Footy fans blast the AFL amid plan to copy NBA and NFL in championship tradition… but it will cost the league $2.2MILLION: ‘No one wants this’
- The AFL plans to create championship rings
- It could cost the league $2.2 million per season
- Some fans are not convinced about the plans
The AFL is reportedly working on plans to create a premiership ring that could cost the league around $2.2 million per season.
According to Nine’s Tom Morris, the plan would see every player who played at least once in the premiership team receive the ring, a tradition borrowed from American sport.
In American leagues such as the NBA and the NFL, championship winners are given shiny rings to celebrate their victory, and there are plans in the NRL to design a similar bling-bling item.
A prototype AFL championship ring has been unveiled, featuring a glittering Magpie – the icon for premiers Collingwood – surrounded by diamonds.
Each ring is reportedly worth more than $50,000, meaning it would cost the league $2.2 million per year, based on an average of about 44 players per season.
The AFL is reportedly planning to create premiership rings
The rings would cost about $50,000 each, netting the league $2.2 million
The rings could be called ‘Barassi Rings’, 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 actually special and works. I don’t think we should copy everything,’ Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly told Nine.
‘It’s separate from the medals and the player and the coach. It must be licensed by the AFL. There should be a version of it available to members and collectors.
He added: ‘The ability to recognize all the staff and make them feel special for all the hard work and to have something to show for it is a good thing.
‘It works wonderfully for both men and women. Ideally, I would like our staff and players to take something from last year and be able to compete in the AFLW season and grand final this season.”
The move would see the AFL emulate American sports teams with a similar tradition
But fans are far from convinced and are taking to X – formerly known as Twitter – to share their thoughts.
“While we’re here, we might as well crown the Prime Ministers as world champions,” said one fan.
“Being Australian makes me cringe so hard sometimes,” said another fan. “Why do we have to copy everything America does?”
“I just kinda threw up in my mouth,” said a third, while another fan claimed: “Nobody wants this.”