AFL premiership medals

Here's something I've raised on Usenet in 1999 and again in 1993 - why does the AFL only give premiership medals to the 22 players on Grand Final day? It's grossly unfair to the players who help them get to the Grand Final, but don't get to play, due to injury (like Tony Modra), suspension (like Jason McCartney) or plain old bad form (like Derek Kickett).