0
0
Will we see an AFL player worth $2 million in the near future?
Leigh Matthews and Jimmy Bartel think so.
Their thoughts comes after Carlton key defender Jacob Weitering turned down a $12 million eight-year offer from St Kilda recently.
READ MORE: Why ‘done’ $600m expansion deal is ‘about China’
READ MORE: AFL legend set to fight disgraced NRL bad boy
READ MORE: ‘Concerns’ as Blues stars fail to train with team
It has sparked the pair to discuss what the league will look like in the future, as deals and contract offers become larger and larger by the year.
“What we’re going on is the salary cap in the next few years goes up to $20 million (per club),” Bartel said on Wide World of Sports Radio on Tuesday.
Jeremy Cameron could be worth a lot more than he’s on, says Bartel. Getty
With TV deals yet to be confirmed after 2031, Matthews is convinced that the league could be full of million-dollar players.
“You’re going to quite possibly have 50 $1 million players,” Matthews said.
So with a $1 million player likely to become the norm in years to come, what kind of player will be the one to break the $2 million threshold?
According to Matthews, the stereotype of player who will eventually be offered $2 million already exists in the game.
“I think the type of player … is the midfield-goalkicker. The midfielder who can be really damaging around the ground, but can get his two or three goals,” he said.
“A bit like why Dustin Martin has been so good in his prime, because he was a goalkicking midfielder.
Matthews named the current players he could see making history.
“Right at the moment, that player would be Isaac Heeney. He’s had an exceptional half a season,” he said.
Swan Isaac Heeney is in career-best form. AFL Photos via Getty Images
“This is the first year he’d be in that ($2 million) conversation.”
As for Bartel, he is looking at a more rare player type, one that only comes along once in a generation and has an impact that can’t be replicated.
“I think the man down the highway at Geelong, Jeremy Cameron, would be one where a lot of sides would go, ‘if I’ve got $2 million and he comes to me straight away, I get a key forward who can get up the ground, beautiful ball user, can kick it inside forward 50, but can also take the goalsquare as well,” he said.
“He’s a bit of a one-off.”
Matthews echoed Bartel’s sentiment.
“Well he is the midfield-goalkicker in a way, because he doesn’t just hang around in the forward 50 and not push up field,” he said.
“You get a lot out of Jeremy Cameron when he’s on. He gets the ball up field, runs back, kicks goals.”
Will we see Nick Daicos be offered $2 million? AFL Photos via Getty Images
Collingwood’s Nick Daicos and GWS skipper Toby Greene are two other players Matthews is convinced could reach that $2 million mark.
“RIght now, I’d still stick with Nick Daicos (to make $2 million),” Matthews said.
The current highest paid players in the league include Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton and Essendon defender Ben McKay.
