Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin calls for AFL to recognise all squad players in a

Melbourne Demons premiership-winning coach Simon Goodwin has thrown his support behind the idea of rings being handed out to squad members ‘not recognised’ as they should be – despite a pushback from the AFL.

The AFL has had the idea of rings pitched by commercial companies multiple times over the years, and now Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly declared there was an ‘opportunity’ to explore the idea after 37 players were used by the Magpies in the 2023 premiership campaign – but only 23 players received medals.

A prototype has even been made but the prohibitive cost, which could run into millions, has stopped the AFL from pursuing the idea, with any progress set to be a club-led initiative.

Goodwin, who tasted premiership success in 2021 with the Demons, said players who didn’t play in the grand final ‘weren’t recognised the way they should have been’ and said rings for all was a good idea.

‘There are some guys who had significant contribution to our team that year and our club over a long period of time who probably weren’t recognised the way they should have been,’ he said on Wednesday.

Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin has thrown his support behind the idea of premiership rings being handed out to AFL squad members who are ‘not recognised’ as they should be

Goodwin won the 2021 AFL flag with Melbourne (pictured, at Optus Stadium in Perth after beating the Western Bulldogs)

Demons players celebrate after winning the AFL premiership during the pandemic in 2021

Collingwood players are pictured, after winning the 2023 AFL Grand Final against the Brisbane Lions

The rings would cost approximately $50k each, setting the AFL back $2.2million

‘I’m talking [former captain] Nathan Jones, Neville Jetta, Jake Melksham, Adam Tomlinson, Jayden Hunt ……they had enormous impact on our footy club for that season. I think it’s a fantastic initiative I think a lot of clubs and coaches would embrace.

‘We all know you need a squad mentality to have premiership success, and sometimes they don’t get the recognition they deserve.

‘You are going to play anywhere between 28 and 35 players for the year and you need every single one of them to get premiership success and I think they all should be recognised in some form.’

Despite Goodwin’s backing, the reported move has attracted plenty of criticism from bemused footy fans. 

Goodwin also confirmed that defender Jake Bowey would return for Thursday’s blockbuster clash with Carlton having recovered from a broken collarbone suffered in round zero.

He joins a Demons outfit brimming with confidence after taking down unbeaten Geelong last Saturday night and ‘physically ready’ to take on the Blues off only a five-day break between games.

Goodwin said the amount of short breaks was something every team had to content with and would not be an excuse for his team.

‘Every club is going to go through that, and that’s OK,’ he said.

‘We are prepared for that, it’s what the game demands now. It doesn’t mean you can’t perform, and we would never use it an excuse. We are physically ready.

‘We’ve had one game after a 10-day break, and we have prepared well. We just deal with what’s in front of us and we go after it.’