Geelong and St Kilda players fight for the ball during the AFL 1st Qualifying Final between the Geelong Cats and the St kilda Saints at the MCG. GSP Images
Around this time of year, the heartache stories flow, the ones about who will miss out on a spot in the final 22. This year Max Hudghton appears to be the one: the only survivor from St Kilda’s last team to make a Grand Final doesn’t look like he will get the nod this time.
The most famous omission of all is Derek Kickett.
In 1993, he had played in the three preceding finals for Essendon, only to miss out on the big one. Dean Wallis took his place.
Kickett was furious and left the club.
It was Kevin Sheedy’s biggest regret in 20-something years of coaching.
Obviously everyone wants to play in a premiership, but why should only those who play on the day receive a medal and be recognised?
You can’t get to the Grand Final without first doing well in the home and away season and then the finals.
You don’t just win a flag on the last Saturday in September.
The AFL should amend it so that all players who play over a certain number of games are eligible to win one. That way, players who are injured in the pursuit of glory or are dropped, still feel part of it.
The way it currently stands, there is a cruel divide that exists between those members of the squad who are part of the premiership winning team XXII to those who aren’t.
Those 22 will be etched in history while those who miss out will just fade away. Shane Ellen will be remembered as a two-time Premiership player.
Who will remember Tony Modra in 20 years?
So why not give those who miss out something in recognition of being part of the squad? This is what they do in the NFL. They also do it at the Olympics.
They realised that it was fundamentally wrong not to recognise the efforts of those who contribute in the earlier rounds.
The Grand Final and Brownlow medal create an interesting juxtaposition. Charlie is all about individual glory while the Premiership medal is all about team success.
There would be very few winners of the Brownlow who wouldn’t have traded it away for extra Premiership success.
Leigh Matthews or Wayne Carey might not have won the Brownlow but that will be softened by the consolation of being a Premiership player.
Players such as Tony Lockett, Robert Harvey and Nathan Buckley would most likely wish they had this problem to deal with.
Sitting on the sidelines, you want to be cheering on your team-mates and not focusing on what you’ll be missing out on if they win.
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