Demons champion Nathan Jones weighs in on premiership medal debate

Should every player on an AFL list receive a premiership medal – or just the 23 on game-day? It’s an annual debate in the footy landscape and nobody is more qualified to speak on it than retired Melbourne star Nathan Jones.

Jones played 302 career games for the Dees and battled through some of the club’s darkest years in their history.

Come their premiership season in 2021, he missed out on the Grand Final winning side as he battled various injuries.

It would have been a bittersweet moment for Jones, given all he had been through at the club.

However, he believes the premiership medals should belong to those that won them on game day, not the full list.

“Nah,” Jones said on SEN’s Sportsday when asked if he’d like a medal for the 2021 premiership season.

“I sit in the same camp (as those against it). I probably lived it and was closer than most, but ultimately from my perspective, those that play on match-day have earned it and that’s kind of the internal competition that you’re involved in as an AFL footballer and a competitive athlete.

“That’s always been the case. You’ve got to be lucky enough to be in that 22-23-man squad on Grand Final day and get the job done to receive a medal and get that acknowledgement.

“I guess the other side of the coin is hard luck. I’d like to keep it how it has always been, if you ask me.”

There has been talk in recent days of a premiership ring being introduced, similar to what we see in the NBA and NFL.

Jones admits he thinks it would be a great heirloom for players, preferring it to the traditional premiership medal.

“I’m going to go with the ring. Just because it’s a little bit more up with the times, maybe, particularly if you look at American sport,” the Melbourne champion added.

“It becomes this awesome heirloom that gets passed down the generations.

“The medal is traditional, but if I was lucky enough to win one, I’d be in favour of the ring.”