Current system of awarding premiership medals prehistoric: Hardwick (H-Sun)

[one-eyed]

Damien Hardwick has labelled the current system of awarding AFL player premiership medals prehistoric and renewed the call for it to be changed.

The two-time Richmond premiership coach said the reaction of the players immediately after the final siren of Saturday’s thrashing of GWS showed how much the Tigers valued their teammates outside the grand final 22.

Currently, only the grand final players are awarded premiership medals. But it is an issue again after Tigers player Jack Graham bravely played out the preliminary final win over Geelong with a dislocated shoulder that then ruled him out of the grand final team.

Kamdyn McIntosh and Jack Ross also missed out on grand final selection after debutant Marlion Pickett forced his way into the side.

“I think it has to change. We continually sit there and talk about team-first football,” Hardwick said.

“You only have to see the way our guys embraced the development squad when they came onto the field (after the final siren). It was all as one.

“Every single person in that club, from the receptionist to our boot studder and all those people, are working towards the same goal. We need to reward the whole team … it’s prehistoric, really.”

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/dustin-martin-wins-mr-september-award-and-photo-illusion-reveals-why/news-story/ca698a6cdeda1a081cfcc50f5f8fba3d

[mightytiges]

Let's hope they change it. Those that play on the day get to go up on the dias to receive their medal. That's their special reward for being apart of the winning 22. The others who like Graham miss out yet contribute to us reaching the big dance should eventually receive a medal even if it's not on the dias.

[lamington]

I think we should be able to amend something like 6+ games in the H+A or playing one final qualifies you to win a medal. Ross stack and K Mac were really important in the first half of the year. Even Chol was massive post bye to keep us competitive.

[Rampsation]

Im of the view anyone who played 1 game
In the season should get a premiership medal.

[Dougeytherichmondfan]

I like the idea of the club being able to choose who else deserves one. Maybe they get allocated 5 extra medals or something that they can award themselves?

[mightytiges]

You should get a medal if you play in a win during the season. If the likes of Ross, Stack, Chol, Kmac, Garth, etc hadn't helped us to reach 7 wins by the bye then we wouldn't have been in a position to make a second-half season charge for the flag as our A-graders returned. We saw in 2014 if you're too far back you use all your tickets just getting to the finals. All those players above helped to keep us within reach of the top 4 to still genuinely challenge. Then add Graham playing out the Prelim with that busted shoulder as we wouldn't have won that game either without a full bench to rotate in our comeback win. 

[lamington]

You should get a medal if you play in a win during the season. If the likes of Ross, Stack, Chol, Kmac, Garth, etc hadn't helped us to reach 7 wins by the bye then we wouldn't have been in a position to make a second-half season charge for the flag as our A-graders returned. We saw in 2014 if you're too far back you use all your tickets just getting to the finals. All those players above helped to keep us within reach of the top 4 to still genuinely challenge. Then add Graham playing out the Prelim with that busted shoulder as we wouldn't have won that game either without a full bench to rotate in our comeback win.

+1 to this

[big tone]

I’m of the thought that only the players that play in the GF get a medal.

The club can give their playing list and staff whatever they think is appropriate but the medals should only be for the 22 that played that day IMO.

Sure there is some hard luck stories but there is also some amazing stories.

Playing in a winning GF is really hard, just ask stars Plugger or Richo for example, so giving a medal to everyone that played a game waters it down IMO.

[Tiger Khosh]

All well and good to say to give medals to everyone that’s played a game during the season. But would those players actually value them if they only played a few games or even played the majority and missed the granny or would they consider them a token participation medal?

[Rampsation]

I reckon our players like Jack Graham and Sydney Stack would respect medals because they actually deserved them.

[JP Tiger]

Its called a Premiership medal because its awarded to the players who win a Premiership ... enough said ...   

[TigerLand]

As someone who played an entire year of footy and also cricket to get injured in finals and then see my mates win a GF medal, a medal wouldn't have even made a dent into the disappointment of not playing on the day.

I'm all for recognising the guys who contributed but it doesn't replace the disappointment of not playing in the big dance. It works for EPL cause there is no finals series or big dance.

[Dougeytherichmondfan]

Its called a Premiership medal because its awarded to the players who win a Premiership ... enough said ...   

And would we have won a premiership without guys like Graham, Stack, McIntosh Ross or even Rancey's efforts helping out during the season?

You don't just luck into a GF appearance, you require contributions from hundreds of people.

[Rodgerramjet]

You should get a medal if you play in a win during the season. If the likes of Ross, Stack, Chol, Kmac, Garth, etc hadn't helped us to reach 7 wins by the bye then we wouldn't have been in a position to make a second-half season charge for the flag as our A-graders returned. We saw in 2014 if you're too far back you use all your tickets just getting to the finals. All those players above helped to keep us within reach of the top 4 to still genuinely challenge. Then add Graham playing out the Prelim with that busted shoulder as we wouldn't have won that game either without a full bench to rotate in our comeback win.

Exactly, who ever played in a winning game during the season becomes eligible (lots more incentive to play well for fringe players and gives them an opportunity some will never get otherwise)

[JP Tiger]

Its called a Premiership medal because its awarded to the players who win a Premiership ... enough said ...   

And would we have won a premiership without guys like Graham, Stack, McIntosh Ross or even Rancey's efforts helping out during the season?

You don't just luck into a GF appearance, you require contributions from hundreds of people.

A Premiership Medal should be special & only for the players who WON THE PREMIERSHIP! 
Every injury & hard-luck story around the club just adds value to the 22 players who took the field & won the cup!  The club can shower it's entire player list with accolades for ever after for the season we just had, we should decorate everybody right down to the boot-studders & sandwich cutters in the canteen, but those accolades should only be from the club.  Don't expect the AFL to strike another medal just for being on the team list in 2019.
Let the club reward its valued people because they all deserve it, but don't turn the coveted Premiership Medal into a touchy feely Participation Award ....