- Simon Goodwin supports premiership rings for all team players
- Cost estimated at more than $2 million, AFL froze at idea
- Goodwin claimed some fringe players “weren’t recognised”
- Melbourne Demons win AFL top spot in 2021 under Goodwin
Melbourne Demons premiership-winning coach Simon Goodwin has supported the idea of handing out rings to “unrecognized” team members as they should be, despite pushback from the AFL.
The AFL has entertained the idea of rings thrown by commercial companies several times over the years, and now Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly has stated there was an “opportunity” to explore the idea after the Magpies used 37 players in the 2023 premiership campaign. but only 23 players received medals.
A prototype has even been made, but the prohibitive cost, which could run into the millions, has prevented the AFL from going ahead with the idea, and any progress will be a club-led initiative.
Goodwin, who tasted premiership success in 2021 with the Demons, said players who didn’t play in the grand final “weren’t recognized like they should have been” and said rings for everyone were a good idea.
“There are some guys who made significant contributions to our team that year and to our club over a long period of time who probably weren’t recognized like they should have been,” he said Wednesday.
Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin has backed the idea of handing out premiership rings to AFL team members who “aren’t recognised” as they should be.
Goodwin won the 2021 AFL banner with Melbourne (pictured at Optus Stadium in Perth after beating the Western Bulldogs)
Demons players celebrate after winning AFL top spot during pandemic in 2021
Collingwood players are pictured after winning the 2023 AFL Grand Final against the Brisbane Lions.
The rings would cost approximately $50,000 each, costing the AFL $2.2 million.
‘I’m talking about (former captain) Nathan Jones, Neville Jetta, Jake Melksham, Adam Tomlinson, Jayden Hunt… they had a huge impact on our football club that season. I think it is a fantastic initiative that many clubs and coaches would accept.
“We all know it takes a team mentality to be successful as Prime Minister and sometimes they don’t get the recognition they deserve.
“You are going to play against between 28 and 35 players during the year and you need every single one of them to be successful as a premiership and I think they should all be recognized in some way.”
Despite Goodwin’s backing, the reported move has attracted much criticism from bewildered football fans.
Goodwin also confirmed that defender Jake Bowey would return for Thursday’s blockbuster clash with Carlton recovering from a broken collarbone suffered in round zero.
He joins a Demons team brimming with confidence after defeating unbeaten Geelong on Saturday night and “physically ready” to face the Blues after just a five-day break between games.
Goodwin said the number of short breaks was something all teams had to be happy with and would not be an excuse for his team.
“All clubs are going to go through that and that’s okay,” he said.
“We are prepared for that, it is what the game demands now. That does not mean that you cannot perform and we would never use that as an excuse. We are physically ready.
‘We played a game after a 10-day break and we prepared well. We just deal with what’s in front of us and go after it.’
