Bob Murphy quietly handed the Jock McHale medal back to coach Luke Beveridge the morning after the Western Bulldogs won the club's second ever premiership cup.
The skipper, who injured his knee in round three and was not able to take his place in the premiership side, told the coach on Sunday morning that he appreciated the gesture.
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Beveridge gives winner's medal to Murphy
In an emotional moment Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge gave his winner's medal to injured captain Bob Murphy. Vision courtesy Seven Network
But Murphy, who was called onto the grand final dais by Beveridge in the post-match presentations and handed the medal, said he was not able to keep the medal.
Beveridge pulled the medal from his pocket at the club's best and fairest award on Wednesday, and told the crowd he would not keep it either.
The coach said the medal would be placed in the trophy cabinet with the premiership cup, and that it would symbolise the camaraderie Murphy had fostered amongst his teammates.
"I put him in a difficult situation, but he had to have recognition," Beveridge said.
"He returned the Jock McHale Medal. He gave it back to me on Sunday morning. He said he couldn't keep it, but he thanked me for the gesture.
"The medal will go in the Western Bulldogs museum as a symbol of the camaraderie and respect that Bob has fostered over the course of his career at the Western Bulldogs."
Meanwhile, Will Minson farewelled the club in an emotional presentation at the function. Minson, who has been a a Bulldog for 14 years, said he had not thought about whether he had would like to play on at another club.
The ruckman struggled to break into the senior side this year but was a part of the VFL premiership.