Except that this is the only tradition which goes right back.
Clubs have unfurled flags at round 1 of the following year since 1898 (back then it was usually unfurled by the wife of the Club President . . . then the tradition was that the premiership team went on to lose their first game).
The cup only goes back to the 1950s, the gold logo only back to, what, 2017 when Footscray had it on their jumpers after winning 2016.
The flag is the one constant and many football competitions have flags but not necessarily cups going back to their founding days.
As the original prize for winning the premiership I think we should continue this (Richmond's cups from 1920 to 1943 were made in the 1990s or 2000s - they do not date back to the actual premierships). I would say that I thought the 2017 ceremony most underwhelming, they need to do a better job this time. Can't remember if the flag flew for the whole game in 2017 but I do recall that was what happened years ago.
DS