Opinion Should players who miss out on a flag deserve a premiership medal?

[ioppolo]

Huh? I thought Jordon got a medal last year.

He did.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

If that's true then DM me your name and I'll go and edit the Wikipedia entry for last year's Grand Final for ya!

Probably not true though.

Why wouldn’t it be true?

 

[Navyblues09]

It’s an interesting one and I can see both sides. But local leagues give our x amount of spare medals for the club to give out as it sees fit often to injured players, trainers, etc.

I’ve got premiership medals from playing in the GF and not playing. The one I didn’t play I was a key member of the side that got us there, work commitments had me missing the semi final and the final training session so they left me out of the GF team.

On the day I had mixed emotions and felt a bit left out. But I felt more connected to the club and recognised when given one of the extra medals at our clubs presentation night. It felt good to have something to remember and recognise your contribution to a premiership side despite missing out on the day.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

Yes I think so, Holmes was integral to our team this year and missed out as did others. If you played a roll, then why not?

It's a team/Club performance to win the flag so all players that at least played throughout the year should get one.

The Premiership cup goes to the club as a whole, so why not the medals too?

 

[daniel_4tw]

It should go to the entire squad.

A premiership is won over a season, not one day.

If you played a single game, played your role at training, etc, you contributed.

 

[JackFlash]

Every player on the list who played a senoir game throughout the year should get a medal...
.

 

[Atomboy]

Every player on the list who played a senoir game hroughout the year should get a medal...
.

Can just see the AFL Marketing engaging Oprah:

“You get a medal, and you get a medal !”

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

With the US sports example, the club/franchise (and its billionaire owners) organise those rings for the entire staff, the league just gives them the trophy. Nothing stopping our clubs from doing something similar at their presentation nights or first home game of the following year.

For all of the brilliant speeches post game yesterday, my only criticism is that Selwood or Scott should have mentioned Holmes.

 

[Roobs321]

I like just the team getting the medals (you have to win finals to win the thing). The only exception for me is players omitted from a GF replay like Leon Davis

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and Michael Gardiner in 2010, special consideration should be given there. But normally I think it should just be the team that takes the field. The club/squad kinda wins the trophy anyway.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

This ridiculous “tradition” on show again yesterday.

Players who make contributions to the flag snubbed, other fringe players like Frampton and Ginnivan awarded just because they happened to be in the side on GF day (and barely contributed).

It’s so indescribably dumb.

 

[Penski]

Something that American sports does right. It recognises every contributor from the winning organisation, and it means a lot to those that did everything that they could, but just didn't happen to be one of those out on the actual ground.

It needs to change.

 

[HairyO]

Something that American sports does right. It recognises every contributor from the winning organisation, and it means a lot to those that did everything that they could, but just didn't happen to be one of those out on the actual ground.

It needs to change.

I wouldnt mind a team medal for everyone playing at least one game, but the game day medal is something special, not just a participation award.

 

[kranky al]

This ridiculous “tradition” on show again yesterday.

Players who make contributions to the flag snubbed, other fringe players like Frampton and Ginnivan awarded just because they happened to be in the side on GF day (and barely contributed).

It’s so indescribably dumb.

Absolutely. No Shep gaff and nn and we are a bottom of the top 8 side in 2018.

They were integral to our flag and should have a medal.

 

[kranky al]

I wouldnt mind a team medal for everyone playing at least one game, but the game day medal is something special, not just a participation award.

Maybe a medal for people meeting a certain criteria and a diamanté for players played on the day

 

[Roobs321]

No I don't think so. If I was new to this sport I'd be open to it but given the tradition we've grown up with these hard-luck stories are part and parcel of the occasion. And where would you draw the line, just the overall squad, guys who played 15+ games and contributed considerably to the achievement, the emergencies, best-22 star with tragic timing, and what about the optics of rewarding a suspended player, etc.

2010 and 1977 are some exceptions that won't necessarily happen again, where I'd be open to some special consideration. And clubs can internally offer their own kind of recognition. But you can't remove cruelty and painful twists of fate from sport entirely, do that too much and you star to blur the drive to make the grade, to win the day, to persevere through challenges, etc. I'm open to it in team sports more generally, but they each have their own established traditions and I think within AFL the matchday medal has a certain lustre and exclusivity to it. To miss on the day is bittersweet (to put it lightly), but it's still nice to be strongly associated with a premier club. Those that take to the field that day should be the only ones to mount the dais though, that whole Robert Murphy

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thing in 2016 I wasn't a fan of. Thank them in your speeches, but it's a sport with a gameday decider, respect that.

 

[HairyO]

Maybe a medal for people meeting a certain criteria and a diamanté for players played on the day

And a new car !!

 

[kranky al]

And a new car !!

Do YOU come with the car?

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Usually with arguments I think I’m pretty good at seeing the other side even if I disagree, with this I can’t… I can’t understand people who legitimately think a premiership is won on one day and not across a season.

I mean, you literally can’t win it without the wins that come before the grand final.

 

[Roobs321]

Absolutely. No Shep gaff and nn and we are a bottom of the top 8 side in 2018.

They were integral to our flag and should have a medal.

But Gaff and NN were both rubbed out a few rounds out from finals, and Shep earlyish in a Qualifying final. It isn't like they were doing Wednesday training sessions. They were Nicoski in 2006, powerless, their fate sealed well beforehand. When I think hard luck stories I think of those guys like Jaymie Graham who maybe aren't generally best-22 but in the season through chance came into selection, played a lot of games, and have to give way at the brink because some star player is putting up their hand to come back in.

We can also forget the countless cases of stars missing out on a Grand Final defeat. Whether through injury or omission, that can be painful in its own way, it can also spur some players on.

 

[The Real Deal 7]

No. One of my joys yesterday was seeing Taylor Adams

3

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miss out.

 

[Captivating]

I'd have the AFL have a Premiership Medal for all players who contributed to the successful team's premiership season AND a Grand Final medal for those who played in the winning Grand Final.

 

[marcmurphy3]

I'd have the AFL have a Premiership Medal for all players who contributed to the successful team's premiership season AND a Grand Final medal for those who played in the winning Grand Final.

I think if you differentiate the medals then it changes nothing for players who missed out.

 

[marcmurphy3]

100% yes to answer the thread question. It takes a squad to win a flag, moreso now then ever.

I don't get the argument that it devalues the medal because of who gets to be a premiership player. There's been plenty of very average players over the years that have been lucky enough to play in a flag courtesy of their more talented team mates and plenty if greats who haven't got that chance.

I do subscribe to the theiry that maybe there should be a game limit. Say 5 games? Or just keep it simple and say anyone that played that season (1 game)?

 

[Danw0w]

I do subscribe to the theiry that maybe there should be a game limit. Say 5 games? Or just keep it simple and say anyone that played that season (1 game)?

But then you have the same problem with shifted goal posts. X player only played 4 games, does he deserve a medal? Y player is a super star who did his acl in a pre season match and couldn't play a game all year, does he deserve one?

I think its gotta be everyone or just the players on grand final day. I think it should remain just the players on grand final day.

 

[BigVic]

Absolutely. I was gutted for Adams and Noble when they missed out on a premiership medal