- AFL plans to create championship rings
- Could cost the league $2.2 million per season
- Some fans are not convinced by the plans.
The AFL is reportedly working on plans to create a premiership ring that could cost the league approximately $2.2 million per season.
According to Nine’s Tom Morris, the plan would see all players who have appeared at least once in the main team receive the ring, a tradition borrowed from American sports.
In American competitions such as the NBA and NFL, championship winners receive shiny rings to celebrate their victory, and in the NRL there are plans afoot to design a similar shiny item.
A prototype AFL championship ring has been 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 cost the league $2.2 million a year based on an average of about 44 players used per season.
The AFL is reportedly planning to create premiership rings
The rings would cost approximately $50,000 each, costing the league $2.2 million.
The rings could be called ‘Barassi Rings’ in a nod to the legendary 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. I don’t think we should copy everything, of course,” 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.
He added: “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.”
‘It works wonderfully on men and women. Ideally, I would love for our staff and players to take something from last year and align with the AFLW season and this season’s Grand Final.’
The move would see the AFL emulate American sports teams that have a similar tradition.
But fans are far from convinced and are taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their views.
“While we’re here, we might as well crown the first ‘World Champions,'” said one fan.
“Being Australian sometimes makes me embarrassed,” another fan said. ‘Why do we have to copy everything the United States does?’
“I just threw up a little bit in my mouth,” said a third, while another fan claimed: “No one wants this.”