Kane Cornes and David King have named who they believe to be the most underpaid players in the AFL.
The Herald Sun is about to release a list of the top 100 best paid players in the game, but on the flip side, which players should be earning more?
Cornes, a big advocate for player wages to be made public, thinks two emerging young stars are performing well above their current salaries.
“We often criticise players for being overpaid and some players not delivering to their contracts,” Cornes told SEN Breakfast.
“Who’s underpaid? Who are the underpaid players in the game do you think that are giving extraordinary value to their team and don’t necessarily get the pay cheque that some others do?
“The most underpaid player in the competition this year is Nick Daicos. He’s the most underpaid player in the game.
“If he was not in his first year, what would his contract value be worth? He would be a $600,000 to $700,000 player I would assume if he wasn’t on a set contract in his first year.
“I think he’s the most underpaid player in the game and young Sam De Koning is probably not far behind him for what he’s doing at Geelong.”
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The Magpies signed father-son Daicos to a four-year deal, while De Koning is contracted through until the end of 2023.
King is a huge fan of Richmond star Shai Bolton and his match-winning capabilities.
Bolton’s current deal, which expires at the end of next year, is worth a reported $600,000 a season.
“On what I’ve seen this year, and I think this guy would be on reasonable coin, he’s a senior core player and has been in the system for quite some time,” King said.
“I would say Shai Bolton, in terms of being able to swing games and influence matches with a team that’s had its injury challenges all year.
“I reckon he’d be in that conversation.”
Bolton and his manager have opened early contract talks with the Tigers, according to The Herald Sun.