The AFL is working on a plan which would see every player who featured even once for each year’s premiership team, in both AFL and AFLW, given a premiership ring.
Nine’s Tom Morris reported the attempt to borrow from US sports – where championship winners are given glitzy, heavy rings to celebrate their triumph – plus the NRL is well and truly underway.
A prototype from one of four companies was displayed, with a glittering Magpie appearing to be surrounded by diamonds, and said to be worth over $50,000.
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But giving one to every player who featured at least once during the season at the premiership club, rather than just every premiership player, could make the cost up to $2.2 million a year – given that AFL lists have an average of roughly 44 players.
Last year Collingwood, who are behind the push, used 37 players and all of them would have received a ring.
As part of the plan football department staff could also be given a less-expensive version of the ring.
The rings could be coined ‘Barassi Rings’ as part of the AFL’s long-mooted plan to celebrate the legendary late Ron Barassi.
“There is an opportunity here for the AFL industry to copy something from the American sports model that is actually special and works. I don’t think we should copy everything, mind you,” Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly told Nine.
“It’s separate to the medals and the player and the coach. It needs to be licensed by the AFL. A version of it should be available for members and collectors.
He added: “The ability to recognise all staff and make them feel special for all the hard work and to have something on their shelf is a good thing.
“It works wonderfully across men’s and women’s. Ideally I’d love our staff and players to receive something from last year and to line up with the AFLW season and Grand Final this season.”
Four groups have pitched to be involved in the rings including one linked to Fox Footy’s Ben Dixon, via his connection with the owners of Diamond District – who created the Collingwood prototype shown on Tuesday night.
“Every day we get pitched by companies with new concepts,” AFL spokesperson Jay Allen said on Tuesday.
“We can confirm we have been approached by multiple businesses pitching premiership rings, however no further conversations have been progressed.”
Source Agencies
