Collingwood defender Jeremy Howe says it would be a great initiative for the AFL to introduce an award in honour of the late Danny Frawley.
Former St Kilda captain Frawley died in a car crash on Monday and by midday Tuesday a change.org petition calling for an award recognising the AFL’s best defender had more than 30,000 signatures.
Frawley had unofficially recognised the AFL’s best defender each year with his ‘Golden Fist’ segment on Fox Footy show ‘Bounce’ since 2012.
“I think it’d be a great initiative to get something like that sorted because I know the blokes who potentially would win it in the future would love it and it would be a really proud moment,” Howe said.
Magpies players gathered together in a huddle early at training on Tuesday.
Howe said it was an opportunity to reflect on Frawley, who was an assistant coach at Collingwood after he retired as a player and before joining Richmond as senior coach.
“We just discussed the contribution Danny’s made, not only at the Collingwood footy club – from ’96 to ’99 he was coaching the VFL system and also a bit of a senior assistant in the AFL system,” Howe said.
“So (we) briefly touched on him and the impact that he’s had not only in a footy aspect but great family man and just a heavy contributor in the whole footy department.
“So for the guys who didn’t know that he had an impact at Collingwood, it was just to touch base and pay tribute, and just to let him know that as a club we’re all supporting the Frawleys in a tough time.”