Assessment 2: Online Informational Resource

By Andrew Hooper

Play ball!

When it comes to player salaries and money in sport, Mike Haysman (2012) believes, “The modern

elite sporting landscape is a completely different ball game these days”.

If comparing professional sports like AFL, cricket, netball and tennis – the difference in what an

athlete receives, not only through their contracted salaries but endorsements, would be more than

millions of dollars. Take a look at who’s taking home the bacon in these four sports.

Michael Clarke: $5.5 million

Shane Watson: $4.5 million

Ricky Ponting: $3.5 million

David Warner: $3.2 million

Michael and David Hussey: $2 million each

Australia’s top five paid cricketers in

2012

At the end of 2012, Business Review Weekly

revealed nine Australian cricketers were in the

top 50 sport earners in the country.

Rich Lists editor Andrew Heathcote (2012) said

the nine cricketers “steady ascension is one of

the biggest changes to the top sports earners

since its inception in 2003”. Fast fact: The average cricketers wage

is $1 million for test and one day

combined. The minimum wage is

$230,000.

(Partland, 2013)

(Heathcote, 2013)

In an article published on the WA Today Simon White (2011) writes of female’s raw deal when it comes to netball players’ salaries compared to the likes of Formula 1 drivers and AFL footballers. White refers to About time! a 2006 Australian Senate inquiry into the role of women in sport and recreation which “found that the vast majority of Australia's female elite athletes did not earn enough from their chosen sport to play it on a full-time basis”.In a fight to double their wage, Australian netballers recently spoke with Adelaide Now about their poor salary conditions and struggle to make a living without working outside of their elite sport. It was printed that currently, “National squad members are paid $200 daily when on duty”. (Partland, 2013)

Australian netballers are one of the worst paid athletes across the country

Australian national squad players are paid $200 daily when on duty.(Partland, 2013)

1. GC Suns’ Gary Ablett: $2 million

2. GWS Giants’ Tom Scully: $1.8 million

3. GWS Giant’s Israel Folau: $1.5 million

4. Carlton’s Chris Judd: $1.2 million

AFL’s top four paid footballers in 2012

In July 2011, Rohan Connolly wrote an article stating that in 2012, “All first-round selections are entitled to a base of $59,200, plus $2900 a match. Second-round selections receive a base pay of $53,800”. In 2011, a third-round draft pick earned a base salary of $51,000, plus $2900 for each match they play. (Connolly, 2011)

(Heathcote, 2013)

In 2012, Samantha Stosur was the

highest paid tennis player in Australia

with estimated earnings of $2.5

million. (Heathcote, 2013)

Bernard Tomic was the 26th highest

Australian sports earner in 2012 with

an estimated $2 million of earnings.

(Heathcote, 2013)

Australia’s top earning tennis players in 2012

Australian Open 2013

Men’s Singles: $2,430,000Women’s Singles: $2,420,000

(Australian Open, 2013)

TOURNAMENT

PRIZEMONEY

US Open 2012

Men’s Singles: $1,900,000Women’s Singles: $1,900,000

(US Open, 2012)

Wimbledon 2013

Men’s Singles: £1,600,000Women’s Singles: £1,600,000

(Wimbledon, 2012)

French Open

Men’s Singles: €1,500,000Women’s Singles: €1,500,000

(Roland Garros, 2012)

In researching athlete salaries across four different sports, Australia’s cricketers came out on top

with the top player earning $5.5 million in 2012. (Heathcote, 2013)

The top earning tennis player made an earnings of $2.5 million compared to the best paid AFL

footballer on $2 million. (Heathcote, 2013)

Australian netballers were the worst paid earning around $12,000 in 2012. (White, 2011)

Australian Open (2013). Prizemoney breakdown. Retrieved May 18, 2013 from http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/event_guide/prize_money.html

Connolly R (2011, July 15). Rookies in pay push. The Age. Retrieved May 18, 2013 from http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/rookies-in-pay-push-20110714-1hg2g.html

Haysman, M (2012, December 18). The evils of money in sport. Super Sport. Retrieved May 18, 2013, from http://www.supersport.com/xtra/blogs/mike-haysman/The_evils_of_money_in_sport

Heathcote, A (2012, December 17). Nine cricketers make top sports earners list. Business Review Weekly. Retrieved May 18, 2013 from http://www.brw.com.au/p/brw-lounge/nine_cricketers_make_top_sports_Eb0SWkabWl36YShRk6hOSL

Heathcote, A (2013, February 13). BRW Top 50 Sports Earners 2012. Business Review Weekly. Retrieved May 18, 2013 from http://www.brw.com.au/p/business/brw_top_sports_earners_GMQGVXnnjHh66xoFqMffHP

Partland W (2013, April 21). Australia's netballers close in on new pay deal. Adelaide Now. Retrieved May 18, 2013 from www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/netball /australias-netballers-close-in-on-new-pay-deal/story-fnddcv23-1226625450624 the average cricketers wage is $1

Roland Garros (2012). Event Info / Prize Money. Retrieved May 18, 2013 from http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/about/prizemoney.html

US Open (2012). Prizemoney. Retrieved May 18, 2013 from http://2012.usopen.org/en_US/about/history/prizemoney.html

White S (2011, July 26). Living a dream, dreaming of a living. WA Today. Retrieved May 18, 2013 from http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/living-a-dream-dreaming-of-a-living-20110725-1hwyv.html

Wimbledon (2012). Prize money and finance. Retrieved May 18, 2013 from http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/about_aeltc/201205091336574569863.html

Reference list