Brisbane Lions’ coach Craig Starcevich is advocating for the AFL to factor in finals when determining the winner of the McClelland Trophy. This trophy rewards the overall champion club based on the combined performance of both men’s and women’s teams throughout their respective home and away seasons. Currently, with only one game left in the AFLW, Hawthorn is poised to secure the $1 million prize, while Brisbane needs to defeat St Kilda and hope Richmond can overcome Hawthorn to claim the accolade.
In a media briefing, Starcevich expressed that integrating finals into the McClelland Trophy criteria seems like a logical step. He emphasized that finals hold significant importance in the competition, noting that the men’s finals series is highlighted through dedicated advertising, and the women’s series deserves the same recognition. “We’re a competition that highly values finals,” he stated, questioning why an award like the McClelland Trophy should not reflect that value.
Historically, Melbourne claimed the inaugural McClelland Trophy prize in 2023. Brisbane, having been the runner-up in the men’s competition and champions in the women’s, faced an early exit in both finals. Looking ahead, Starcevich indicated that the upcoming match against St