- Collingwood premiership winner has called out ‘disparity’
- Said visit to Tottenham’s London facility made him feel ‘flat’
- Daicos complained after luxury holiday to UK and France
Collingwood grand final star Josh Daicos has been slammed for complaining about the treatment Premier League players get in the UK compared to AFL stars here in Australia.
The Magpies star recently visited the UK during the AFL off-season and paid a visit to Aussie coach Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham to get a taste of how Premier League clubs operate.
He said the experience made him ‘feel flat’ as he called out the gulf between Premier League players and their AFL counterparts.
‘Going over to Europe and going to Tottenham, I saw the treatment they got and I was quite flat about the treatment we get,’ Daicos said.
‘It’s quite amazing the disparity in wealth over there.’
Josh Daicos has come under fire for calling out the apparent ‘disparity’ between Premier League players and AFL stars
Daicos’ comments come after he visited the UK and got to meet Australian coach Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham
‘They were telling me that when they are training, and obviously it’s quite cold when they play, they have heaters for the ground to make sure the ground is not frosted,’ Daicos continued
‘And that costs I think $20,000 Australian, so £10,000 just to put it on for the day.
‘And I think they had it on for 40 days straight last year. So we don’t get that sort of treatment.’
The average Premier League player salary is about $5.7million a year, with the biggest contracts soaring to almost $40million.
The average AFL player is paid about $406,000 a season.
However, his comments fell flat with radio and television personality Tom Elliott.
‘I’m not sure what planet some footballers think they live on,’ he said on 3AW.
‘AFL is a provincial code only played in one country, We have salary capping here, we can’t afford to pay whatever players demand.’
Daicos (pictured left with brother Nick just after this year’s grand final) has already won an AFL premiership and is well paid by Collingwood
Daicos’ AFL salary was more than enough to enjoy a globetrotting holiday in the offseason, including this trip to France with girlfriend Annalise Dalins
Footy fans were quick to lash Daicos as well, claiming he was being entitled and should appreciate the money and treatment he receives in Australia.
‘Josh, wake up mate,’ was the blunt response from one footy fan.
‘Cry me a river! AFL players are very well paid for what is a sport only really followed in Australia,’ another fan posted.
‘Big difference… The EPL attracts players from all around the world and is worth hundreds of millions… AFL players are well paid considering it’s only a one country sport,’ added another.
Others pointed out that the Premier League is a global competition, attracting the best players from around the world and revenue to match.
‘He needs to ask himself how many people know him outside of Australia vs how many EPL stars are known around the world. He’ll soon realise the Daicos name isn’t as special as he thought,’ one fan posted.
