The AFL and Toyota today announced an exciting new dimension to its activities around the 2007 Toyota AFL Finals with the introduction of the Toyota AFL Premiership Cup Ambassador.
 
James Hird, a dual premiership star with Essendon, was announced as the ambassador who will be 'keeper of the Cup' in the week leading up to the 2007 Toyota AFL Grand Final.
 
The AFL also today formally received the 2007 Premiership Cup in a handover to launch the 2007 Toyota AFL Finals Series.

AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou took possession of the cup from Cash's -- official suppliers of the Premiership Cup and makers of all the AFL's leading awards and trophies -- and also announced the key football identities who will present the various major awards through September.

Four-time premiership coach Tom Hafey will present the Jock McHale Medal to the winning Grand Final coach while 1987 Norm Smith Medallist David Rhys-Jones will present the Norm Smith Medal to this year's best on ground in the 2007 Toyota AFL Grand Final.

The Premiership Cup on Grand Final Day will be presented to the winning team by a legend of the club, with the presenters to be confirmed once the Grand Final teams are known.

Hafey coached Richmond for 248 games between 1966-76, recording a 70 per cent success rate for his four premeirships in 1967, 1969, 1973 and 1974. He then went on to coach Collingwood for a further 138 games between 1977-82, Geelong for 66 games between 1983-85 and Sydney for 70 games between 1986-88, placing him fifth on the all-time list for games coached with 522 games in all for 336 wins, 182 losses and four draws.

Rhys-Jones began his career at South Melbourne in 1980, playing 76 games for South Melbourne and Sydney, before joining Carlton in 1985 and playing a further 106 matches for the Blues, including the 1987 premiership.