@The Black and White Lion I think you're underestimating the ego of successful AFL footballers. I suspect that most of them still think they're as good as they always were. And they would consider a pay cut to be insulting.The Black and White Lion wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 8:50 pm Surely we aren’t playing high market value for players in the 32 - 36 year bracket?
Each of Sidey, Howe and Pendles (+ coaching bonus) announced or triggered 1 year deals, surely there’s a reduced rate for paying veterans, not top dollar.
There's also the factor that loyal players like Pendlebury & Sidebottom have taken reduced salaries (compared to what other clubs would have offered them) for many years. They probably feel they are entitled to maintain their current rate of pay.