NORTH Melbourne and Essendon have commissioned a medal to honour club greats Glenn Archer and James Hird.
The Archer-Hird medal will be awarded in the first clash between the sides each season to the player who epitomizes the values upheld by the legends of the game.
The concept grew from the mutual admiration and respect shown last year by the pair when they swapped jumpers on the field.
"Determination, courage, skill and loyalty are synonymous with both Glenn Archer and James Hird and we thought it appropriate that our two proud clubs honour these champions each time we play," North Melbourne Football Club chief executive Eugene Arocca said.
"Over the past two decades AFL fans have marveled at the deeds both on and off the field of the two champions and we see this as a fitting way to celebrate their careers.
"Who could forget Arch and Hirdy swapping jumpers last year? It was one of the great moments of the season and their admiration towards each other is worthy of commemoration by the clubs."
Arocca said Archer and Hird would be presented to the Telstra Dome crowd before the Round 1 Easter Monday clash. "Given Arch’s career ended in Adelaide in the preliminary final I thought it was fitting that we give him a send-off in front of our fans here in Melbourne at our first home game," Arocca said.
Arocca also announced that North Melbourne's membership had surged to 23,021. But he said there were still 7320 members from last season who had not re-joined.
Arocca urged all North Melbourne fans to get behind the club and the opening game of the season. "A packed Dome on Easter Monday to start the season would be a fantastic way to celebrate both Arch and Hirdy."
what a great award
The Archer-Hird medal will be awarded in the first clash between the sides each season to the player who epitomizes the values upheld by the legends of the game.
The concept grew from the mutual admiration and respect shown last year by the pair when they swapped jumpers on the field.
"Determination, courage, skill and loyalty are synonymous with both Glenn Archer and James Hird and we thought it appropriate that our two proud clubs honour these champions each time we play," North Melbourne Football Club chief executive Eugene Arocca said.
"Over the past two decades AFL fans have marveled at the deeds both on and off the field of the two champions and we see this as a fitting way to celebrate their careers.
"Who could forget Arch and Hirdy swapping jumpers last year? It was one of the great moments of the season and their admiration towards each other is worthy of commemoration by the clubs."
Arocca said Archer and Hird would be presented to the Telstra Dome crowd before the Round 1 Easter Monday clash. "Given Arch’s career ended in Adelaide in the preliminary final I thought it was fitting that we give him a send-off in front of our fans here in Melbourne at our first home game," Arocca said.
Arocca also announced that North Melbourne's membership had surged to 23,021. But he said there were still 7320 members from last season who had not re-joined.
Arocca urged all North Melbourne fans to get behind the club and the opening game of the season. "A packed Dome on Easter Monday to start the season would be a fantastic way to celebrate both Arch and Hirdy."
what a great award
