The mother of defecting Western Bulldog Callan Ward says fans should not blame her son for taking the money and shifting to Greater Western Sydney, they should blame the AFL.

Kerri Ward told News Limited it was the AFL that decided to expand into Sydney's rugby league heartland and provide the new team with "ludicrous amounts of money".

"In all honesty the days of the one-club player are really dying out, particularly when you have clubs being set up like this where they can come along and offer ludicrous amounts of money to play football," she said.

It's been reported that Ward will earn about $800,000 a year at GWS, almost double what the Dogs could offer the 21-year-old.

Ms Ward, a primary school teacher, said the AFL was to blame for players such as her son going to GWS.

"Really, the buck stops with them," she said.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP