Which footy code has the best earnings potential?

[goughy]

Just wondering about it. Which in Australia gives you the best earnings potential? Maybe for the cream of the crop players, but also for those say in the middle of the pack?

And what sort of money are those sorts of guys earning in each code?

[sms316]

If they play in Australia or anywhere in the world?

[Captain Nemo]

Gary Ablett in top 50 aus sports earners last year so maybe afl?
http://www.brw.com.au/p/top_sports_earners_for_in_full_Aq8HOtMH9SjuptLdDxC LiJ
Buddy with his $1m/ yr prob verifies it?

[3Puttpete]

In Order I reckon it's AFL, NRL, Super 15 then A-League for both stars and lesser lights.

[Bruce]

You can make a decent living as an Aussie Rules footballer/tradesman.

[goughy]

If they play in Australia or anywhere in the world?

Australia, in my second sentence.

[sms316]

Australia, in my second sentence. Kind of rules out soccer and grid iron for middle of the road earning potential. If they are middle of the road they aren't playing here!

[WBennett]

The average wage for an AFL player is $265k

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-players-laughing-all-the-way-to-the-bank-average-salary-now-265179/story-fni5f22o-1226834339957

[Hatchman]

Averages is misleading as the number is skewed by the minority that are on mega bucks.

Minimum AFL is some where around $50-60K from numbers I've herd on radio. Rookie listed players are slightly less than that.

The average time a player spends on an AFL list is very short at 2 years.

The potential if any good is best for AFL.

[PerryGroves]

Given a choice, I would go to the Broncos

[coalesce]

Its not a footy code, but an import basketballer or a top aussie in the NBL probably does alright...

[PeteyD]

I found this in a forum from 2012. Unfortunately no links so can't verify

NBL 85k (can get jobs in off season though, most clubs dont spend the full 1mil cap these days)
NRL 170k (solid money for a 2 state league)
A-League 130k (solid money for a 2nd rate league)
AFL 270k (best paying sport in aus and 800+ jobs)
Super 15 120k (only the wallabies etc earn big money)
State Cricket 50k (need to make the aussie team/ipl)
Netball womens 25k (are allowed another job)
WNBL 15k (need another job unless you can make it overseas)

Interestingly in there V8 supercars earn a lot more, but then there are not many top level drivers.

[Hatchman]

No salary caps on V8 Supercar Drivers.

[coalesce]

NBL has brought in a marquee player rule for the coming season (not aware of any team actually using it yet), and the A-League has one too.

I'd imagine Del Piero was paid a lot last year

[goughy]

Thanks, interesting reads. I was just wondering about it all. Don't know why.

[WBennett]

From Auto Action in 2012, they had a table on driver earnings. OK, things may have changed a little since then with Nissan/Erebus and Volvo on board but it gives an idea who gets paid and who pays to play.

FAT CATS
James Courtney $1.3 Million
Garth Tander $900,000
Craig Lowndes $850,000
Jamie Whincup $850,000
Russell Ingall $750,000 *
Mark Winterbottom $700,000
Will Davison $650,000

LOADED
Lee Holdsworth $550,000
Shane Van Gisbergen $500,00
Steven Johnson $450,000
Rick Kelly $450,000 +
Todd Kelly $450,000 +
Greg Murphy $400,000
Jason Bright $350,000 +

DOING OK
David Reynolds $275,000
Fabian Coultard $250,000
Tim Slade $200,000
Michael Caruso $175,000

+ Team co-owners/drivers who pay themselves under their market rate
- Salary supplemented by proceeds of rec ownership

ROOKIES, RENTERS & RICHIES
Steve Owen $150,000
Karl Reindler $125,000 ++
James Moffat $120,000 ++
Michael Patrizi $120,000 ++
Alexander Premat $100,000
Jonathon Webb $100,000 **
Dean Fiore $100,000 **
Tony D'Alberto $100,000 *
David Wall $75,000 ++
Taz Douglas $50,000 ++

* Driving fee linked to brokering car sponsorship
** Team co-owners/drivers with family backing who pay themselves modestly
++ Drivers who bring sponsorship or a combination of cash and equipment to teams, and are paid a percentage of the proceeds



I knew Courtney was paid more than Garth as he does all the promotional stuff where Garth stays away from that.

[Captain Nemo]

You sort of missed the fact that it was Footy Code related....!
:smt017

[WBennett]

Lot easier to get V8 driver numbers than actual player wages.

The previous link in the HSun article had guesstimates of AFL player wages.