He’s the best player in the AFL, but Marcus Bontempelli has signed a new four-year deal worth about $5.4 million, accepting millions less than would have been available if he’d left the Western Bulldogs, and on terms inferior to those thrown at uncontracted emerging stars.
The Dogs captain, who turns 30 in November, will earn about $1.35 million a year for the next four years after recommitting to the club.
The Western Bulldogs have secured Marcus Bontempelli for a further four years.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Bontempelli never contemplated leaving the Bulldogs, so did not test the market, but three industry sources, who declined to be named in order to speak openly, all said the champion midfielder would have commanded $2 million a year for at least four years and most likely a fifth year if he had done so. Clubs routinely pay more to prise a player from their original club.
The terms accepted by Bontempelli provide greater context to the enormous contract offers to players, including Carlton’s unrestricted free agent Tom De Koning, St Kilda’s out-of-contract ball-carrier Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and highly sought-after West Coast former No.1 draft pick Harley Reid.
St Kilda’s contract offer for ruckman De Koning is on average at least $350,000 a year more than Bontempelli will earn over the next four years.
It is as yet unknown what terms have been offered to Wanganeen-Milera to remain at Moorabbin, but industry expectations are he will command a salary in the vicinity of Bontempelli for the next two years.
Bulldogs stalwarts Tom Liberatore and Bontempelli have both played their 250th games for the club in recent weeks.Credit: Getty Images
West Coast, like St Kilda, is in a different situation to Carlton in that their in-demand players hail from other states, so they have to offer them heavy contract terms to remain.
Reid’s management has discussed a potential 11-year contract extension worth about $20 million for the 20-year-old to remain in Perth.