There's nothing wrong with a special award going to the best player afield in one of Australian sport's genuine rivalries.

But there's little, if even any logic to continue with an honour named in recognition of the inaugural Eagles captain, albeit that Glendinning sits legitimately as one of Western Australia's all-time greatest playing products.

The North Melbourne, East Perth and Eagles great, who won the 1983 Brownlow Medal and led WA at State-of-Origin level with distinction, has virtually no connection with Fremantle.

Glendinning was Dockers chairman of selectors in forgettable Damian Drum coaching period that ended abruptly with his sacking mid-way through 2001.

The strapping former key position all-rounder was well-remunerated for that arduous commitment of selecting battling Dockers line-ups and ended his time at the portside outfit when Chris Connolly took over in 2002.

Glendinning, 59, is now a full-time West Coast employee working in marketing and promotions.

Historically, shared honours as a best-afield or an annual trophy is named in recognition from a past great or servant with significant contributions to both clubs.

Just recently for instance East Perth and West Perth agreed to annually play for the Graham (Polly) Farmer Cup in recognition to the iconic ruckman's services as a premiership coach and player with both famous WAFL clubs.

West Coast and Fremantle simply don't have such a mutually revered former player, coach or servant to deserve naming rights to a best-on-ground award every time the arch enemies clash.

That's twice a season in home-and-away commitments, with never-say-die hopes that Eagles and Dockers eventually face off in a final and possibly in the ultimate of a grand final play-off for a premiership.

An all too often controversial Glendinning Medal is even an afterthought from a rivalry that launched in 1995, when West Coast dished out a merciless 85-point thumping.

A medal for best player was introduced in 2001 when the overall derby count was West Coast 10 and the Dockers just two.

Retrospective Glendinning Medals haven't even been handed out.

The likes of derby specialist Brett Heady who dominated early shootouts, a majestic Dean Kemp into the late '90s and particularly flamboyant high-flying imported Dockers goal-sneak Tony Modra, for six goals in his adopted side's historic first win on Sunday afternoon on July 18 of 1999, probably all should have a derby medal.

Flamboyant blonde-haired Dockers forward Clive Waterhouse should have one for his seven goals in the infamous "Demolition Derby" in July 2000 as Fremantle fought back from almost six goals down to win by a point in the most brutal clash between the two teams.

Big Eagles forward Scott Cummings should have a derby medal too for his record 10-goal haul when West Coast pummelled their arch foe by a massive 117 points on the opening clash of the 2000 season.

Eagles small forward Ashley Sampi also deserved a medal for his four-goal effort in a 35-point West Coast win on April 27 in 2003.

The nippy goal-shark may well not have actually been best-afield with 12 disposals and three missed shots for goal along with his four majors, while ruckman Michael Gardiner was at the height of his powers as well as Eagles on-ballers Chad Fletcher and Andrew Embley.

But officially appointed football analysts voted on a 3-2-1 basis for Sampi to win the prestigious medal.

Glendinning, however, didn't agree with votes cast by the judges. He overruled the tally of votes provided and named Gardiner as best-afield.

Gardiner was undoubtedly a worthy derby medal winner and carried his form throughout the season to win his All-Australian selection.

But like-it or lump-it, the votes were cast according to three appointed judges.

There was more serious confusion when Eagles champion Chris Judd won his third straight medal.

Fremantle had won a thriller by just five points in early May of 2006 and Dockers hard-nut Josh Carr was widely considered best-afield in his powerful resistance to the on-ball supremacy of Judd and all-time great West Coast rover Ben Cousins.

Selection the brilliant Judd as best-on-ground was roundly booed and jeered by Dockers faithful at the post-match presentation, prompting the sublime on-baller to open his acceptance speech with: "A popular decision".

A "popular decision" now might actually be to drop a Glendinning tag from all future Western Derby medals.