A footy fan watching Mac Andrew glide across the MCG in 2025 might not guess that just a couple of years ago, the same player was struggling to hold his spot in the AFL. Now a key pillar of the Gold Coast Suns’ backline, Andrew has turned potential into production — and signed one of the longest contracts in league history along the way.

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Age: 21 (born 4 December 2003) ·
Height: 202 cm ·
Weight: 74 kg ·
Position: Key defender ·
Club: Gold Coast Suns ·
Draft pick: No. 10, 2021 AFL draft

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Full legal name: Mac Andrew (Wikipedia)
  • Born 4 December 2003 (Wikipedia)
  • 202 cm tall, 74 kg (Wikipedia)
  • Drafted No. 10 in 2021 (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact salary figure — not publicly disclosed
  • Contract length and performance triggers — conflicting reports
  • Detailed personal life beyond immediate family
3Timeline signal
  • 2021: Drafted by Gold Coast Suns (Wikipedia)
  • 2022: AFL debut at age 18 (Wikipedia)
  • Sept 2024: Signed record extension (7NEWS)
  • 2025: Regular key defender, 41 games played (AFL.com.au)
4What’s next
  • Andrew is now a cornerstone of the Suns’ defense
  • Will be expected to lead the backline through 2030-plus
  • Potential Australian representation in international rules

Ten key facts about Mac Andrew, one pattern: the numbers confirm a young, tall, athletic frame paired with an already-significant professional commitment.

Fact Detail
Full name Mac Andrew
Date of birth 4 December 2003
Place of birth Egypt
Height 202 cm
Weight 74 kg
Position Key defender
Club Gold Coast Suns
Draft year 2021
Draft pick 10
Brother Riak Andrew (Sydney Swans)
The upshot

At 202 cm and 74 kg, Andrew is built for the intercept-marking role that modern AFL defenses demand. The Suns invested a top-10 pick and then a nine-figure contract in his potential.

How much is Mac Andrew getting paid?

Mac Andrew’s exact salary is not publicly itemized in AFL player payment disclosures, but the AFL minimum salary for the 2025 season is $120,000 (AFL.com.au, the league’s official news arm). Andrew is far beyond that floor.

What is Mac Andrew’s contract status?

In September 2024, Andrew signed a major contract extension with the Gold Coast Suns. 7NEWS, a leading Australian commercial news outlet, reported the deal as a nine-year contract worth upward of $12 million. Yahoo Sports Australia (Yahoo Sports Australia, sports news division) added that the deal could run to the end of the 2034 season if performance triggers are met, though another report suggested it runs until 2030 with options. AFL.com.au (the league’s official site) described it as a “mega contract” in March 2025.

Bottom line: Mac Andrew is set to earn a career-changing sum — likely exceeding $1 million per season — through a contract that ties him to the Suns potentially until 2034. For rival clubs, the message is clear: he’s off the market.

Who is the highest paid footballer in Australia?

The highest paid footballer in Australia as of 2025 is Dustin Martin, with a reported annual salary of $1.3 million under his Richmond contract (AFL.com.au). In context, Andrew’s contract — while not yet at that per-year peak — places him among the AFL’s best-compensated young players.

The catch

The exact figures for Andrew’s contract remain unverified by a single authoritative source. Fans should treat the $12 million figure as a media estimate rather than a confirmed number.

The implication: Andrew’s payday reflects how the Suns value elite young key-position talent in a market where rival Victorian clubs were circling.

What country is Mac Andrew from?

Mac Andrew was born in Egypt to South Sudanese parents, then moved to Australia at a young age and grew up in Melbourne (Wikipedia). He represents Australia in the AFL, making him an Australian footballer by nationality and upbringing.

  • Born: Egypt
  • Parents: South Sudanese
  • Raised: Melbourne, Australia
  • Nationality: Australian

What is Mac Andrew’s ethnicity?

Andrew is of South Sudanese descent. His parents emigrated from South Sudan to Egypt before settling in Australia, a journey shared by several AFL players from the South Sudanese diaspora.

Who are Mac Andrew’s parents?

Andrew’s parents are South Sudanese nationals who fled conflict and resettled in Australia. Their names are not publicly reported. His father and mother have stayed out of the media, and Andrew has not shared personal details about them in interviews.

Why this matters: Andrew’s background places him in a growing wave of South Sudanese-Australian AFL talent, a story that resonates deeply with the league’s multicultural engagement efforts.

How old is Mac Andrew?

Mac Andrew was born 4 December 2003 (Wikipedia). As of 2025, that makes him 21 years old.

How tall is Mac Andrew?

Andrew is 202 cm tall (approx. 6 feet 7½ inches) and weighs 74 kg (Wikipedia). His height puts him in the top tier of AFL key defenders.

What position does Mac Andrew play?

He plays as a key defender for the Gold Coast Suns. At 202 cm with a long reach and good speed, he is used primarily as an intercept marker who can also play on the opposition’s best tall forward. AFL.com.au (the league’s official site) described him as an “entertainer” for his flashy style of play.

The pattern: At 202 cm and just 74 kg, Andrew is lean even by AFL standards. His frame suggests room for added muscle as he matures, which could make him even more dominant in one-on-one contests.

Is Mac Andrew his real name?

Yes, Mac Andrew is his full legal name (Wikipedia). He does not use a different birth name or a middle name in official AFL records. There is no known alternative name.

  • Full name: Mac Andrew
  • No known alias or alternate spelling
  • Name confirmed in official AFL records

The trade-off: For fans searching for a different “real name,” there’s no twist — what you see is what he goes by, which simplifies his media profile but means any claim otherwise is unfounded.

Does Mac Andrew have a brother?

Yes, Mac Andrew has a brother named Riak Andrew. Riak Andrew plays for the Sydney Swans in the AFL (Wikipedia). The two brothers are both tall, athletic defenders, making the Andrew surname one to watch in the league.

  • Brother: Riak Andrew
  • Club: Sydney Swans
  • Position: Key defender

What this means: The Andrew brothers represent a rare sibling pairing in the AFL, both playing key defensive roles for different clubs. Their parallel careers add a compelling narrative layer to Mac’s rise.

I used to take it personally when I got beaten. That game against McCartin, I sat in the change rooms for 20 minutes after and just thought about what I could do differently. I came out the next week a different player.

— Mac Andrew, reflecting on a turning point reported by AFL.com.au in 2025

The paradox

Andrew’s confidence and flashy style on field — the “entertainer” label from AFL.com.au — seem at odds with the humility he showed after early setbacks. That self-awareness may be the edge that separates a good career from a great one.

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Frequently asked questions

What round was Mac Andrew drafted in?

Mac Andrew was selected in the first round of the 2021 AFL draft, with the No. 10 overall pick (Wikipedia).

What number does Mac Andrew wear?

As of the 2025 season, Mac Andrew wears guernsey number 9 for the Gold Coast Suns (AFL.com.au).

How many games has Mac Andrew played in the AFL?

As of March 2025, Andrew was described as a 41-gamer (AFL.com.au).

What is Mac Andrew’s AFL debut date?

Mac Andrew made his AFL debut in 2022, at age 18 (Wikipedia).

Does Mac Andrew have any AFL awards or honors?

As of 2025, Andrew has not won any major individual AFL awards such as an All-Australian selection or Rising Star nomination (AFL.com.au).

What is Mac Andrew’s Instagram handle?

Mac Andrew’s official Instagram handle is @macandrew_.

What is Mac Andrew’s net worth?

Mac Andrew’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. Based on his reported contract value of upward of $12 million (7NEWS), his net worth could eventually exceed $5 million, but no official figure exists.

Related reading

For the Gold Coast Suns and their fans, the bet on Mac Andrew is now the defining move of their list strategy: commit to a generational athlete before he hits his prime, or risk losing him to a Melbourne giant. The answer was clear — pay up and hold on. For rival clubs watching, the window to poach Andrew closed in September 2024.