The McClelland Trophy is now set to be awarded to combined AFL and AFLW Club Champions, announced today by the league.
An institution in the game since 1951, The McClelland Trophy has most recently been awarded to the minor premiers in the men's competition, with the new change to see the trophy now awarded determined on results from both the men's and women's competition.
READ MORE: 2022 AFL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPย
Awardees of the trophy receive $1 million, with those funds set to be divided between both AFL and AFLW players of the Champion Club.
Under the new model, AFL wins will be awarded four points, draws two points, while AFLW clubs will be awarded eight points, with draws worth four.
Following those numbers, the 2022 season would have seen the Club Champion title given to Melbourne, beating out the Lions by just four points.
AFL Commission Chairman Richard Goyder said the change would recognise "achievement and challenges" across both competitions.
โIt is important to recognise that all clubs now field both an AFL and an AFLW team, and the champion club should be the one that has the best combined performance across both competitions,โ Mr Goyder said.
โWe want to encourage and incentivise our clubs to support the AFL and AFLW programs and recognise the achievement and challenges in driving high performance across both elite competitions.
โThe McClelland Trophy has a long history of being associated with the best performed club and it is appropriate that it now recognises achievement and success across the year in our AFL and AFLW elite competitions.โ
