Top Collingwood players have agreed to defer some of their salaries to ensure the club could lure back former favourite Dayne Beams.
The 28-year-old midfielder, who secured a last-ditch trade to the Magpies on deadline day, has himself taken a pay cut on his previous Brisbane deal in favour of a longer four-year contract, committing him to Collingwood until the end of the 2022 season.
Between eight to 12 of his Pies teammates have given a thumbs-up to sacrificing some of next year’s wages until further down in their contracts to secure a player they feel can help them win the AFL premiership, News Corp Australia reports.
It is understood the sums range between $30,000 and $40,000.
“The players know they are in the window and they want to win a premiership,” one player’s manager told News Corp.
Beams is to take his old premiership teammate Jarryd Blair’s No.11 jumper, having worn No.17 during his first stint at the club from 2009-2014.