Medals for all

[dons_r_tops]

Regardless of who win this years grand final - there are going to be player who played in the senior side during the year who do not play on the day and do not recieve a premiership medal. over the years a number of players have missed out on this through injury, and also omission when they would have been a walk up start for any other club in the AFL, Players to miss out recently are, John Longmire, Tony Modra (twice), Derek Kickett in 1993 these 3 all played more than half the season in the seniors and yet missed out on the medal they were major contributors to each of the sides and yet got little or no reward when their team achieved the ultimate. So the AFL should give all players on the seniors list who played senior football during the season A premiership medal. Others sports do this Ie. NBA, NBL, Soccer, English Rugby, So what not aussie rules. Its time players were rewarded for a whole season of football and not just one day. (no i dont agree with dan24 on the other bit)

 

[Bloodstained Angel]

A great idea and about time - feel sorry for Modra and especially Longmire.

Also Derek Kickett probably would not have come out and said "I hate Kevin Sheedy's guts" like he did if he had the compensation of a medal in recognition for his efforts at Windy Hill over the course of 1993.

 

[Grendel]

Good Idea, with some reservations. While it may make sense on the injury front for instance to give solace for missing out. The Kickett thing is a different case altoghether.
BSA I take your point, but couldnt it also go the other way, Kickett was dropped after every game for the year. To get a 'sorry you didnt play in the premiership side but heres a club medal for everyone who missed out but helped us get there' might (this is speculation) actually make you feel worse.
There you are with 22 games out of 23 and a compensation for what could have been a premiership medal. Dont think I would want one somehow, just be a reminder of how bloody close you went to the glory all players dream of.

 

[magpie greg]

Oh yeah, Derek would have been happy to get the medal and still love Sheedy. If Derek got the medal they wouls till be trying to pull it out of Sheedy's backside now.

 

[Bloodstained Angel]

yeah sure - it does cut both ways

If Kickett had been tossed a medal and a platitude he may have gone even more ballistic than he did.

Only Derek can really answer the question but in any case he was treated appallingly by Sheedy - no doubt about it.

 

[Richmondfan#1]

I couldn't agree more. Imagine how it would feel. You work your guts out for the team but you don't get the medal you deserve. The AFL is stupid not to realise that.

 

[twenty somet]

hmmm.
Do you read inside football? The article and the title is exactly the same. I don't care though. At least it gives us something to talk about!

 

[Crowmad]

I think players who just miss out should get some recognition, but I remember when Mark Ricciuto missed out in 97, he said he wouldn't want to get a medal. He said it wouldn't compensate for not taking part. I know for the first p/ship, the Crows had a special dinner, and those team members who didn't play in the final got a special framed poster and some other stuff as recognition of their contribution.

 

[Shinboners]

I'd like to see the players who have contributed to the side throughout the year, but didn't make the team get a premiership medal. As Wayne Carey said on the Grand Final podium last year, "It takes a club to win one of these (premiership trophies)". IT doesn't make up for not being part of the Grand Final team, but at least the players will get some sort of recognition. As much as I was rapt to see Cameron Mooney get a premiership medal last year, I couldn't help thinking that it was really Jason McCartney's medal.

There could be two ways of doing this. Either award a premiership medal to the players who have played in, say, at least 16 games (roughly two thirds of the matches), or allow the clubs to award say three medals at their discretion.

 

[dons_r_tops]

twenty somet, I do read insode football but thought it was worth bringing up, also shinboners i think award them to anyone who has played seniors but not played enough games to qualify for VFL Finals would be fair this make injured players elligible even if only played 5 weeks of the season so long as they played senior footy and not VFL

 

[twenty somet]

dons_r_tops,

Yeah. I have nothing against it. It's a good idea!

twenty somet

 

[The Good Guy]

Shinboner,

How could you say that Cameron Mooney's premiership medal was really Jason McCartney's? If you are stupid enough to break someone's nose late in the last quarter of a premlinary final which your team has wrapped up, especially with a record at the tribunal, then you don't deserve a spot in a GF. Not only did he let himself down, but also his team-mates and his club and he will have to live with that. Young Cameron Mooney thoroughly deserved his medal (despite getting a touch in the GF. At least someone down at Geelong can boast they have played in a premiership).

 

[Shinboners]

Good Guy

Jason McCartney made a stupid mistake and paid the price. However, over the season, McCartney did more to get North into the Grand Final than Cameron Mooney did. While I was happy for Mooney, it was the thoughts of McCartney's efforts throughout the year that put the thought in my mind that it was really McCartney's reward. There is also an added dimension in regards to McCartney has he was was the Roo fans' boo-boy during his first year with the club, but he kept on working hard and won the fans over (but that's more of a side issue).

I would not have felt any different had McCartney gotten an injury (like Modra in 97) or been dropped (Kickett 93, Armstrong 96). Sometimes the fates give those sorts of deals to players. That's why I think it's a great idea to give out medals to players (with certain criteria) who have worked throughout the season, but didn't make it into the Grand Final side.

 

[Eagle_Fan]

Players who miss out because of suspension don't deserve a medal. It's (usually) their own fault. But you have to feel sorry for those who miss out because of injury. Longmire? Stoneham would have missed out if his team actually managed to jag one. I think I remember David Hart missing our 92 flag because he was injured in the game before. As for those who were dropped... But to differentiate between those who do and don't deserve official AFL recognition would be too hard. Surely it would be more satisfying to be thanked and recognised by your own club?

BTW/ Anyone read an article about Tony Modra about the time of his 150th? It was in the Sunday Times and their associated papers. He still hates Blight with a vengance. For a guy who's barely stopped smiling since he got over here (why would you?

), the whole Adelaide-Blight thing still touches a raw nerve....

 

[dons_r_tops]

To win a Grand Final takes a whole season of planning and if the player only misses one game cause of suspension and it happens to be the grand final they miss they were still there for other games which help their side get to the grand final why shouldnt they get a medal Eagle_Fan, they contributed to the win and thanks for your help from the club means jack when you should have had a premiership medal, If you dont believe me just ask Derek Kickett, Nearly every other sport presents the Whole squad not just the team that wins with the medal or trophy, And It's About time the afl followed suit.

 

[Drakey]

no no no no no

No medals for people who don't play in the winning GF side.

If you start giving them to players who played say 10 games then what about the guy who played 9.

Sure you feel for guys like Kickett, Modra etc but life is tough and not always fair.

 

[Dan26]

Drakey,

Forget if they played 10 games or 9 games. That's not the point.

If a player participated in at least one game over the course of the year they should get a premiership medal.

This means he played in and contributed to the premeirship side at some course of the year, therefore he deserves a medal. The premiership isn't JUST won on the day. It's won over the course of the year.

Obviously Modra SHOULD have got a medal in 1997. He won the Coleman medal, and was probably the single most important player in Adelaide finishng 4th (13-9). After all, he kicked more goals than anyone else in the AFL that year, didn't he ?

He was a vital part of the eventual premiership team, and played a huge role. Therefore, he shold get a medal, as should anyone else who playd at least one game over the season.

The Grand Final is just one match agaisnt a one-off opponent, remember. You can't just ignore the rest of the season. The rest of the season DID happen, whether you like it or not.

You can't just say "It never happened". The first 22 weeks did happen and if a player contributes during the season to the eventual premiers, even if he didn't play the last match, then they should get a medal.

it's pretty obvious really.

 

[dons_r_tops]

That's A pretty fair call Dan24,
would this be an acceptable substitute for not recognising the minor premier?

 

[The Good Guy]

I agree with you Drakey, only the 22 players on the day should be awarded the medal. Where does it stop? Surely, the assistant coaches / runners / medical staff / office staff etc.. contribute just as much.

 

[Eagle_Fan]

But Dan, if we went with your idea, wouldn't the prestige of owning a premiership medal dissapear if the scrawny 17 year old who was thrown in for a 'tester' game, and the youngster who was given one last chance to prove himself but was then delisted, both had a medal too?

 

[Drakey]

Year - 2060

Boy - Whats that Grandad?

Old Man - Thats an AFL premiership medal you young wipper snapper.

B - Did you play in an AFL Grand final Grandad?

OM - Errr. Not exactly.

B- How did you get it then?

OM - The Southport Saints presented it to me in 2010.

B - Why?

OM - Because I played a game for them in the year they won their 6th straight Grand Final.

B - How did you go?

OM - IT was round 27, 2010. They took me off the rookie list & I sat on the bench till 15 minutes into the last quarter. I didn't get a kick & got caught holding the ball 10 metres out from their goal. They kicked the goal & we lost the game. I never played again & got delisted at the end of the year.

B - And they gave you a medal?

OM - Yep.

B - Your a f@#%ing fraud you old c@#*t.

OM - Why you little s@#t. Just wait till I get my hands around your skinny little neck.

B - Argggg. gurgle. help.

DON'T LET THIS FRIGHTENING VISION OF THE FUTURE HAPPEN. WE CAN STOP IT. NO PREMIERSHIP MEDALS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T PLAY IN THE GF.

 

[saint boy]

The Southport Saints?

 

[dons_r_tops]

Drakey, Ask The Squad Of the chicago Bulls Who sat On The Bench During Each Of Their Titles And Yet Didn't Hit The Court If They want to give back their championship Rings, You'll Find they dont! and nobody refers to them as frauds.

And Please Don't Tell the saints they are going to Southport They Would More Likely Become St. Albans, NSW (just Kidding Saints Fans)

 

[Dan26]

I have no problem with runners, medical staff, etc all being presented with a premiership medal. Anyonw who has a role at the club which wins the premiership should get a medal. They do it in the NBA.

They do it in the NFL. Does this make an NFL superbowl ring less sough after ? No, of course not. It's simply rewarding all those who had a role in the eventual premiership team.

If you wanted to draw a lne, perhaps it could be anyone who has a role with the "on-field" performance. This involves all players (at least thise that participated in at least one game) and mediacl staff, assistant coaches, etc etc. Anyone who has contributed to the team throughout the year in an "on-field" capacity.

A premiership is a team effort......by everyone.

Persoanlly, I'd award a "home and away" premiership medal, to all those who paricipated in at least one H&A game, for the team which finished on top.

I'd then give a "finals series" premiership medal to all the payees who participated in the 4 week finals series tournament. Anyone who played at least one game in that "finals tournament" should get a medal.

But for those two scenarios to exist, we would have to have top spot getting more recognition.....................

 

[dons_r_tops]

I think That the medal for those who play during the finals is possibly the best yet, this eliminates the need to give it to tester boy or blakeys old man, Also Dan you need to stop with the whole more recognition for top spot thing when you win a grand final you have "top Spot" call it a leapfrog approach to the top of the ladder if you will. however im sure that A monetary reward for top spot would be a good thing, but scrap the McCelleland trophy It lost Its Soul in 1991