Essendon’s front-loading of Ben McKay’s contract is set to see the key defender paid up to $1.5 million in 2024.
While reports have indicated the 25-year-old’s contract will average out to between $800,000 to $850,000 per year, room in the Bombers’ salary cap next year will see the club pay plenty of McKay’s contract in the opening year, reports AFL Media’s Cal Twomey.
Before the Roos opted not to match the contract offer, Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro confirmed it was a six-year deal on the table for McKay.
The Bombers opted to stump up on the cash front to trigger a band one compensation pick back to North Melbourne, which currently stands as pick three.
If Essendon hadn’t triggered that threshold, North Melbourne had put on the record its intent to then force a trade for McKay.
McKay has played 71 AFL games since 2017 in a career that has been riddled by injuries.
However, McKay – who finished seventh in North Melbourne’s 2023 Syd Barker Medal count – has never been settled at AFL level, having played under six senior coaches.
It’s a fact that Todd Goldstein – who also moved from North Melbourne to Essendon in the past fortnight – believes showcases McKay’s potential.
“I think he’s just growing as a player,” Goldstein told SEN.
“He was already in the top few for intercept marks last year, so he knows how to defend. He takes the number one forward every single week and he really relishes that opportunity. More often than not he gets the job done.
“I think Ben is going to fit in really well into Brad (Scott’s) system and I think he’ll see a new lease on life.
“Hopefully his mind is a bit clearer because obviously there was a fair bit going on, a fair bit of tension around him this year, so hopefully with a clearer mind next year we’ll see an even better Benny McKay.”
Clubs must spend 95 per cent of their salary cap each year. With Essendon set to pay McKay less from 2025 onwards, it allows the club more flexibility with other players’ salaries and greater ability to bring in high-profile recruits from 2025.
The Herald Sun's 2023 Rich List suggests no AFL player in the season just gone earned more than $1.35 million.
Lance Franklin's reported salary in 2021 was $1.5 million. It's unlikely a player has ever earned more in a season.
Essendon brought in Xavier Duursma, Jade Gresham and Goldstein, alongside McKay, in the 2023 player movement window, losing only Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Massimo D’Ambrosio.