Despite a recent increase in player salaries following a collective bargaining agreement, top paid players whose salaries reached the million dollar mark are said to have decreased from nine in 2017 to just six last year.
According to the AFL's annual report for season 2018, three of the six earned somewhere between $1.2 to $1.3 million.
The players listed as the biggest money makers doesn't come as a massive surprise, with two of the competitions elite midfielders along with four key forwards forming the six.
Fremantle captain Nathan Fyfe and Richmond's Dustin Martin are the top-two earners of all the competitions midfielders.
Sydney's Lance Franklin and GWS' Jeremy Cameron also earned above the $1million, while 2016 premiership hero Tom Boyd and new Tigers recruit Tom Lynch rounded out the list.
After a slight increase from season 2016 to 2017, it may be unusual to see the list take a sharp decline following the tight season last year.
At the conclusion of the upcoming season, a new group of players may join the elusive club.
Star Lions recruit Lachie Neale would have had the lot thrown at him after former captain Dayne Beams left for a return to Victorian club Collingwood.
All-Australian defender and premiership star Jeremy McGovern signed one of the biggest deals in competition history last June, penning a five-year, $1.1 million per season contract to remain at the Eagles.
According to the 2018 annual report, the average player wage of an AFL footballer was $362,471.
A total of 31 players earned upward of $800,000 last season, a number which will likely increase in years to come.
The AFL's million dollar men in 2018 (source: AFL.com.au)
-Dustin Martin (Richmond)
-Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle)
-Lance Franklin (Sydney)
-Tom Lynch (Gold Coast)
-Jeremy Cameron (GWS)
-Tom Boyd (Western Bulldogs)
