Josh Daicos under fire over comments comparing AFL to English Premier League

Collingwood premiership winner Josh Daicos has been slammed for complaining about AFL players not being treated the same as overseas stars. Daicos recently spoke on the conditions of professional athletes in the AFL compared to those in the English Premier League after travelling to their training facilities.

In a video alongside girlfriend Annalise Dalins during their recent trip to Europe, Daicos said he was left feeling "quite flat" after he toured the world-class facilities of Premier League teams. “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.

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“It’s quite amazing the disparity in wealth over there. 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. So, we don’t get that sort of treatment.”

This week, radio host Tom Elliott said the comments were baffling, considering the AFL and EPL are not on the same planet in regards to pay and global reach. “I’m not sure what planet certain AFL footballers think they live on,” Elliott said on 3AW radio.

“Josh Daicos appears to be bemoaning the fact that as an AFL footballer, he doesn’t make nearly the same sort of money that an English Premier League footballer or soccer player does. AFL, which grew out of the old VFL, is a provincial code of football. It is only played in this country, all right?

“It is not even played all across Australia, in Queensland and New South Wales. It is very much a minority sport. Yes, it is growing in popularity, but it’s not nearly as popular as what rugby league is, all right?" Fans on social media didn't hold back on the Pies player either, saying he needs a reality check and to read up on why EPL players make so much more money.

Salary cap not a thing for EPL and football

The 3AW drive host also mentioned that in Australian sporting codes such as the AFL and NRL there is a salary cap, something European leagues don't have. “We have salary capping over here, all right? Because we have a club structure, we can’t afford to just play whatever players demand," he said.

"So we have salary capping, whereas EPL teams and American football teams are owned by billionaires. They will keep throwing money at the situation until they get the result they want, which is a Premiership.”

The host pointed out that the average Premier League player earns nearly $6 million a year, compared to the AFL's average player salary of approximately $400,000. Elliott also referred to the fact football is a global sport and is watched by billions worldwide in comparison to the AFL which is almost exclusively watched just by Australians. “As good as Australian rules football is, and I personally believe it is the best code of football in the world, it is not watched by billions of people around planet Earth," he said.

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