“Sake of the game”: Brisbane coach proposes NBA-style contract model

According to Brisbane coach Chris Fagan, Marcus Bontempelli and Nick Daicos would rank among players worthy of max contracts in the AFL, a concept that is pioneered in the NBA.

Amid rising contract lengths and lucrative deals, Fagan, who rarely speaks publicly about "big-ticketed issues", shared his angst around where the game is heading in the wake of St Kilda's decisions revolving around Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Tom De Koning.

"I don't very often choose to speak out about big-ticketed issues, but I've watched the trend over the last few years, and this is not just St Kilda, this is all clubs, contracts seem to be getting longer and longer and longer," Fagan said.

"Then along comes St Kilda and decides they want to pay those players the amount of money they did.

"I'm thinking to myself, for the good of the game, is that what we want here? Do we want this sort of marketplace where offers to players become ridiculous?

"I wanted the opportunity to raise that so we could debate that as an industry, so that's what I did. I think it is important we do that."

The two-time premiership coach signed with the American basketball league, which pays its players based on what they've achieved and the criteria they meet.

The max contracts are also limited to the top players in each team, which Fagan is in favour of.

"I look at the NBA, and they have a max salary clause, and there's criteria around what that player needs to have done to be in that bracket. I'm wondering, for the sake of the game, we should have... let's say we've got three players who are on max contracts. But to be on that bracket, you need to have ticked off certain boxes," he said.

"I'll give you an example of who'd be in that box: Marcus Bontempelli. Because he's a multiple best-and-fairest winner, multiple All-Australian, he's a premiership player, he's earned his stripes. Even a Nick Daicos, who hasn't been around as long, is a three-time All-Australian, best and fairest winner, and he's ticked that box.

"For me, this is an alarming trend. Should we be talking about this as an industry to make sure it doesn't cause problems further down the line?

"That's the reason I raised it. I understand why St Kilda would've been offended by that, because they were the club to do it, but I can promise you that any club that would've done that, would have raised that response in me.

"But I'm just putting a red flag on that one, and let's watch that."

The Lions have been masterminds at minding their salary cap spending while retaining and acquiring stars of the competition, resulting in seven consecutive finals appearances as well as the last three grand finals.

However, free agent Zac Bailey will need to weigh up whether taking a lucrative deal at Adelaide or getting paid less and remaining at Brisbane.

Fagan acknowledged that Bailey will get paid well regardless, but stopped short at insinuating that the club will match any free agency offer.

"I think so, if we decide to," Fagan said.

"That's something we have to decide as a football club if we want to go down that pathway or if we want to keep some control over what we pay our players. That debate will go on internally."