The award for the best player in the opening round Sydney Derby between the Sydney Swans and the Greater Western Sydney Giants is to be known as the Brett Kirk Medal.
Both clubs agreed that it would be fitting to name the Medal for all future Sydney Derby games after Kirk, who grew up in the NSW town of Albury.
Kirk started at the Swans as a rookie-listed player and developed into one of the finest captains in the competition. Passion, determination and courage were his trademarks during a decorated 241-game career.
He was a dual Swans’ best and fairest winner, a premiership player, and was voted by his peers as the best captain in the AFL in 2010.
The GWS Giants and Sydney Swans will begin a new chapter in AFL history when they play the first ever Sydney Derby in the opening round of the 2012 Premiership Season, on March 24 at ANZ Stadium.
Kirk, who retired at the end of the 2010 season, said it was a huge honour to have the Medal named after him.
“I’m very humbled by this,’’ Kirk said today at ANZ Stadium, where the two clubs held a joint media conference to start the 50 day countdown to the historic first Sydney Derby.
“When you leave a football club you want to leave a legacy, so to have an honour like this is overwhelming.
“I grew up in country New South Wales and it’s great for footy that there will now be two teams based in Sydney. I’m confident it will lead to more opportunities for kids in NSW to play in the AFL,’’ Kirk said.
“I really hope the derbies between the Swans and the Giants develop into a great rivalry and become huge games on the AFL calendar, dividing the city and the state in the way that the South Australian and West Australian derbies do.’’
Sydney Swans senior coach John Longmire said the club was proud to be part of the historic stand-alone Derby to begin the 2012 AFL season.
“We can’t wait for the bounce on March 24, to start what we hope will be a great rivalry with our cross-town neighbours,’’ Longmire said.
“The Swans have been in Sydney for 30 years and we believe we have become part of the fabric of the city, and the introduction of another team will be good for the growth of our game,’’ said Longmire, who also grew up in country NSW and played football for his home state at both junior and senior level.
Giants Head Coach Kevin Sheedy said the Brett Kirk Medal was a fitting way to honour a great AFL player who was born and bred in New South Wales.
“With the Sydney Derby we want to build one of the biggest rivalries in Australian sport. The Swans have made a fantastic contribution to the game in Sydney and together with the Giants we can help grow the game across New South Wales and the ACT for generations to come,” Sheedy said.
Tickets for the first Sydney Derby, which is a GWS home game, go on sale on February 20 and can be purchased at www.ticketek.com.au or telephone 132-849.
