- Georgie Parker was devastated to be overlooked for the 2012 Olympics
- Former hockey star turned media identity hoped Australia wouldn’t win
- It comes as Collingwood is considering premiership rings for all players.
- Rings worth $50,000 each, some Magpies AFL stars may not want them
Australian hockey star turned media identity Georgie Parker has revealed a dark secret she was keeping after she was passed over for selection ahead of the 2012 Olympics.
Parker, 40, bounced back to win gold at the Commonwealth Games two years later, and then made the 2016 Olympic team in Rio, but she hasn’t forgotten how empty she felt when she didn’t pass the cut for London.
‘I secretly hoped the team wouldn’t win because I wasn’t part of it. I knew that was horrible, these were my friends,” said the Channel Siete presenter in a insightful column for The Nightly.
“I felt so bad about what I was thinking, that I couldn’t even watch the Hockeyroos play, and I went to central Indonesia without televisions with other members of my team who were also fighting not to be selected.
“My teammates didn’t win any medals that year, but even if they had, I wouldn’t have wanted it.
Australian Olympian turned media identity Georgie Parker (pictured) has revealed a dark secret she was keeping after she was passed over for selection ahead of the 2012 Games.
Parker hasn’t forgotten how empty she felt when she didn’t make the cut for London.
Parker spoke after Collingwood indicated they are considering $50,000 premiership rings for their entire AFL team should they play again this year (pictured, Magpies stars after winning the 2023 flag) .
‘Of course, of course I was part of the process, training with them until the day they left and playing matches to qualify for the Olympic Games. But even if they had won a medal, I wouldn’t.’
Parker’s opinion came as he waded into the debate over AFL premiership medals.
Collingwood have indicated they are considering $50,000 premiership rings for their entire listed team should they play again this year.
A prototype AFL championship ring was recently unveiled, showing a sparkling magpie, the icon of Collingwood premierships, surrounded by diamonds.
Each ring is reportedly worth more than $50,000, meaning it would potentially cost the AFL $2.2 million a year based on an average of approximately 44 players used per season.
The rings could be called ‘Barassi Rings’ in a nod to the late Ron Barassi.
“There is an opportunity here for the AFL industry to copy something from the American sporting model that is really special and works,” Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly told Nine.
‘It is independent of the medals, the player and the coach. You need to have an AFL license. A version should be available for members and collectors.
“The ability to recognize all the staff and make them feel special for all the hard work and have something on your shelf is a good thing.”
Parker didn’t mind the idea, but noted that some fringe players might not appreciate the gesture.
He referenced a previous interview he conducted in which an injured AFL player called Grand Final week “the worst of his career”.
