AFL legend Shaun Rehn visits Lismore for 2022 AFL Premiership Cup Tour

AFL fans were stoked to meet a living legend of the game in Lismore, and to get their hands on the rare piece of silverware touring the country.

Two-time Adelaide Crows premiership ruckman Shaun Rehn strode into Lismore on Saturday as part of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Cup Tour.

Towering over fans and curious locals, the 6 foot eight (203cm) ruckman was happy to chew a little fat even in the dour weather.

A coy grin on the side, Rehn reckoned you are either a Crows fan or not, there is no middle ground.

“We’re Carlton supporters, sorry,” one fan said, to which he retorted, “Well then I’m sorry too.”

Rehn was in town to support grassroots clubs on the weekend, many of whom were slogging it out in the wet for their grand finals.

Now retired from the big league, Rehn recalled the Crows first final at the MCG.

“We were well led by (captain) Chris McDermott,” Rehn said.

“There is that moment when ‘Bone’ puts his body on the line by going back while (Hawthorn power forward) Jason Dunstall is moving forward and buries his knee into Chris’ back.

“That is a captain’s moment.”

The Toyota AFL Premiership Cup at Lismore Toyota on Saturday, with two-time Adelaide Crows premiership player Shaun Rehn in attendance.

Lismore Swans president Ken McPherson said it was a rare event to have the ‘holy grail’ of the AFL - the premiership trophy - in Lismore.

“Being a Toyota Cup we thought Lismore Toyota was a good place to have it,” McPherson said.

He said having the national AFL Premiership Cup in Lismore was ‘energising’.

“It’s inspiring, considering the season we’ve had,” McPherson said.

“We’ve had players leave our ranks to play with other clubs, some have gone to Casino Lions, some to the Grafton Tigers and a handful have gone to Byron Bay Magpies.

“It’s good in a way that those who really want to play footy can, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens for the Lismore Swans.”

The Cup is on a roadtrip visiting communities, grassroot football clubs and iconic destinations across four state and territories: including Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, and Lismore on the North Coast.

Dean Stainton and Zack Cohen stoked to get a grip of the Toyota 2022 AFL Premiership Cup during its nationwide tour.

AFL juniors Dean Stainton and Zack Cohen said meeting a legend of the game and holding the Premiership Cup was ‘cool’.

“It’s really heavy,” Cohen said.

The iconic silverware now heads north to Queensland where it will make stops in Brisbane, Gympie, Jindalee and Jimboomba.

The Cup will journey to the Northern Territory to visit football fans in remote communities in Darwin, Katherine, Uluru and Alice Springs, before heading south to regional Victoria with stops in Geelong, Ballarat, Shepparton, Kilmore, Latrobe, to finish up in Melbourne on September 18, leading into the 2022 Toyota AFL grand final week celebrations.

Adelaide Crows footballers with the cup after besting St Kilda in the 1997 grand final.

Local Grand Finals

AFL North Coast Senior Men

The Port Macquarie Magpies defeated the Coffs Harbour Breakers 4.7-31 to 4.4-28.

AFL North Coast Senior Women

Northern Beaches Blues defeated Coffs Harbour Breakers 5.5-35 to 1.2-8 in chilly wet conditions.

AFL North Coast Reserves

Casino Lions defeated Coffs Harbour Breakers 5.6-36 to 2.3-15.