Why two of Collingwood's modern-day greats aren't even earning the average AFL player wage
Collingwood greats Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom are playing for less than the AFL's average wage for a senior-listed player this year, in what has become a major benefit to the premiership favourites.
Pendlebury, 37, and Sidebottom, 34, are contracted for deals in the range of $400,000 in 2025, plus the normal bonuses players can receive for best and fairest finishes and All-Australian selection, according to industry sources familiar with the outline of the super veterans' 2025 deals.
Even if either earned best and fairest or All-Australian bonuses, Pendlebury and Sidebottom would still fall short of the $500,771 that is the average for an AFL senior-listed player (not including rookie list players) in 2025.
Like Sidebottom, match-winning forward Jamie Elliott, 32, has been in near-career peak form this year – sitting third on the AFL goalkicking table – and is being paid well below his level of performance, relative to the competition.
To place Pendlebury's and Sidebottom's deals for this year in perspective, collectively they are paid close to half the amount offered to Carlton's Tom De Koning, by St Kilda, on an annual basis, should the free-agent ruckman take up the Saints' monstrous long-term offer of $1.7 million a year.
The Magpies have indicated a wish to retain Pendlebury and Sidebottom, along with Elliott, in 2026.
Assuming a reasonable run with injury, Pendlebury (414 games) would break the AFL games record of 432 held by Brent Harvey next year, should he sign on, as now appears likely, for a 21st season. Defender Jeremy Howe, too, is reportedly favoured to be offered a contract.
That Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Elliott and Howe have been able to perform at high levels, despite being well into their 30s, has been of benefit to the ladder leaders, who had enough space in their salary cap to acquire Dan Houston from Port Adelaide and Harry Perryman from Greater Western Sydney.
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