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AFL world divided over premiership ring proposal emulating NBA and NFL traditions

The AFL is weighing up the idea of rings for premiership winning players similar to that received by NBA winners.

ben talintyre
Sports Reporter
·5-min read

The AFL is weighing up whether or not to introduce premiership rings for flag-winning players. In a tradition seen throughout US sporting competitions, such as in the NBA and NFL, championship winners are given shiny rings to celebrate their monumental victory.

The NRL already presents premiership rings instead of medals and the AFL may soon follow suit. The prototype AFL championship ring was unveiled this week, with the design centred around a glittering Magpie - the icon for current premiers Collingwood - and surrounded by diamonds.

According to Nine's Tom Morris, the proposal is that every player who has featured in at least one game for the premiership-winning team is awarded a ring. Each ring is reportedly worth more than $50,000, meaning if it were to happen it would cost the league more than $2 million a season.

The AFL is weighing up the idea of rings for premiership winning players similar to that received by NBA winners. Image: Getty
The AFL is weighing up the idea of rings for premiership winning players similar to that received by NBA winners. Image: Getty

Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly declared that it is a perfect “opportunity” for the AFL to create something special for each player who contributes to flag glory. In the Magpies' 2023 premiership campaign, 37 players were used but only 23 players received medals. "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. 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."

The premiership ring prototype the AFL is considering introducing. Image: Nine
The premiership ring prototype the AFL is considering introducing. Image: Nine

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin agreed that the introduction of a ring is a good idea, largely due to him personally seeing players miss out on the recognition they deserved when the Demons won the flag in 2021. "There are some guys who had significant contribution to our team that year and our club over a long period of time who probably weren’t recognised the way they should have been,” Goodwin said on Wednesday.

"I’m talking (former captain) Nathan Jones, Neville Jetta, Jake Melksham, Adam Tomlinson, Jayden Hunt … they had enormous impact on our footy club for that season. I think it’s a fantastic initiative I think a lot of clubs and coaches would embrace. We all know you need a squad mentality to have premiership success, and sometimes they don’t get the recognition they deserve. You are going to play anywhere between 28 and 35 players for the year and you need every single one of them to get premiership success and I think they all should be recognised in some form."

Hawthorn legend Luke Hodge is leading the charge against the introduction of rings, saying there is no need for the AFL to copy America. "We are not America. We don't have to be America," Hodge told SEN.

"Yes, the NFL does it, yes, the NBA does it (but we don’t have to). In 2008, we got given a ring from Hawthorn, but it wasn’t quite to the status of what NBA players get. Clearly, it wasn’t a $20,000 or $50,000 ring. It sits in the top drawer at home, I don't think I've seen any of the players wear it. It is a gold ring with a picture of a hawk on it."

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The AFL world is also divided, not convinced the move is the right one. Fans and pundits have taken to X to debate whether or not the US tradition should have a place in Australia, with many fans angered that the AFL is considering copying the NBA and NFL.