What Are They Worth

[bunyip]

Do you think the Suns and GWS are paying to much for their players, or, are they paying them what they are actually worth. If there was no salary cap, what would Swanny, Pendles and Daisy be getting? My guess is they'd all be getting around the same as Gazza. Footballers are paid a pittance compared to profesional  athletes in other sports.

[SydneyRox]

The problem is that GWS and GC have no other real draw cards to bring in current players. The AFL needs them to be at least competitive, which they have been mostly this year (as competitve as Port at least!)
Why else would Ablett, Ward etc leave a team they have history at to go someowhere else for the same or slightly the same money?

[PowerBug]

How much did Scully go for?

[bunyip]

They're getting a lot more than they would down here. I read Scully was offered nearly a million a season. Why would you stay?

[PowerBug]

Well it's all done now. Scully getting $6mil over 6 years with the first year being 2mil.

[plugz19]

footy players are worth more than what they are paid
when millions of people get enjoyment out of watching them play each week
they destroy their bodies, and for only 10 years in the system if they are lucky
have not many other skills once finished footy
spend their whole week training, and having to move away from their family (for some players)
plus the constant public surveillance, constantly under pressure and an inability to live a 'normal' life

[bunyip]

I agree. When you look at what soccer players and Grid Iron and Baseball players get, AFL players get a pittance.

[Memphistopheles]

I agree. When you look at what soccer players and Grid Iron and Baseball players get, AFL players get a pittance.

Sure do.

Check out this article.

http://www.therichest.org/sports/forbes-highest-paid-athletes/

or http://www.footy-boots.com/worlds-top-ten-highest-paid-footballers/

Admittedly it's not just based on their salaries, but still.

[bunyip]

I suppose what it amounts to is, would we be prepared to pay $150 to see a game so the players get their $1m + a season. I saw a report on TV I think it was when a reporter went with his son to a baseball game in the US and it cost him over $250 for the day.

[RiOtChEsS]

I suppose what it amounts to is, would we be prepared to pay $150 to see a game so the players get their $1m + a season. I saw a report on TV I think it was when a reporter went with his son to a baseball game in the US and it cost him over $250 for the day.

and thats the cheap seats... as for the money they r paying those players Ablett is the only one worth it :-X

[North Melbournes Finest]

NBA, NFL, and other worldwide sports are paid more because frankly they're much more marketable for clubs. I'm sure that Guernsey sales and advertisement deals really can't compare to the likes of Lebron and perhaps Beckham because they're worldwide names that a common sports fan would recognise and perhaps want to buy the product they're endorsing or attend the matches they're participating in.

This can also be attributed to the fact that Australias population is much less than other countries, they're marketing to a lot less people, and that's mainly what player salaries are generated by.

[bunyip]

Thats right, our market compared to the US and Europe is small.