Nearly 60 AFL players were on annual contracts of more than $1million in 2025 – while the average salary rose to more than $500,000.
But the mega dollars have come with a word of warning from one of the game’s leading coaches in Chris Fagan.
Last season, 58 players banked a million dollars or more – which was more than double the previous year, when just 25 players made at least $1million.
Two stars were on $1.6million last season and they will be joined in 2026 by Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Tom De Koning, who have both inked mega deals with St Kilda.
Wanganeen-Milera has signed a contract extension worth $2million a season, while De Koning is set to make about $1.7million from 2026 onwards.
De Koning was recruited by the Saints after Carlton refused to match the monster $1.7million offer, while Wanganeen-Milera was chased by Adelaide and Port Adelaide, but ultimately decided to stay put.
St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is the AFL’s first $2million man (pictured, in action last year)
Ruckman Tom De Koning (pictured, centre) couldn’t resist the huge offer made by St Kilda
The average salary last year for AFL stars was $505,961, up from $459,173 in 2024.
The pay rises are due to the salary cap, which was $17.8million last season, increased from $15.8million in 2024.
And only 10 per cent of players made below $200,000 in 2025.
Wanganeen-Milera is a defender who has played just 86 games of AFL.
He led the league last season in kicks per game with 22.3 as his team ran 12th.
De Koning, a ruckman, played 100 games for Carlton before defecting to the Saints.
Brisbane Lions two-time premiership-winning coach Fagan warned that St Kilda’s two lucrative deals are fraught with danger.
He’s worried certain players are getting paid on potential rather than what they are actually worth.
Lions coach Chris Fagan says the best players aren’t getting the biggest contracts in the AFL
Polarising commentator Kane Cornes is one of many ex-AFL players earning huge amounts off the field
‘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,’ he 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.
‘That’s not an insult to Nasiah. I think he’s going to be a really good player and how far he goes, I don’t know.
‘And ‘TDK’ (Koning) has shown a lot of promise for a long time, but hasn’t probably lived up to expectations.
‘I’d rather see the better players get all the big money.’
It’s not just current players who are earning more than ever out of the game. Ex-players are cashing in as commentators.
In 2025, AFL great Nathan Brown named Kane Cornes as the top-earning former player in footy media, estimating the outspoken commentator rakes in $950,000 per year.
Cornes has been a magnet for controversy, particularly after North Melbourne banned him from club access over what they described as ‘bullying behaviour’, notably Harry Sheezel and Jy Simpkin.
His comments were also criticised by fellow media members, including his own co-host David King.
Despite the backlash, Cornes remains a key player in footy media and a polarising figure among fans.