Brett Kirk has been honoured with the news the best on ground from the inaugural derby between the Sydney Swans and new AFL team Greater Western Sydney will win a medal named after the former Swans captain.

The news was revealed at a media launch to mark 50 days until the two teams meet in round one of the AFL season at ANZ Stadium, leaving Kirk humbled.

“What an honour, very proud to be standing here today,” Kirk told reporters on Friday.

“When I came to Sydney, my intention was to play one game of footy and to be standing here several years later, being bestowed such an honour, would never have been in my wildest dreams.”

Kirk played 241 games for the Swans in a career spanning 1999 to 2010, and had a key role in the team’s 2005 premiership win.

The 35-year-old, who was born in the Giants’ catchment area in the southern NSW border city of Albury, said he was looking forward to AFL taking centre stage in Sydney when the first derby is contested on March 24.

“I think in years to come, this will turn into a great rivalry,” he said.

“There’s no doubt over the last couple of years there’s been a lot of talk about territory and those sort of things but I think just for the people of Sydney to come along and choose their colours in a sense can only be good for the game up here.”