The Big Deal Weekly: What AFL Draftees get paid, Rozee's lengthy deal, cricket champs cash in, Panthers' star's predicament, Rugby Australia's mess continues & more

Newsletter no.60, 21 November 2023

The AFL Draft is halfway through, with the second half about to get underway.

Tredders and Huddo go through the draftee pay packet and what Port gun Connor Rozee is set to sign.

All that and more in this week’s wrap - tune into the episode below or scroll down for the weekly notes.

Listen to the wrap and subscribe for free now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

DRAFT NIGHT ONE DONE

First-overall selection Harley Reid could earn nearly $300,000 if he dominates the competition.

He’ll earn a $130,000 base salary and could potentially land an extra $92,000 if he plays all 23 home and away games, at $4000 per match.

First to third year players are also eligible for performance incentives - $50,000 for the Brownlow Medal, $40,000 if he follows in Harry Sheezel’s footsteps and wins a club best and fairest in his first season, or $30,000 for a top three placing.

On top of that, $30,000 if he makes the final All-Australian team, and $20,000 for the All-Australian squad.

Hypothetically, if Reid was All-Australian and won the Eagles’ best and fairest, he could have his wage pushed to $292,000.

Under the new CBA, all top 20 draft picks are locked into mandatory three-year contracts and cannot negotiate their second deal until Round 6 of their debut year.

New pay deal for 1-3 players broken down

For players drafted this November for the 2024 season.

Pick 1-10 - $130,000

Pick 11-20 - $120,000

Pick 21-50 - $110,000

Pick 51+ - $105,000

By 2027, those totals will have risen by $20,000 each.

Match payments

First-year - $4000 per game

Second-year - $4000 per game

Third-year - $5000 per game

Salary added to base salary in 2025, based on matches played in 2024.

0 games - $15,000

1-5 - $20,000

6-10 - $30,000

11-15 - $40,000

16-17 - $50,000

18+ - $60,000

Award incentives for 1-3 year players in 2024

Brownlow Medal - $50,000

Club Best & Fairest - $40,000

All-Australian Team - $30,000

Top 3 Club Best & Fairest - $30,000

Rising Star - $20,000

All-Australian Squad - $20,000

*Players receive a single bonus for All-Australian team or squad rather than both bonuses

Money added to 2025 base salary for 2024 achievements

Brownlow Medal - $50,000

Club Best & Fairest - $40,000

All-Australian Team - $30,000

Rozee’s big pay day

Connor Rozee is set to sign the biggest contract in Port Adelaide history, with a mammoth seven-year deal, which could rise to eight years on the cards. I originally mentioned 5 year extension - ive been told it will be 7 year deal possibly rising to 8.

Facilities fund for SA

The AFL has joined forces with the South Australian Government and the SANFL to provide an $8 million boost for community football facilities. It’ll be a $1 for $1 AFL/SA Govt facility spend.

Daicos’ Premier request

Collingwood star Josh Daicos traveled to the UK and visited Tottenham Hotspur and manager Ange Postecoglou, and was shocked at the ‘disparity’ between English soccer stars and AFL footballers.

Cricket World Cup success for Aussies

The Aussies will pocket $6.08 million for winning the Cricket World Cup on top of their $425,600 for seven group stage wins.

India landed $3.04 million for losing the final, South Africa and New Zealand got $1.216 million

Cellar dwellers or three-time champs?

It’s a weird predicament Jarome Luai finds himself in.

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall reportedly made a secret visit to his house in a bid to recruit the gun playmaker.

However, Penrith has tabled a $1.7 million extension over two years to Luai, hoping to re-sign him.

However, the Tigers have a war chest to work with and could table an offer that minnows Penrith’s.

So, cellar dwellers and build it up, or stick around and go after a fourth-successive title and even more?

Rugby Australia sack chairman

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan was sacked on Sunday, with state unions fighting over major centralisation plans for the sport.

McLennan had rejected a call from six rebellious state unions to resign by 5pm on Sunday, before a general meeting voted him out.

He’ll be replaced by former Wallaby Dan Herbert.

Pickstar merges with W Sports Media

Active Pathways, the company behind sports talent tech platforms PickStar and Vlast, has merged with talent agency W Sports & Media

Former AFL players Matthew Pavlich and James Begley founded Pickstar and Vlast.

W Sports has some top talent on its books, including Lleyton Hewitt, cricket star Alex Carey, many top AFL players including Izak Rankine and many more

It’s an interesting move as the talent management world evolves to become more technology driven.

Vegas gamble pays off

Las Vegas delivered plenty in the hotly anticipated Grand Prix, with drama, crashes and pot holes.

The result did seal Red Bull’s first-ever one-two in the driver’s championship, with Max Verstappen securing win number 18 in his record-breaking season.

Teammate Sergio Perez finished second with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishing third.

Hundreds of private jets headed to Sin City, with all local airports fully booked.

Each plane cost between $1500 to $7500 per night and Henderson Airport had even built 18 extra acres of parking.

Everton smashed by point deduction

The English Premier League has smashed Everton with a 10-point deduction for violations of Profitability and Sustainability Rules, formerly known as Financial Fair Play.

It’s the largest points deduction in league history and the first since Portsmouth was deducted points for entering administration in the 2009-10 season.

An independent commission hired by the PL found Everton lost $155 million USD in the period ending with the 2021-22 season.

Under PSR, clubs are only allowed to record losses of up to $130.8 million.

But, could it be worse for Chelsea and Manchester City - who have both spent willy nilly?

Messi Mania results are in

Apple has said more than one million people per match tuned in to watch Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami.

Inter Miami is predicting a revenue of $200 million USD in 2024.

LaMelo’s tattoo sponsorship

The NBA is forcing LaMelo Ball to cover up a tattoo below his left ear which the league says violates rules against exposing commercials logos on players’ bodies.

Ball has the initials ‘LF’ tattooed on his body, short for LaFrance, his middle name, and now, his clothing brand.

Ball had began covering it up prior to last week’s game against Miami to avoid league fines.

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