Essendon recruit Ben McKay is expected to be among next year's highest earners in the AFL after details of his heavily front-ended new contract emerged.
McKay signed a six-year deal with the Bombers that will take him through to the end of 2029, joining twin brother and Carlton star Harry - who is signed until 2030 at Princes Park - in locking in his long-term future.
The wantaway ex-Roo is one of four new recruits at Tullamarine, with fellow free agent Jade Gresham and Todd Goldstein leaving St Kilda and North Melbourne respectively, while Port Adelaide dealt wingman Xavier Duursma to Essendon in a trade that saw Brandon Zerk-Thatcher secure his desired move to Alberton.
The busy off-season at Essendon comes as the club manages a healthy salary cap for the coming years, a luxury which is set to see McKay reportedly earn a staggering wage in 2024.
According toย AFL.com.au's Cal Twomey, Essendon and McKay agreed to a front-ended contract given the club's ample financial wiggle room, with the Dons defender to earn close to $1.5 million in 2024 alone.
Richmond's Dustin Martin earned approximately $1.3 million in 2023, coming ahead of Dockers captain Nat Fyfe and West Coast's Jeremy McGovern on reported player wages for this year.
Martin is expected to earn a similar figure next year, which will be the last of a lucrative back-ended seven-year deal that the triple premiership Tiger signed at the peak of his career.
AFL clubs are expected to plan for heavily front-ended deals over the coming years given the incoming increase in player payments as part of the new collective bargaining agreement, a move that would allow clubs stronger players through free agency and contract planning.
Carlton heavily front-ended forward Jack Martin's deal for his first 12 months at the club in 2020, with the Blues speedster said to have earned a reported seven figures in his maiden campaign after leaving the Gold Coast Suns.
McKay's deal is expected to see the Bombers recruit earn close to $800,000 per season over the next six seasons, while a trigger for a seventh year is said to be included in his new contract, according toย AFL.com.au.
The Bombers signed Gresham to a three-year deal, while the club managed to re-sign Mason Redman (2028), Darcy Parish (2028) and Peter Wright (2027) to long-term deals earlier this year.
