Brett Kirk Medal
The best player in the opening round derby between Greater Western Sydney GIANTS and the Sydney Swans will be presented with the Brett Kirk Medal.
Both clubs agreed that it would be fitting to name the medal for all future Sydney Derby matches after Kirk, who grew up in 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.
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 on Friday 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,” Kirk said.
“I’m confident it will lead to more opportunities for kids in NSW to play in the AFL.
“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.”
