- The AFL has not yet decided how to honor the late Ron Barassi
- Talk Premiership Cup to be renamed after football icon
- Designed to be an off-season focus for key AFL officials
The AFL will only decide how best to honor Ron Barassi after the grand final, as calls grow to rename the Premiership Cup in honor of the football icon.
Australian rules legend Barassi, who died aged 87 on September 16, will farewell at a state funeral in Victoria.
In addition to the trophy, the league is considering renaming the premiership medals in Barassi’s honour.
Outgoing chief executive Gillon McLachlan admitted last week there was pressure on the AFL to make a decision on its tribute to Barassi before Saturday’s grand final.
But the league was unable to respond to a call in time for the Collingwood-Brisbane Lions’ season-deciding match at the MCG.
The AFL will only decide how best to honor Ron Barassi after the grand final, as calls grow to rename the Premiership Cup in honor of the late football icon.
Barassi won a total of 10 VFL premierships as a player and coach at Melbourne, Carlton and North Melbourne during a distinguished football career (pictured, playing for the Blues in 1969).
“The AFL will continue to work with the Barassi family to provide a fitting tribute to Ron,” the league said in a statement on Saturday.
“(CEO-elect) Andrew Dillon and his team will do it in the offseason.”
AFL bosses have consulted with clubs and key industry figures on how to recognize Barassi’s contribution to the game.
McLachlan said the tribute will likely be similar to the league’s recognition of Norm Smith and Jock McHale, both of whom have grand final awards named after them.
The Norm Smith Medal is awarded to the best player on the field in the decisive season and the Jock McHale Medal is awarded to the premiership-winning coach.
“There are different ways and I know the focus is on changing the name of the Prime Minister’s Cup. That will elicit different views,” McLachlan said last week.
“We will work on the process with our clubs and ultimately it will be a Commission decision.”
As well as the AFL premiership trophy (pictured), the league is considering renaming premiership medals in honor of Ron Barassi.
There has been no confirmation of the date of Barassi’s state funeral.
The update on the AFL’s tribute to Barassi came as the league announced the Allen Aylett Medal would be awarded to the first pick in this year’s national men’s draft.
The award will honor the life of former North Melbourne champion and VFL president Allen Aylett.
Aylett, who died in September last year, was president of the Kangaroos and led the club to its first VFL premiership in 1975 after recruiting Barassi as coach.
Barassi won a total of 10 VFL premierships as a player and coach at Melbourne, Carlton and North Melbourne.
