However, the players earning more than $600,000 has gone from 26 in 2012 to 41, with 33 per cent of the AFL's 729 players earning more than $300,000.
The AFL did not disclose the names of its million dollar men, but a number of industry sources contacted by AFL.com.au believe the five players include Gold Coast superstar Gary Ablett, Greater Western Sydney midfielder Tom Scully and Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands.
Sandilands was widely tipped to be in the top bracket of earners after qualifying as a veteran in 2013 and benefiting from the old veterans' payment system, which allowed half his salary to fall outside the Dockers' cap.
Other names touted as likely million-dollar earners in 2013 were Carlton champion Chris Judd and St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt, in what was the final year of their contracts before re-signing.
It was unclear, however, whether performance bonuses and additional services agreements (ASA) payments pushed the pair over the $1 million mark.
Sydney Swans forward Kurt Tippett, who nominated his terms before entering the 2013 NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft, could also have received a front-ended deal pushing him into the mix of top earners.
Speculation suggested Giants pair Callan Ward and Phil Davis were members of the millionaire's club in 2012 with their four-year deals believed to have been heavily front ended.
The duo was likely to fall out of the top bracket in 2013, however, as part of the Giant's list management strategy to create space to re-sign their young stars.
Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich was also reported to be among the million dollar men in 2012 after qualifying as a veteran, however, it is believed the 32-year-old dropped out of the top bracket last year.
It is common for clubs to stagger contracts for their top earners, meaning annual payments for certain players can vary greatly from year to year.
Although the number of million dollar men dropped in 2013, 63 players earned more than $500,000, up from 51 in 2012 and 40 in 2011.
No player earned between $900,000 and $1 million, but 17 players moved into the bracket between $700,000 and $900,000, up from five in 2012.
Elite midfielders who have stayed with their original clubs, including Essendon's Jobe Watson, Geelong's Joel Selwood and Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury, were considered contenders to sit in this bracket.
The average AFL salary in 2013 was $265,179, up from $251,559 in 2012.
Clubs spent a total of $181.5 million in player payments (when additional costs such as the veterans allowance, retention and cost of living allowances and finals incentives were included), which was an increase of 4.52 per cent from $173.7 million in 2012.
The highest paid player to miss the entire season earned between $300,000 and $400,000.
Twitter: @AFL_Nathan
