best full-forward since the era of Lockett, Dunstall and Ablett snr.
- Patrick Cripps – Contract $1,000,000,000 over 5 years.
Is Cripps worth more than Lachie Neale or Marcus Bontempelli, or even Nick Daicos? I am not sure; however, I have ranked Cripps higher than the other three superstars based purely on his importance to the Carlton Football Club.
In terms of any player on this list, no one is more important to their club than Cripps and it would send shivers down the spine of any Blues supporter if the Crippa was out of the game for any extended period next season.
I would go as far to say, no Cripps, no Carlton.
- Nick Daicos – Contract $1,000,000,000 over 5 years.
I am not a sycophantic fanboy of Nick Daicos like half of the Fox and Channel Seven commentary teams, however, I do acknowledge he is on his way to being one of the all-time greats of the competition. With a premiership already under his belt, this kid can only get better, which is a scary prospect.
Daicos, of the Nick variety, turns 22 on 3rd January 2025 and he has already played 70 games, won a Premiership Medallion, twice been named an All-Australian, and was the 2024 Copeland Trophy winner, amongst a variety of awards for one so young.
Nick is the one of only two players on this list I would consider giving a 10-year contract.
- Lachie Neale – Contract $950,000,000 over 5 years.
Unlike Cripps, Lachie Neale is part of the Lions machine, but he is not the entire machine, which is a complement to the entire coaching team at the Lions. Lachie Neale is the latest model Bentley which just looks a cut above in a lion’s den full of luxury cars.
On the eve of the Grand Final, Lachie Neale stated he and his teammates wanted to be able look the players from the triple premiership teams square in the eyes, knowing they can be held in the same esteem as the Lion past greats. It was a powerful and poignant statement from one of the games greatest team-first oriented players.
It is duly noted that Neale played the game of his life in the 2024 Grand Final while carrying a serious injury – it takes a special kind of player to be able to do that.
- Marcus Bontempelli – Contract $930,000,000 over 5 years.
Like Cripps, the Bont is the backbone at the kennel, and he has carried this team on his broad shoulders since the Dogs won the flag in 2016.
At 29 years of age, Bontempelli deserves a contract that will take him happily into retirement just based services already rendered to the club.
- Max Gawn – Contract $900,000,000 over 5 years.
This is a hard one, as it is likely big Max at 32 years of age has three seasons at best left in his career, however he deserves the best Superannuation deal he can secure given his importance, dominance, and service to the Demons over a long period of time.
Max has done the number 11 jumper proud, carrying on the legacy of Jim Stynes, and while debate will rage as to where he stands amongst the best ruckmen of all time, it is beyond dispute that big Max only has Dean Cox as competition as to who has been the best and most influential big men this century (Nic Nac’s career was cruelled by injuries, so I rate him a distant third).
Max’s contract is based on services rendered.
Now it gets hard.
- Isaac Heeney – Contract $800,000,000 over 5 years.
Sadly, for Isaac, who should not have played in the Grand Final, his worth is reduced by his performances on the big stage in 2022 and 2024. It is a sad reflection of the status of the game, but performances in Grand Finals do reflect a player’s overall reputation and worth.
Heeney needs a Premiership and possibly a Norm Smith Medal to elevate him to the same level as the players noted above. Oh, and a coach not to play him in a Grand Final when he is seriously injured.
Heenry is a potential $1,000,000,000 player but he needs to improve his resume.
- Caleb Serong – $770,000,000 over 5 years.
When season 2025 starts, Caleb Serong will be 24 years of age and he should, based on past performances, be entering the prime of his career. Should is a mighty big word when it comes to AFL players, as a lot of players do not live up to the ‘should’ label. However, Serong’s stocks have been on a consistent rise since his debut, and he has earned the right to now be the highest paid player at the Dockers.
Serong is a different type of player to Cripps, Neale and Bontempelli, in that he is slightly smaller, and he is not as physically strong, however, he makes up for this with skill, cunning and a fearless attack on the ball.
If Flagmantle are to challenge in 2025, to which the HB Meyers believes they will (it’s tue – I do! – HB), then Serong is central to their chances.
- Jacob Weitering – $750,000,000 over 5 years.
Finally, a defender in the Top 10. Like most, I was totally surprised that Weitering had not been rewarded with an All-Australian selection before 2024. He is the ‘Ultimate Warrior’ in the Blues’ backline, and he is the type of player, like Harris Andrews (I value at $750,000,000 over 5 years as well), who is vitally important if the Blues are to break their 30 year Premiership drought.
Jacob is a no-fuss, no-thrills type of defender who performs week in, week out, year in, year out.
- Chad Warner – $740,000,000 over 5 years.
It is possible that at the start of the 2026 season the Chad will be the highest paid player in the AFL if he decides to head home to the west. The positives for Warner are he is a freak, he was the Swans best player in 2022 Grand Final debacle (which isn’t really saying much), and he has the potential to be a match winner, however…..
Yes however, for Warner to go to the next level of super stardom he needs to bulk up to be able match it with players like Cripps, Neale, Zorko and other hard bodied players who have at times pushed him aside too easily in big matches.
- Dan Houston – $700,000,000 over 5 years.
I firmly believe Houston’s absence due to suspension was a major contributing factor as to why the Power did not make the Grand Final. It is a harsh call to portion blame on a single player, but such was his importance to the structure of the Power backline, that it fell apart without him being present.
Collingwood have picked up one of the AFL’s ‘A’ grade defenders, and when he can return to the playing field again for the Pies, he may well be missing link player they didn’t have in 2024.
- Jesse Hogan – $700,000,000 over 5 years.
Who doesn’t like a redemption story, especially one that came from a player who was on his last chance at AFL level. Hogan is the Andre Agassi of the AFL; a player who is performing his best later in his career after being a troubled and a much-travelled soul before his GWS resurrection.
Hogan’s ability to liaise in unison with Toby Greene (I value Toby at $800,000,000 over 5 years), and his tutelage to Aaron Cadman (I value Cadman at $150,000,000 with a bullet over the next 5 years) has seen the Giants make some serious inroads towards an inaugural Premiership over the last couple of seasons.
Jesse looks happy in the Orange Jumper, and he deserves all the accolades he is now receiving.
- Jeremy McGovern – $680,000,000 over 5 years.
Based purely on Jeremy’s performance in the 2018 Grand Final he deserves a Superannuation contract at the age of 32 for services rendered to the once mighty Eagles. He will go down as an immortal for the Eagles and he will be inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame sometime in the future.
Just for reference, I rate his former teammate, Tom Barrass at the same rate of $680,000,000 over the next five years. Like Houston at Collingwood, the Hawks have secured a ripper in Barrasss, and it will free James Sicily (I value James Sicily at $800,000,000 over 5 years with a no suspension clause) to be an even more dangerous player.
- Zak Butters – $650,000,000 over 5 years.
At 24 years of age, the Power and the AFL are yet to see the best of Zak Butters. In a year when the form of many of the Power’s stars fluctuated, Butters was consistent come rain, hail or shine. It is easy to be the best player in a team that is winning, but it takes a certain type of player to still persist when the ‘you know what’ hits the fan.
I value Connor Rozee the same as Butters at $650,000,000 over five years for the Power, however, if the Power are to progress further than a Preliminary Final next year, then I value Jason Horne-Francis, $900,000,000 over five years, Aliir Aliir, at $700,000,000 over 5 years and Todd Marshall at $680,000,000 as the class players to benefit of the work of Rozee and Butters to take the Power to the next level.
Yes, you read correctly, I rate Todd Marshall highly.
- Lachie Whitfield – $650,000,000 over 5 years.
Lachie Whitfield has probably been the most consistent AFL player over the last couple of seasons, and Adam Kingsley and his band of merry supporting coaches know exactly what they are going to get each week from him.
Consistently good performers need to be rewarded.
Now it gets really hard!
- Luke Ryan – $580,000,000 over 5 years.
When season 2025 starts Luke Ryan will be nearing the status of veteran at the tender age of 29 years old, but given his consistency over 155 quality games it is possible he will play out a full five-year contract.
- Nick Blakey – Nick Blakey – $550,000,000 over 5 years.
The Lizard has the potential be a lot higher ranked than 17th on this list, however, his performances on the Grandest of stages hurts his overall value. Like Heeney and Errol, they all need a good performance in a Grand Final and a Premiership Medallion to be rated higher.
Like Warner, the Lizard needs to put on a bit of muscle as he has a habit of being run down by bigger bodied players in big games. Mind you, there is no greater sight in football than watching Blakey run the length of the ground looking a bit like Bambi and kicking a game changing goal.
Congratulations on your first All-Australian selection.
- Dane Zorko – $550,000,000 over 5 years
When rating Dane Zorko my primary question was, how much Superannuation do the Lions owe The Magician. Whether he pulls on the Lions jumper again or not is irrelevant as to the service he has given the Lions during the dark times and the years of enlightenment.
When the Lions were a basket case, Zorko was the skilled workhorse leading a team of very young and inexperienced players, and when the tide turned under Old Man Fagan, the Great Zorko reinvented his game to be a pivotal player in the Lions 2024 success.
This is purely a payment for services rendered, but if one player deserves such a payment, it is The Magician.
- Errol Gulden – $550,000,000 over 5 years.
Errol Gulden is a very, very, good player who is yet to perform to the standard expected on Grand Final day, and as such, his value is a lot lower than it should be. Given the Swans have performed shockingly in the 2022 and 2024 Grand Finals, players like Errol, Isaac, the Chad, the Lizard and even Tom Papley (I value Paps at 600,000,000 over five years) are at a distinct disadvantage in this exercise as they are amongst only a handful of players who have had exposed bad form on Grand Final Day.
It would not hurt Errol to watch old videos of Peter Matera and Andrew McLeod to improve his game, especially on the big stage. There are a lot of upsides to Gulden, but the ball is now in his court as to how he handles the pressure.
The Bargain Basement.
- Dylan Moore – $400,000,000 over 5 years.
One good season does not make for a career and before I would be offering him more money, I would want to see the 25-year-old perform at the same level in season 2025. Don’t get me wrong, Dylan deserved his place in the 2024 All-Australian Team, but I would just like to see him repeat it again next year.
- Jake ‘The Snake’ Waterman – $380,000,000 over 5 years.
For a few years now the Eagles have cried out for a player to stand up and play beyond their expectations, and in 2024 Jake Waterman was that player, especially in the absence of the injured skipper, Oscar Allen (I value Oscar Allen very highly at $830,000,000 over 5 years).
Jake Waterman reminds me of Fraser Gehrig in more ways than just the mullet haircut, and if he can play out the rest of his career with the same vigour and determination to get most out of his ability as his mulleted predecessor, then he will be a much loved and remembered cult figure at the Eagles.
- Adam Treloar – $300,000,000 over 5 years.
The ups and downs of the career Adam Treloar’s career were franked with a major plus tick when he was deservedly selected in the 2024 All-Australian Team. A consummate team player, Treloar is another player like Jesse Hogan at his third club and thriving.
With 254 games under his belt and at 31 years of age, Treloar is playing the best footy of his career and if he maintains that form for a couple more seasons he will get close to achieving the unique milestone of 300 games.
Adam, being last on this list is no insult, rather just being on this list is testament to the high regards the greater football holds you in.
Other Players of Note not Mentioned Above or in the AA Team 2024
- Christian Petracca – $900,000,000 over five years.
Petracca is still one of the best five players in the competition, and if it wasn’t for Moore’s knee he would have been a walk up start to the 2024 AA Team.
- Sam Darcy – $750,000,000 over 5 years.
Forget five years, the Dogs need to lock away this kid for the next ten years. He will be a champion of the game.
- Josh Treacy – $730,000,000 over 5 years.
Josh Treacy get hurts late in the season and the Dockers flop out of the finals contention after being considered a genuine contender. In Victoria we tend to not notice emerging stars from other states, but Treacy is the real deal.
- Charlie Curnow – $730,000,000 over 5 years.
I can hear the screams from Blue’s fans already rating Curnow behind Treacy and Darcy, but sadly for Curnow and Bagger fans alike, he is prone to injury which has affected his career to date. Charlie in full flight is the definition of a Billion Dollar Baby, and I hope the general footballing public get to see a fully fit Charlie tear the competition to pieces for a couple of seasons (even though that may mean the Blues win a flag – arghhhhh).
- Tom Green – $720,000,000 over 5 years.
Tom Green is another Non-Victorian player who flies under the AFL Media radar, but he is the most underrated midfielder in the league.
- Max Holmes – $720,000,000 over 5 years.
Max is the gift that just keeps on giving and as the newly anointed head of the Cats Star Brigade he deserves to be awarded accordingly. While I’m at it, both Ollie Dempsey and Gryan Miers I would value at $500,000 each over 5 years.
- Tom Liberatore, Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Pnedlebury $700,000,000 over 5 years.
Yes, I am going down the Superannuation path again, and while all three may only have a season two left in them, their fearless efforts over the last decade mean they deserved to be paid overs for the rest of their careers and beyond.
- Shai Bolton, Liam Baker, Dean Rioli and Toby Nankervis – $550,000,000 over 5 years.
There would not be a Richmond supporter in existence who would deny the above quartet a suitable payment for service rendered during the glory years, even if three of them have headed to greener pastures in 2025.
- Matt Rowell, Harry Sheezel, Zach Merrett and Rowan Marshall – $530,000,000 over 5 years.
While I have yet to mention the Gold Coast, North Melbourne, Essendon or St Kilda, I value the above four players to be instrumental to their clubs’ chances of future success. To save any ruck argument, I value Tristan Xerri the same as Rowan Marshall at $530,000,000 over five years.
- Joel Amartey, Logan McDonald and Hayden McLean – pure performance based contracts year to year.
Potential is a beautiful word used by most clubs during the preseason buildup, but what happens when the word potential is used again and again for the same players. It is known I am a Swans supporter so I am being harsh to players from the team I follow, but every club has a few players who promise the world, occasionally show glimpses, but when it is all said and done, the fans are left scratching their heads at seasons end and hoping beyond they finally play to their potential the following year.
