'Class act': Daniel Wells' selfless gesture revealed

He joined Collingwood on a rich three-year deal with the hope of giving the Pies some experience come finals time – then they made the grand final without him.

But Daniel Wells has backed himself in to regain his spot in the team with a selfless gesture to help Collingwood’s books.

Now 34 and potentially in his final season before retiring from the AFL, Wells has reportedly given up much of the reported $500,000 to $600,000 owed to him.

Instead, as 7 News Melbourne’s Tom Browne reports, the former North Melbourne star will play out the season for a base fee and match payments.

The AFL CBA outlines a minimum base payment for the 2019 season as $105,000 plus $5000 per AFL match played, though it is unclear if those are the exact figures agreed to by Wells and the Pies.

The decision comes after Collingwood re-signed breakout star Jordan De Goey, to a contract reportedly worth $800,000, and Darcy Moore ($450,000) before bringing Dayne Beams home from Brisbane on a deal worth $500,000 per year.

Wells played just four games last season after 10 in his first year at the Pies and the veteran will face a battle to squeeze into what has become one of the deepest midfields in the competition.

The money move was praised by Collingwood fans: