No medal for Gardiner | Thebigtip

If the Saints win this week Michael Gardiner will be the hard luck story. Playing in the Grand Final on Saturday he strained his hamstring and looks a certainty to miss out on this weekend's replay.  He might not be the only player to miss out either.  

But to earn a premiership medallion you must have played in a winning grand final.

It's a unique situation. There have been just three draws in 110 years. We all know the statistics and the fact remains no play no medal. 

Other sports have different situations. American sports hand out championship rings to just about everyone involved in the franchise, and if you play just over 25% of matches in the English premier league you receive a winner’s medal.  Andrew Gaze has an NBA championship ring for sitting on the bench for large amounts of time, but unluckily for Michael Gardiner and others in his situation this Saturday, they should miss out. Because life’s not fair all the time.

Three or four Collingwood players will also feel they have missed out. With Michael Malthouse stressing the point last Friday that it was not about the 22 that run onto the field, but the 25 selected.  Collingwood have gone out of their way this year more than ever to communicate to media and supporters that it’s ‘horses for courses’ and that this selection policy has been in place all year round.  If the AFL are considering  offering a special medal for those in the Michael Gardiner situation, then why not state a case for Simon Prestigiacomo who selflessly withdrew himself on the eve of the game?

What do the players think of receiving a medal, without going through the elation of winning the big match? Australian rules lives off the emotions of the players and supporters, once a player stands on that podium to collect his medal he becomes an instant hero of the club.  One just has to look at Nathan Ablett who is struggling to cement a spot in the Gold Coast list next year, but he has something his father hasn't, a premiership medallion.

If the AFL do decide to hand out extra premiership medallions to players who aren't in the 22 that run onto the ground where does it stop Does every club listed player get presented with a medal? Or do you have to play a minimum amount of games? 

The rules are in place for a good reason and should remain.  Does the AFL then go back in time and hand out nostalgic medals to Derek Kickett for 1993, Tony Modra for 1997 or Mark Blake in 2007?

Premiership medallions are not won easily, and are the most prestigious medal on the Australian sporting calendar.  Let’s make this one thing the AFL doesn’t tamper with.