Discussion Question and Answer Thread

[Gibbsy]

Have you ever wondered something about footy jumpers but never known where to post it? Now there's somewhere you can. Our board is made of many footy jumper aficionados (thanks Smeagle ) who would be gladly willing to help you answer your question.
A good way to keep the thread going is if you answer a question, then ask another question below it. That way there will be a lot of answers and people can look to this thread as a knowledge database.

Note: There doesn't just have to be one open question at a time - you can ask a question whenever you want and the board members will try and get back to you with an accurate answer as soon as possible.


I'll fire away first:
When and why were the Sekem-manufactured "replica" AFL guernseys discontinued?

 

[Willo #6]

This is exactly what I was talking about in the Create a guernsey thread, thanks Gibbs

 

[just_kick_it]

This is good idea. I was going to post the following question in Create a Guernsey but now here's a better spot.

Just a bit of a quiz question that I would like someone to answer withuout searching any resources. Why is the coloured part around the neck on Melbourne's and other jumpers called a yoke??

 

[viclion17]

I'll fire away first:
When and why were the Sekem-manufactured "replica" AFL guernseys discontinued?

To my knowledge Sekem still have a license to produce AFL replica guernseys however the ones that they currently produce do not have the sponsors logo's on them. If you look on their website they have a catalogue of the AFL jumpers they produce. I think they started producing the VFL/AFL jumpers in the late 80's-early90's and they were used by all clubs until 1996. In 1997 larger companies such as Adidas and Puma started to take over as official apparel manufacturers. However in 1997, only Adelaide (Adidas), Brisbane (Puma), Geelong (Adidas), St. Kilda (Puma), West Coast (Puma) and Western Bulldogs (Canterbury) had their jumper manufacturers logo's on their jumpers. As early as 1996 Puma took over Sekem as the Brisbane Bears jumper manufacturer, however only Sekem Brisbane jumpers were sold in stores and only the players wore these Puma jumpers and they didn't have the Puma logo on the front of the jumper, only on the tags. In 1998 the AFL made it compulsary that the jumpers manufacturers logo's be on the jumpers, both the ones worn by the players and the ones sold in stores. I have compiled a list of the 1998 clubs and their respective jumpers manufacturers:
Adelaide- Adidas
Brisbane- Puma
Carlton- Nike
Collingwood- Adidas
Essendon- Reebok
Fremantle- Adidas
Geelong- Adidas
Hawthorn- Puma
Melbourne- Canterbury
North Melbourne- Nike
Port Adelaide- Nike
Richmond- Lotto
St. Kilda- Puma
Sydney- Puma
West Coast- Puma
Western Bulldogs- Canterbury

So, by 1998 no club had Sekem as their jumper manufacturer, as no club does today. Still, Sekem continue to produce AFL jumpers, just not official ones as worn by the players. Hope this helps!

Here's my question:

Why are player issue jumpers different from the replica ones sold in stores? For example I own a Brisbane match worn and Brisbane replica jumper and there are slight differences, such as the sleeves on the match worn are polyester, however on the replica they are woolen. The material is slighlty different in that the match worn is more strechy. Also, if you look closely there is a Lion 'watermark' on the match worn that is not on the replica. I just do not understand why the jumpers sold in stores can't be exactly the same as the ones worn by the players.

 

[Mr Eagle]

I just do not understand why the jumpers sold in stores can't be exactly the same as the ones worn by the players.

The watermarks are there to distinguish the genuine article and make it easier to identify which jumpers may have actually been worn on-field...and easier for you to pay more for it.

The difference in manufacture is all about a) cost and b) the needs of a player running around for 2 hours v the needs of a fan sitting in the stands. No one wants to see the average cheer squad member in a figure-hugging jumper!

 

[Gibbsy]

I just do not understand why the jumpers sold in stores can't be exactly the same as the ones worn by the players.

I am also aware that some clubs do sell "authentic" guernseys alongside the normal "replica" guernseys in the club store. I'm pretty sure Adelaide did last year and I know that Hawthorn do this year - the Hawks are selling their "replica" guernsey for $82 (surprisingly cheap) and the "on-field" guernsey for $110.

 

[Smeagle]

Could you Victorians (or anyone else ) help me with the apparel sponsors for the four teams who seem to have had a lottery of manufacturers (mainly small-names) post-Sekem?

North Melbourne
- 1997: Sekem
1998 - 2002: Nike
2003 - 2005: Russell Athletic
2006 - 2008: Reebok
2009 - present: X-blades

Richmond
- 1996: Sekem
1997 - 2000: ? (Lotto?)
2001 - 2003: Nike
2004 - 2005: ConceptSports
2006 - 2008: Hummel
2009 - present: Reebok

St Kilda
- 1996: Sekem
1997 - 2003 : Puma
2004 - ?: Piping Hot
? - 2007: Skins
2008 - present: ISC

Western Bulldogs
- 1996: Sekem
1997 - 1999: Cantebury
1999 - 2003: Fila
2004: ConceptSports
2005: Azuma(h?)
2006 - 2009: Diadora
2010 - present: KooGa

(SIDE NOTE: was this one the Azuma(h) you spoke of, Gibbsy?

At first look, i thought it was the Diadora logo, but upon seeing its date (2005) and the Azumah logo I thought maybe otherwise. The template is very similar to the Diadora we knew from 2006-2009, with the addition of red cuffs and different placement of the logo)

Also, Fremantle was causing me a few headaches, but I believe it was...
1995 (inaugural) - 1997: Sekem
1998 - 2000: adidas
2001 - 2003: Russel Athletic
2004 - 2005: ConceptSports
2006 - present: Reebok

 

[Willo #6]

Pretty sure Smeagle that skins only sponsored st.kilda for 1 year (2007) so piping hot must have been 2004-06.

On another note it still makes me laugh that a brand like piping hot actually sponsored a football team

And weren't NM sponsored by Russell Athletic at some point?

 

[Smeagle]

Dead right Willo about NM/Russell Athletic, I had a brain fade
They were actually 03-05, when the Kangas introduced their grey away jumper and changed the neckbar, which was similar to Nike's, back to blue (a slight innaccuracy on Mero's site).

You're probably correct, too, about St Kilda - however it doesn't seem like they had Piping Hot for a whole three years. I might have to investigate it a bit more.

 

[HSSB]

Pretty sure Smeagle that skins only sponsored st.kilda for 1 year (2007) so piping hot must have been 2004-06.

On another note it still makes me laugh that a brand like piping hot actually sponsored a football team

And weren't NM sponsored by Russell Athletic at some point?

Yeah, can't believe that, Piping Hot, the brand that is sold in Target

 

[Willo #6]

Thought it that about piping hot as well, didn't think 3 years, but i am almost positive that skins only sponsored for one year. Maybe there was another sponsor in there somewhere?

 

[SammyFish25]

Im pretty sure St Kilda had Piping Hot from '04-'06
then Skins for just the one year ('07) like Willo said

 

[Gibbsy]

In response to your apparel search Smeagle:

EDIT: Have decided to put up all I have to avoid descrepancies.



Adelaide
1997-2000 Adidas
2001-2002 Fila
2003-2005 Russell Athletic
2006-2009 Adidas
2010 Reebok

Brisbane
1997-2000 Puma
2001-2006 Russell Athletic
2007-present Puma

Carlton
1998-present Nike

Collingwood
1998-present Adidas

Essendon
1998-1999 Reebok
2000-2002 Fila
2003-2008 Puma
2009-present Adidas

Freo
1998-2000 Adidas
2001-2003 Russell Athletic
2004 ConceptSports (Docker man logo under v-neck)
2005-present Reebok

Geelong
1997-1998 Adidas
1999-2002 Fila
2003-2007 Slazenger
2008-present ISC

Hawthorn
1998-present Puma

Melbourne
1998-1999 Canterbury
2000-2002 Fila
2003-2007 Asics
2008-present Reebok

North Melb
1998-2000 Nike
2001-2003 Russell Athletic
2004-2005 Bont
2006-2008 Reebok
2009-present XBlades

Port Adel
1998-2006 Nike
2007-present Reebok

Richmond
1998-2000 Lotto
2001-2003 Nike
2004-2005 ConceptSports (Richmond tiger logo on neckbar)
2006 Hummel
2007-present Reebok

St Kilda
1997-2001 Puma
2002-2003 Sekem
2004-2006 Piping Hot
2007 Skins
2008-present ISC

Sydney
1998-2009 Puma
2010 ISC

West Coast
1997-present Puma

Western Bulldogs
1997-1998 Canterbury
1999-2002 Fila
2003-2004 ConceptSports (Bulldog logo on neckbar)
2005 Azuma
2006-2009 Diadora
2010 KooGa


The Azuma I speak of:

Proof that the big brands did once sponsor team apparel without their logo being on the guernsey. This is David Schwarz in the Dees 1997 run-out jacket (sponsored by Nike) however the guernsey is still Sekem.

Need any more help just yell out - and I'm 100% sure of these dates

 

[reynaa01]

i think fremantle wore nike at one point. im pretty sure player apparel was nike when we started and i remember my coach at the time always sporting a nike ffc jumper.

also didint nm wear bont at one stage. i always liked the concept sport jumpers that showed the team logos, particuarlyon richmond, my personal favourite as a supporter to wear

 

[Gibbsy]

i think fremantle wore nike at one point. im pretty sure player apparel was nike when we started and i remember my coach at the time always sporting a nike ffc jumper.

Maybe but the Nike logo was never featured on the guernsey.

also didint nm wear bont at one stage

Yes from 2004-05

 

[Mr Eagle]

i think fremantle wore nike at one point. im pretty sure player apparel was nike when we started and i remember my coach at the time always sporting a nike ffc jumper.

That actually rings a bell... although there's nothing on AFLPhotos to back it up. There were no apparel markings on Freo's match day strip until Adidas in 1998.

 

[viclion17]

i think fremantle wore nike at one point. im pretty sure player apparel was nike when we started and i remember my coach at the time always sporting a nike ffc jumper.

I think that ever since the 80's most clubs wore training jackets and other apparel that were made by big brands such as Nike and Adidas however their onfield guernseys were always made by Sekem up to 1996-1997

 

[Gibbsy]

Yeah I can remember Puma track jackets at the Hawks late 80's.

 

[Gibbsy]

Edited post - see above for all apparel sponsors.

 

[HSSB]

Yeah I can remember Puma track jackets at the Hawks late 80's.

Yes, Puma have been the sponser of Hawthorn for ages, logos on trackies and jackets since the early 80's

 

[LeeARM]

I'll fire away first:
When and why were the Sekem-manufactured "replica" AFL guernseys discontinued?

They're not. I saw them at some crappy sports store a couple of weeks ago.

 

[StatsFanatic]

Let me guess Lee.. Dimmey's or is it crappier than that?

 

[Willo #6]

You see a lot of those jumpers around, with stitched on afl and team logos.

 

[StatsFanatic]

You see a lot of those jumpers around, with stitched on afl and team logos.

Auskick jumpers for one do that.

 

[LeeARM]

Let me guess Lee.. Dimmey's or is it crappier than that?

Can't remember the name. It was some shop in DFO.