It seems the proposal is to award an RDB medal to the Premiership captain. 

I did wonder why the Premiership Cup isn't in his name but apparently he was against it.

really-fitting-afl-to-honour-ron-barassi-on-grand-final-day-with-magnificent-gesture

Not sure why they didn't name the official premiership medal that every player gets the RDB medal ... It seems a bit weird that a medal can be awarded that wasn't specifically 'earnt', in the sense of being a BOG or some other achievement.  But then we already have the NSM.

Having two demon champions honoured on each and every GF day is pretty special. 

 

It was quite an honour to meet him at the 50 year anniversary player celebration 10 years ago.

Hope the RDB medal has Red and Blue ribbons rather than the team colours of the winning captain!  😁

 

Edited August 22, 20241 yr by Lucifers Hero

I find the idea of a medal strange when we already have the cup and the Norm Smith medal. Isn't the cup enough for the captain? They get to hold it up first with the coach. The most special moment every season.

Edited August 22, 20241 yr by Adam The God

20 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

I find the idea of a medal strange when we already have the cup and the Norm Smith medal. Isn't the cup enough for the captain? They get to hold it up first with the coach. The most special moment every season.

Yeah, just name the actual premiership player medals after the great RDB! 

As long as the AFL doesn't bring in those grotesque Yankee rings for premiership players that were proposed a few months ago ... at Collingwood's behest🤮

Edited August 22, 20241 yr by Lucifers Hero

Awarded alongside the Nathan Buckley medal ;)

A captain getting a second medal is weird. Or even it being named after RDB but the same as the others. 

It reeks of "We don't know what to do and we are all our of ideas."

 

Nice sentiment.

Too gutless to name the cup after him so it's a sorta cool consolation prize I guess.

Edited August 22, 20241 yr by layzie

1 hour ago, Little Goffy said:

Awarded alongside the Nathan Buckley medal ;)

Post Of The Year! 

10 hours ago, layzie said:

Nice sentiment.

Too gutless to name the cup after him so it's a sorta cool consolation prize I guess.

Yes, a nice sentiment but as you suggest hardly an 'award' or a 'prize'; more of a token so not sure it will be looked upon as something special like other AFL medals. 

Given the type of player Barassi was it is a shame it couldn't be for the 'toughest' GF player, then anyone (not just a midfielder as is usually the case for the NSM) can win it and to be the 'toughest' is something any player would be rightly proud of.  But no idea how 'toughness' could be assessed.

It would then be a medal that honours his spiriit and how he played the game as well as honouring his name.

Edited August 23, 20241 yr by Lucifers Hero

14 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Yes, a nice sentiment but as you suggest hardly an 'award' or a 'prize'; more of a token so not sure it will be looked upon as something special like other AFL medals. 

Given the type of player Barassi was it is a shame it couldn't be for the 'toughest' GF player, then anyone (not just a midfielder as is usually the case for the NSM) can win it and it would be something any player would be rightly proud of.  But no idea how 'toughness' could be assessed. 

Yes! I like that idea much more than a captain's medal. Or even for toughest player throughout the finals or even season.

I do understand that they want to keep the cup nameless but as Gorg said it seems like they pulled this one out of a hat. 

I don't like this idea.  The players are only interested in one medal and I've noticed more and more players showing their dislike for the Norm Smith medal.  We saw Buckley taking it off straight away and even Petracca wasn't wearing it when celebrating the premiership the next day. So this will be another medal that sits in the old sock draw.

Edited August 23, 20241 yr by greenwaves

 

A player can now win three medals on GF day. 

No disrespect to RDB, but it's overkill for mine.

9 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

A player can now win three medals on GF day. 

No disrespect to RDB, but it's overkill for mine.

Yep, they should have named the premiership medal after him.

I vaguely recall reading some clubs objected to that as it would be linked to a particular player/team, conveniently ignoring that he played/coached 10 premierships in 17 appearances.  Played for or coached 4 clubs in two states.

If some clubs objected I know which didn't:  Melbourne, Carlton, North and Sydney.

 

I don't have a problem with the proposal at all.

Nevertheless, was there something better? Maybe. Perhaps it should be presented to any coach or player (past or present) who wins 10 premierships either as a senior coach or player. I have no idea if there is anyone who might be eligible to receive it (Leigh Matthews? Dick Reynolds? Jock McHale?) but they sure as hell would have earned it.

I'm torn by this. Ron clearly didn't want to cup named after him, and I wonder if his stance would have changed for this? I see his family has embraced it

8 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

At least they have him in a Dees guernsey and not a Carlton one

I see a hidden message in the medal design. There are more light towers on what is essentially half the MCG than actually exist. I think the AFL is prepping us subliminally for a night Grand Final!

Also, I'm not sure it's a great likeness of Barassi, either.