The big clash: jumpers and tradition

Adam McBride reports, the annual topic of discussion is back: the alternate jumper debate.

The time has come for traditionalists to stand aside and let marketing rule; it’s time to bring in the alternative clash jumpers.

There are several AFL clubs who are unwilling to support this move, despite the windfall at the cash register it could have for the genius that comes up with a guernsey design that every member and supporter must have.

Other codes around Australia – and the world – take it as a measure for more revenue, so why is it that some AFL clubs cannot do similar?

The answer, quite simply, is club tradition. Something that, while important, is also in the distant past.

We’re in the 21st century. Gone are the days when the players played exclusively for the love of the game and got a few schillings in return.

Today it is a business where every dollar can determine the long-term survival or see a club bite the dust and fold or merge.

While Collingwood can clearly boast being the richest Victorian club at present, the same cannot be said of the Kangaroos, though to their credit they achieved a surplus in season 2005.

The Kangaroos are one club that has taken the dollar by the horns, running out wearing alternative designs for at least the last decade.

A couple of years ago St Kilda adopted their heritage design as its away strip, while all non-Victorian clubs except Sydney have alternative designs to call on when required.

The round ball code with its strength throughout Europe and Southern America seem to strive on the alternative jumpers without hindering tradition.

Manchester United, one club Collingwood want to aspire to, have donned colours such as grey, blue, black and white – yet are nicknamed as the ‘Red’ Devils.

In Collingwood’s favour is that they don’t need to change colours to retain their tradition, just a new design, likewise with another reluctant to change, Essendon.

On the weekend just gone we saw many clubs using alternative jumpers. Brisbane was most notable, as the Lions turned golden with a patch of blue and maroon for the night.

This in the face of a staunch traditional club, Essendon, who only recently accepted the AFL’s decision and will have an alternative jumper of their own ready for the 2007 season.

Over at AFL House yesterday, CEO Andrew Demetriou commented that the Magpies were co-operating with moves to design a new jumper despite Magpie President Eddie McGuire standing firm on the move.

"I know the dialogue with Collingwood is going in the right direction and I am pretty confident we will get an outcome there," said Demetriou. "I don't know if that is their (Collingwood's) argument but if we had 16 clubs feeling that way we wouldn’t get any changes."

What McGuire and many footy fans don’t realise is that Collingwood has indeed had alternative styles in their history.

Black and White stripes have been around since the early 1900s.

During the 1990s, and in their one and only premiership success in the last 45 years, the Magpies wore the black stripes on white background.

More recently the club has donned a guernsey which was trialled in the pre-season for home-and-away matches. For those unaware it featured a cartoon-style Magpie on the chest of the uniform.

Carlton was another who expressed reluctance to adopt an alternative jumper, though last Saturday night was evident enough that a clash occurred.

They explored all legal options only to find that the AFL chiefs have the power to invoke this as a standard required in order to participate in the nation’s leading league.

No longer should the home team buckle and be forced to use a non-clash jumper when the AFL clearly states that responsibility lies fairly and squarely with the visiting team.

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