BY STEPHEN BAKER

NORTH MELBOURNE and Essendon have agreed to strike medal in honour of club legends, Glenn Archer and James Hird.

The Archer-Hird medal, initiated by the current North Melbourne administration, will be presented to the player who best personifies the courage of Archer and the skill of Hird when the two teams face off in home and away matches.

The 1996 and 2000 Norm Smith medalists famously exchanged jumpers in a traditional mark of respect when the two giants of modern-day AFL clashed for the last time in round seven last year. 

At the announcement of the award yesterday, Archer said that he was honoured to share an enduring connection with the Essendon legend.

“Any medal, it doesn’t matter what it is, is an honour, but to have it alongside ‘Hirdy’, who has obviously been a superstar, makes it even better.”

Kangaroos CEO, Eugene Arocca, confirmed that the club has written to the AFL requesting an annual Roos, Bombers clash in round one of the home and away season each year.

North Melbourne fans will farewell the Shinboner of the Century when he completes a lap of honour prior to round one clash against the Dons at the Telstra Dome. Archer played his last game for the Kangaroos against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last year. 

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