Australian Football League players will pocket a minimum of A$1.8B ($1.33B) over the next six seasons "under last week's breakthrough pay agreement," according to Michael Warner of the HERALD SUN. The "monster pay day" equates to 28% of total AFL industry revenues and sees the average player wage "climb" to A$371,000 ($274,600). But "the bonanza could be even greater if club and league revenues rise above forecast projections" between '17 and '22. The AFL agreed to pay players the equivalent of 11.2% of "all unbudgeted club revenues across the next six years." Bonus payments under the "club clause" will be funded by the league. It is "unclear whether club bosses have been made aware of the compromise clause" struck last week over two days of talks at Crown casino. Players have also been guaranteed a fixed 28% slice of all unbudgeted AFL revenues. All extra payments to the game's 817 players will be "directed into individual retirement funds and will not affect the annual salary cap." The AFL also agreed to "fund annual increases in separate player marketing and promotional payments made to players," known as Additional Service Agreements (HERALD SUN, 5/4).
