Andy Maher has criticised the AFL over its decision to pay AFLX captains $50,000 each for the tournament in 2019.

It was reported by Channel 7 on Tuesday night that AFLX will feature captains picking teams in an effort to liven up the format.

โ€œTheyโ€™re going to get paid $50,000 for one night of absolute Mickey Mouse rubbish,โ€ Maher said on SEN Afternoons.

โ€œWhatโ€™s more important from the top of the pyramid down, AFLX or AFLW? Whatโ€™s the more important and valuable product?โ€

Maher offered up some comparison with the pay that the AFLW players will receive for a home and away season with a full pre-season.

โ€œThe AFLW players, who are busting their aโ€”es, absolutely busting their aโ€”es, for five months to be as good as they can possibly be, the very best players in AFLW are getting paid about $24,000,โ€ Maher said.

โ€œIf anyone can tell me how this makes any sense, how this is fair, how it is money well spent, even if you donโ€™t like AFLW, I would love to hear the argument.โ€

Maher poses the question of where the AFLโ€™s priorities lie, with several players already on big contracts set to earn an extra $50,000.

Bottom tier AFLW players will earn as little as $13,400 for their efforts over a whole season.