The premier of premiers: AFL to combine men’s, women’s leagues in $1m ‘champion club’ awardMax Laughton
Fox Sports
March 10th, 2023 The AFL has revealed results across the men’s and women’s competitions each year will be combined to award the McClelland Trophy to the Champion Club.
Previously given to the team that finished on top of the men’s ladder, the trophy will now come with a $1 million prize to be shared across the players and winning club.
The McClelland Trophy was previously given to the VFL or AFL club which performed best across seniors, reserves and under 19s.
The Champion Club title will be determined based on premiership points in both the AFL and AFLW but tweaked to reflect the fewer games played in the women’s competition.
AFL wins will be worth four points, and draws two, while AFLW wins will be worth eight points, and draws four. This formula will be reviewed based on changes to season length.
If awarded in 2022, Melbourne would have been crowned Champion Club, thanks to winning 16 games (second) in the men’s competition and nine games (first) in the women’s, along with the premiership in the latter.
A presentation of the perpetual trophy will be displayed at the winning club for the 12 months they hold the title.
Example: McClelland Trophy for combined AFL/AFLW performance, if it was awarded in 2022:
1. Melbourne - 136 points
2. Brisbane - 132
3. Geelong - 128
4. Collingwood - 120
5. Richmond - 114
6. Western Bulldogs - 104
7. Adelaide - 96
8. Fremantle - 90
9. Gold Coast - 80
10. Carlton - 72
11. St Kilda - 68
12. Sydney - 64
=13. Essendon - 60
=13. North Melbourne - 60
=15. GWS Giants - 56
=15. Hawthorn - 56
17. Port Adelaide - 52
18. West Coast - 24
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/the-premier-of-premiers-afl-to-combine-mens-womens-leagues-in-1m-champion-club-award/news-story/abc80b79631ef2b35c17a0530fca9d6e
