The AFL has announced the three presenters in the Grand Finals's post-match presentations for the winners of the Jock McHale Medal (premiership-winning coach), Norm Smith Medal (player judged best afield) and Ron Barassi Medal (premiership-winning captain).
Set to descend on the MCG on Saturday, September 28, two teams will duke it out for the competition's highest honour, but first must make it through the next four weeks of football, beginning this weekend.
Champion coach David Parkin will hand out the Jock McHale Medal to the winning coach; Geelong 1963 premiership captain Fred Wooller will present the Ron Barassi Medal to the winning captain; 2007 Norm Smith medallist Steve Johnson will bestow the medal he won 17 years ago to the best player on the field; and West Coast premiership player Josh Kennedy will be the premiership cup ambassador.
Grand Final day medals https://t.co/W6zg31kdCP pic.twitter.com/LYmNgkjuvH
— Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) September 2, 2024
Parkin's long standing in Australian Rules Football dates back to 1961 when he began his playing career at Hawthorn.
After 211 games in the brown and gold, Parkin hung up the boots and almost immediately went into coaching.
With stints at three different clubs such as Hawthorn (1977-1980), Carlton (1981-1985), Fitzroy (1986-1988) and Carlton again (1991-2000), Parkin became a four-time premiership coach.
Lifting the cup aloft at Hawthorn (1978) and Carlton (1981, 1982 and 1995), the now 81-year-old is seen as one of the greatest coaches in our great game's history.
Wooller will be presenting the new Ron Barassi medal to the premiership-winning captain, in honour of the man that is synonymous with the great game.
Following his recent passing, the AFL and Barassi's family wanted to honour the late great and found this was a fitting award.
Wooller was once a premiership captain, leading the Cats to glory in 1963, whilst also playing 132 games in the hoops across nine years.
Johnson, who was a pivotal part in Geelong's sustained success between 2007-2015.
The crafty mid-forward played 253 games for the Cats, kicking 452 goals and was the pioneer for the set-shot snap, with many modern-day players utilising the skill to great effect.
In 2007, the club broke its 44-year premiership drought with a dominant 119-point thrashing over Port Adelaide. Johnson kicked four goals from 23 touches and was awarded with the Norm Smith Medal.
Wooller also presented the premiership cup to Geelong in 2007.
Johnson went on to play two years at the Giants, ending his career with 293 games and 516 goals.
Last but not least is Kennedy, who will be the 2024 premiership cup ambassador.
Kennedy will take part in the delivering the cup around the country on its tour before making its way to Melbourne toward the end of September.
The former Carlton and West Coast player is no stranger to holding the cup above his head, winning the premiership in 2018 with the Eagles.
Kennedy was involved with arguably the biggest trade in recent memory, after the Blues handed him over (along with other picks and players) for Chris Judd.
In a sliding-doors moment, West Coast would be extremely satisfied with the decision to let Judd go, as Kennedy added 271 games, 723 goals, two Coleman medals (2015, 2016) and three All-Australian blazers (2015, 2016, 2017).
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon was thrilled to officially launch the 2024 Toyota AFL Finals Series and announce some of the icons of our game who will be involved in the on-field presentations.
โWe are coming of a record-breaking season and one of the most hotly contested seasons ever where we saw the race for the top eight come down to the wire,โ said Mr Dillon.
โOur four Week One finals sold out in a matter of hours and we are set for an incredible 2024 Toyota AFL Finals Series ahead of what will be another huge Toyota Grand Final day.
โI am delighted that Josh, Steve, David and Fred will join us at the โG โ all of them have contributed incredible moments on Grand Final days gone by and we are thrilled they will be part of the post-match presentations to celebrate this year's heroes who will mark their place in history."