Premiership rings for winning clubs is being pushed to the AFL by various organisations.
SEN regular and Channel 9 journalist Tom Morris is reporting that the AFL is considering proposals and pitches from four organisations to introduce rings for clubs who win the flag.
It would include both AFL and AFLW premiership-winning players as well as football department staff.
Morris says former players Ben Dixon and Marc Murphy, as well as ex-Collingwood president Eddie McGuire are involved in the various pitches.
“The AFL has been listening to pitches from various organisations regarding a premiership ring and creating annually an official premiership ring,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast.
“There are four organisations that have been pitching to the AFL. One involves Ben Dixon, another involves Marc Murphy, another one involves Eddie McGuire and that’s Kennedy Jewellers who are the offical timekeepers of the AFL, and another one which would prefer to remain anonymous.
“What’s happened across the last four or five months his that there’s a real groundswell of support for a premiership ring, not just from these organisations and people around the league, but also from the Collingwood Football Club.
“I called (Magpies chief) Craig Kelly yesterday and he would love every listed player who plays a game in a premiership season to receive a premiership ring. So that would be 37 players at Collingwood last year.
“The AFL at this point is just circumspect on the idea. They haven’t ruled it out, they’re certainly not jumping at it, but they’re listening to it.
“It’s gone all the way up to the top. (AFL CEO) Andrew Dillon has been involved in these meetings, there’s been other senior official as well, so there’s certainly been a lot of chatter about it at the AFL.”
Morris added: “Eddie McGuire is very big on the fact that it should be the (Ron) Barassi Ring and presented on the best and fairest night.
“It would also include AFLW as well so that would be Brisbane last year.
“That’s where it’s at at the moment.”
It was put to Morris by Tim Watson and Garry Lyon – why couldn’t clubs just do this themselves?
He referenced some recent instances of this occurring, but insists the push is for the premiership rings to be licensed by the AFL.
“There’s nothing to stop a club doing it,” he continued.
“West Coast did it player-driven in 2018, Melbourne got premiership rings which I think was club-driven in 2021. James Harmes’ family member owns a jewellery company.
“Collingwood in 2010, Hawthorn in 2008 which was Jeff Kennett-driven.
“The push here is for it to be AFL-driven and licensed by the AFL. That would be the discrepancy there.”
Morris says a ring would go to every listed player who plays a senior game, which would be more of a lavish ring, with replicas made for sale to the public.
It is understood that the rings are worth over $50,000.
