AFL Feud Explained: Fagan vs Lyon Over Contract Inflation and Zac Bailey's Future
The strange feud between AFL coaches Chris Fagan and Ross Lyon, which began when Fagan made surprising comments about St Kilda superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera's hefty contract, has now been fully explained. Veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson has revealed that at the heart of this dispute is Brisbane gun Zac Bailey, a restricted free agent currently facing big-money offers from rival clubs.
Market Inflation Concerns
While St Kilda are not thought to be actively courting Bailey, Fagan and Lions officials sincerely believe that Lyon and the Saints have inflated the market with the monster money they used to secure Wanganeen-Milera and former Carlton big man Tom De Koning at the end of last year. Wanganeen-Milera signed a whopping $4 million contract for two years, while De Koning inked a deal reportedly worth $1.7 million a year for eight seasons.
At the start of the year, Fagan expressed his concerns, stating, "I'm hoping those numbers we saw last year, via St Kilda, don't become a reality. I saw that as a bit of a danger for the game... I think the best players in the competition deserve to be paid the most money and that's not the case at the moment. That's not an insult to Nasiah. I think he's going to be a really good player and how far he goes I don't know. And TDK (De Koning) has shown a lot of promise for a long time but hasn't probably played up to expectations, and they're getting paid extremely well. I'd rather see the better players get all the big money."
Lyon's Response and Bailey's Situation
Lyon later returned serve, saying in his 16 years of coaching he couldn't recall commenting on a specific opposition player "in a derogatory sense." Meanwhile, Bailey has become one of Brisbane's best players, starring in their past three grand final performances. He is being offered, reportedly, up to $1.6 million from other clubs, with Essendon and Adelaide in the mix, the latter considered the front runner with a potential $10 million over seven years.
Wilson highlighted the internal dynamics at Brisbane, noting that senior players like Hugh McCluggage, Josh Dunkley, and Harris Andrews have signed long-term extensions for significantly less money, around $1.1 to $1.2 million. The senior leaders at the Brisbane Football Club are not prepared to have a player earning $1.6 million in Zac Bailey, fearing it could upset the team's salary structure and harmony.
Club Anger and Player Perspectives
Wilson explained that there is genuine anger from the Brisbane Football Club over what St Kilda have done to inflate the market. Fagan knows he will struggle to match any offer for Bailey, even if the salary cap allows it, and this has caused significant angst within the club. Former Brisbane player and Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge said he was not surprised Bailey's teammates are urging him to stay for less money, but noted that Bailey has already won two premierships and might be playing for unders.
Dale Thomas added that it's easier for stars at the higher end of the pay scale to suggest others take less, pointing out that Bailey might see this as his chance to get paid what he's worth. Wilson concluded that Fagan's comments about Wanganeen-Milera's contract were out of character and reflected the broader frustration, with other clubs also not thrilled about the young gun's deal.
