It was reported on Tuesday that as many as six AFL players earned a seven-figure sum in 2021 - a significant portion of the $13.4m salary cap.
But while fans and media alike love to debate who is worth what, it's not as simple as ranking the six best players in the competition and paying them accordingly.
In addition to what a player offers on the field, there are a number of factors that determine just how much they're worth - age, whether they're on an upward or downward spiral, other star players to pay at their club, whether they're in their 'home' state and when they signed their contract, to name but a few.
Here, we look at the players reported to be on $1m or more in 2021 - Dustin Martin, Lance Franklin, Jeremy McGovern, Brodie Grundy and Nat Fyfe - plus a couple tipped to reach that mark in 2022 - Christian Petracca and Tom Lynch - and determine whether it's money well spent ...
6. Tom Lynch
By the end of 2018, Tom Lynch was an All Australian, two-time best and fairest winner, four-time club leading goalkicker and current co-captain at the Gold Coast.
However, the media speculation throughout his time at the club always suggested he was 'gettable', likely to come 'home' to Victoria at some stage throughout his career.
And the speculation proved to be right, with Lynch joining 2017 premiers and 2018 minor premiers, Richmond, as a restricted free agent in 2018.
The seven-year deal, which was believed to be heavily-backended, was immediately successful, with Lynch kicking 63 goals - including five in the preliminary final - in 25 games as the Tigers claimed the 2019 premiership.
The Tigers made it back-to-back flags in the COVID-hit 2020 season, with Lynch booting 32 goals in 19 games.
With two premierships in his first two seasons, it's already hard to say that the big-money deal wasn't worth it - regardless of what happens for the rest of it.
Especially given that, despite the mammoth offer, it is believed Lynch sacrificed around $2m across the seven-year deal to make the move to the Tigers.
Verdict: The move has already delivered two premierships and, given it's been heavily-backeneded, that justifies the salary.
