Brisbane loss could cost club $1m in controversial trophy system

Brisbane’s slip-up against Geelong on Sunday has not only hurt the Lions’ chance of hosting a qualifying final but could cost the club a $1 million prize.

The Lions hold both the AFL and AFLW premiership cups but could miss out on the McClelland Trophy for the second year in a row.

The prize previously awarded to the men’s minor premier was repurposed last season to include the AFLW and reward the best-performing club across both competitions.

But the combined ladder system, which issues four points for an AFL win and eight points for an AFLW win, does not count finals games.

It meant the Lions, who reached the AFL grand final and won the AFLW flag, missed out on last year’s trophy to Melbourne, who made straight-sets finals exits in both competitions.

Despite winning the AFL flag last month, the same fate could await Brisbane again after the women’s side unexpectedly suffered a 10-point loss to Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.

It left Hawthorn with a six-point advantage and in the box seat to secure the $1m windfall with two games to play against finals contenders Melbourne and Richmond.

Players receive $500,000 of the prizemoney, with football department staff given $250,000 and the club receiving the other quarter to use at its discretion.

The AFL and AFLW lists receive $250,000 each – meaning a men’s player fetches a bonus of about $5,500, and a women’s player earns about $8,300.

Hawthorn midfielder Mattea Breed said players were not fixated on the prize, but it was an added “little incentive” to perform in the final home and away games.

“It’s pretty exciting … I won’t lie,” Breed said.

“The (Hawthorn) boys had a good year as well … great culture, great to be a part of, and it’s a little bit exciting.”

Melbourne midfielder Paxy Paxman, who enjoyed the prize along with Demons teammates at the end of 2023, said the combined ladder was “something to chat about” during the season.

“There’s that added little incentive I guess, but your team can’t come into each round thinking about that part of it,” she said.

“It’s a nice little incentive in the end, if you happen to collect it along the way.”

Paxman said she was hoping to return in the Thursday night Hawks-Demons clash in Cairns after facing a “tedious” running battle with a foot injury, which has prevented her from playing consecutive games since round 3.

Melbourne almost certainly need to win the clash to play finals after dropping four consecutive games during September.