Title glory must be shared

EACH SATURDAY The Chronicle team talks about the big issues in sport locally, nationally and internationally.

Glen, Jason and Sean share some of their views in the hope it will generate some discussion among The Chronicle’s readership.

Tell us what you think about today’s topic by emailing jason.gibbs@thechronicle.com .au or send an SMS to 0437 875 203.

Today The Chronicle sport team talks about AFL premiership medallions. Melbourne champion Garry Lyon believes only players involved in the grand final should receive a medallion.

JASON GIBBS: I’m not afraid to say that Garry Lyon has missed the mark here – pun intended.

The likes of Dustin Martin or Toby Greene may win their teams a premiership with a moment of sublime brilliance.

However, it is the team effort that puts them in that position.

The individuals are presented with the opportunity to shine because the collective – the team – has worked hard all year.

And while we’re talking about individuals, it’d be remiss of me to not mention Marlion Pickett.

Pickett will become the first grand final debutant since 1952 when he plays for the Tigers.

By Lyon’s reasoning, Pickett is more deserving of a medallion than Jack Graham who he replaces.

Graham, who played 16 games for the Tigers this season, dislocated his shoulder in the first quarter of last Friday night’s preliminary final win over Geelong.

The on-baller’s story is by no means unique – plenty of players have injured themselves the week before a final – but should he be denied a special memento because he

didn’t play one more game?

If you played a game you deserve a medal in my book. GLEN McCULLOUGH:

Sorry Garry, but I’m not with you on this one.

(I’m sure he’ll be devastated to hear that).

We are talking about clubs winning premierships here, not individuals.

Isn’t the whole idea of club sport it being inclusive for everyone from the half-time orange slicers to the grand-final hero.

That’s what clubs are supposed to be built on.

No-one is suggesting the person who washes the playing jumpers is entitled to a premiership medal.

That honour belongs to the players who helped get the job done from the starting siren in round one of the season.

But anyone who pulled on the club colours during a premiership season, for mine, is entitled to share in the glory and collect a medallion.

Perhaps an added memento could be handed out to grand final participants.

But maybe not.

SEAN TEUMA: I get the point that Garry is trying to make, and there is certainly a lot of validity in what he is saying, but I’m inclined to disagree with him.

What would happen if Dustin Martin suffered an injury in the lead-up to the game, or Trent Cotchin was suspended for the decider, and Richmond went on to win the flag?

You could very well make the case that if they don’t play throughout the season, there’s a fair chance they’re not even in the grand final picture in the first place.

Is he seriously saying that they should miss out on a medallion because of a stroke of misfortune?

I think his approach is far too short-sighted. He’s choosing to look at the grand final as a single entity, when it really isn’t.

The process of winning a grand final begins not too long after the season prior finishes.

It’s about the culmination of a gruelling pre-season and the rigours of 20-plus weeks of toiling away in the regular season. Winning a grand final goes beyond what happens in the couple of hours on grand final day.

Yes, some players might only take the field in a few games during the year because someone has gone down with an injury or has copped a few weeks on the sidelines with a suspension.

But they are still a part of that journey to help the team to get to the decider in the first place.

I’m sure the ridiculous prices they charge for a seat at the grand final can help offset the cost of a spare few medallions.