Tackle The Headline: Every AFL club’s most overpaid and underpaid player in 2026

At a time where eyes on the AFL’s trade market is at an all-time high, finding value for your club’s list has never been more important.

In the latest episode of the Midweek Tackle digital-only show ‘Tackle The Headline’, panellists Lauren Wood, Jon Ralph and Scott Gullan dissects who they believe are your team’s most overpaid and underpaid players are so far in 2026.

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ADELAIDE CROWS

Scott Gullan said: “Darcy Fogarty is probably back (from injury) this week. He signed a big six-year deal that will take him through to 2031. I would say that Darcy, to me, Darcy has yet to hit the strides that we think he’s going to hit.

Jon Ralph said: “What about Sam Berry for unders? ... He’s not an A-grader, but you know, I love his heart, spirit and fight. I think he’s a handy little player.

Gullan added: “He’s playing a key role, and I reckon he’s on chips, isn’t he?”

BRISBANE LIONS

Jon Ralph said: “You’ve got Eric Hipwood on overs. The fact he’s done an ACL was very harsh.; The people that hate his contract don’t realise he’s only on about $500,000, so I think that’s a bit harsh. The unders is Logan Morris. I’ve got him right up there with the likes of Riley Thilthorpe.

“On an open market right now, if you could get him for the next eight years, you’d be paying him $1.6-1.8 million. But, he’ll get cashed up at some stage.

Scott Gullan said: “He signed a two-year extension in 2025, his next contract will be huge.

CARLTON

Scott Gullan said: “Adam Cerra signed a big deal to come over (from Fremantle) until 2030. He’s had some injury issues, I wouldn’t think they’ve got value out of him yet. Unders is Matt Carroll. He’s a rookie who’s played a good last two or three weeks, and they haven’t got too many doing the right thing.”

COLLINGWOOD

Jon Ralph said: “Overs, Dan Houston has been serviceable, but hasn’t been a superstar. Let’s face it, he was a dual All-Australian when he arrived at the club. Bobby Hill’s been interesting ... I suppose the question you’d ask yourself, is if Bobby wasn’t being paid his money, would he have adhered himself to professionalism more across the summer?

Scott Gullan said: “$700k has walked out last year, and maybe most of it’s walked out again this year for no return.

Lauren Wood said: “Beau McCreery has been in the news for what could potentially be a mammoth Tassie offer that could play into his favour to boost his stocks.

Scott Gullan added: “He’s contracted until 2027. That deal he signed has him on minimum (money), hence why Tassie has figured this out. He needs a bump.”

ESSENDON

Scott Gullan said: “Poor old Ben McKay. He went over there (from North Melbourne) ... I had to put him in (as overpaid), God love him.

“Archie Roberts, now I know he signed an extension, but he might’ve gone a bit early Jon! He’s nearly their second or third-best player, and suddenly, he’s getting 40 kicks a match. He signed in August last year, maybe he’s gone a bit early and is still unders.

Jon Ralph said: “He’s the perfect defender. He kicks it well, he defends, he wins intercept marks.”

FREMANTLE

Jon Ralph said: “Fremantle of course, we’ve talked about Sean Darcy. He’s only on $700,000, but he’s not beating that. If I was a club out there, I’d be saying: ‘Have $400k, Freo you pay $300k of it, and we’ll give you Pick No.70 — that’s all we want from you’.”

“Patrick Voss is a rookie, he’s just signed a new deal, but he’s absolutely unders.”

GEELONG CATS

Jon Ralph said: “James Worpel has just been okay so far. In a midfield with a lot of okay midfielders, and of course he signed a deal of about $600,000. He’d want to lift.”

Scott Gullan said: “Tom Atkins is always unders, that’s who he is. He’s never going to get paid what he deserves, so he gets on there.

GOLD COAST SUNS

Scott Gullan said: “I’m throwing up a couple of big names here. Mac Andrew, who is on a gazillion over 10 years. I don’t think he’s playing like that right now, if we’re talking about right now. Him and Daniel Rioli are on big money there, I’m not sure they’re producing worthy of that.

Jon Ralph said: “Ned Moyle would be doing himself a gross disservice to be playing football at Gold Coast next year. He’s on a four-year deal, it’s not massive. He didn’t realise Jarrod Witts would be playing football until he was ‘50’. Get out of there right now, Ned Moyle!”

GWS GIANTS

Jon Ralph said: “Stephen Coniglio on overs at GWS, but it’s his last year.

Scott Gullan said: “He’s been on it long-term to be fair, he was on overs when he signed that. And Lachie Ash, I know he’s signed until the end of 2027, but he’s become one of their top two or three players. So he goes on the list!”

HAWTHORN

Jon Ralph said: “Jack Scrimshaw on overs? I would think he might be on $600,00.

Scott Gullan said: “That’s a bit tough. He’s not getting a game regularly. He’s playing well, it’s harsh as they’re flying... but I had to find someone!

Lauren Wood said: “The unders I couldn’t agree with more, Jack Gunston is playing out of his skin at 100 years old — and I mean that kindly! Geez, he’s performed well and truly well above (expectations).”

MELBOURNE

Jon Ralph said: “Scotty, this is outrageous! You’ve got Harrison Petty as the overs ... I think Kade Chandler (is unders). I think one stat said Chandler is the second-most efficient forward in football right now. He’s out of contract, and he’s going to get a nice fat deal.”

NORTH MELBOURNE

Scott Gullan said: “Griffin Logue (overs) features a lot in our top-paid player lists, not his fault.

Jon Ralph said: “Cooper Trembarth’s ... signed on a new deal of about $600,000 a year plus incentives, so he’s going to get a fat deal — but he’s not on that deal yet.”

PORT ADELAIDE

Scott Gullan said: “Miles Bergman has been horrible, better the last two weeks. Horrible start to the year, he’s on over a million. He’s on a very big contract, Victorian clubs came for him (last year), so that’s why he got in the overs. And then Mitch Georgiades , who is out of contract next year, but he signed a deal a few years ago. So, I think he signed unders. He’s so important now in that make up.

Jon Ralph said: “I’m worried about the language of Mitch Georgiades. Chad Cornes said he was a 99 per cent chance to leave. And every time Mitch talks, he says: ‘Well, he’s a good friend of mine’ ... he says he’s taking it day-by-day. All those code words which are code red, alarm! I hope he stays, but I’m worried by that.

RICHMOND

Scott Gullan said: “Jacob Hopper is in the gun, he just lives under the gun. I didn’t know who was unders, but (I said) Nick Vlastuin as a salute to his legacy — I don’t think he’s been paid enough over the whole journey.”

ST KILDA

Scott Gullan said: “There’s a shock at St Kilda (Tom De Koning) ... unbelievable he made the list! Under is Max Hall. Rookie, and has been a breakout star the last two years.

SYDNEY SWANS

Jon Ralph said: “Logan McDonald signed a very nice deal ... and then the unders James Rowbottom.

Scott Gullan said: “I think he’s a bit Tom Atkins-y, so I don’t think he ever gets what he deserves.”

WEST COAST EAGLES

Scott Gullan said: “Tim Kelly went over there on upholders, and hasn’t really delivered.

Jon Ralph said: “Milan Murdock, who is on the unders as a SSP rookie — who’s on $100,000 a year.

Gullan added: “Correct (he’s one of their best players), and he’s getting paid $1.50! So he gets in there.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Scott Gullan said: “It’s a bit harsh, Cody Weightman. I love him, but he just hasn’t played and is on a decent coin.

Jon Ralph said: “It’s hard to justify your wage when you haven’t played in two years!”

Gullan added: “And we’re ending on a very big note. Unders, the best player in the competition... Marcus Bontempelli is not paid enough!

“It’s my list, he’s unders! Whatever he’s on, it’s unders.”

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