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Sport Nation
Kane’s Countdown: The best value contracts in the AFL
SEN • May 1st, 2025 11:18 am
Kane Cornes has listed what he believed to be the best value contracts in the AFL.
“These are the best value for their club who has got a player stitched up on very favourable terms,” Cornes said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“Well done to the club (in question) for doing this.”
See Cornes’ list below:
1 - Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
“It’s no shock, there’s nothing out of the ordinary here, it’s Nick Daicos.
“He has the most favourable contract in football (from a club point of view).
“Don’t get me wrong, he would be on good money, but he’s not on market rate.
“He was contracted until the end of 2025, he signed an extension for four years which doesn’t kick in until next year, so he’s still on bargain-basement money for him.
“It will still be good money but not what he deserves.”
2 - Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
“He’s probably on $1 million, but that’s not enough.
“He deserves $1.5 million and I’m sure he’ll get that when the new contract is done.”
3 - Ben Long (Gold Coast)
“Ben Long was traded from the Saints for Pick 32 in 2022.
“He signed a four-year deal which expires at the end of 2026. Absolute bargain.
“No.1 rated forward in football they tell me. What a deal that is.”
4 - Riley Thilthorpe (Adelaide)
“The Thil-seeker cost himself the most money in the history of the game. Can you imagine the talk if the Thil-seeker was out of contract right now?
“Adelaide stitched him up for four years on, I’m going to guess, $850,000. I reckon there’d be a club that would tip in at $1.7-$1.8 million.”
5 - Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
“Signed a two-year contract extension believed to be around $650-$700,000.
“For how important he is, what a deal. I don’t care about his age, I care about performance.
“They look to this guy every single week to drag them over the line. Two years at $700,000 is a bargain for Geelong.
“There’s some ordinary players getting a lot more than Dangerfield right now.”
6 - Finn Callaghan (GWS)
“Finn Callaghan turned down $17 million with the Saints to sign a four-year contract extension at the Giants.
“He won’t be getting a pittance, he’d be on good money, probably $1 million.
“But if he turned down $17m and the Giants got him for $700,000 less per season, that’s great value.”
7 - Joel Freijah (Western Bulldogs)
“I’m told by my man Josh Jenkins that he is the No.1 rated mid/forward in football right now.
“He would be lucky to be on $300,000. He is an $800,000 to $900,000 player with what he is delivering right now.
“He’d be on rookie money, what an absolute bargain.”
8 - Callum Ah Chee (Brisbane)
“He played every game in the premiership year, 27 goals for the season including 10 goals in the finals series.
“He’s out of contract this year so what I’m reflecting on is the figure that Brisbane have got him on. I’m going to say he’s on around $400-450,000.
“What a bargain for the play he was on the big stage (last year). I hope he gets the increase he deserves.”
9 - Gryan Miers (Geelong)
“Signed a three-year contract extension until the end of 2026 where he will be a free agent.
“I’m confident in saying that Geelong didn’t value his wage as high as some others would have, and he stayed for a little bit less.
“That’s going to be a different story when he’s a free agent. Sixth in the B&F last year, and plays a vital role and I would think he’s on $550,000.
“I think he’s probably worth $750,000.”
10 - Jack Crisp (Collingwood)
“In 2023 he signed a three-year contract extension until the end of 2026.
“If you asked me what Collingwood got Jack Crisp to sign on for, I’m going to say he’s a $600-650,000 player.
“I’d be pretty confident that’s around the money he’s getting, which at the time in 2023 would have been good cash, and rightly so because he’s consistent and a great finals performer.
“It looks great value now with what he is still delivering. He’s good value for durability and that’s an underrated commodity if you are never in the rehab room and you always play.”
Listen to his thoughts below:
