News The AFL want names on jumpers

[Silent Alarm]

PUTTING names on the backs of players' jumpers is closer to becoming reality with the AFL admitting there is a push within the competition for it to happen.

The idea, common in professional sport, was raised seriously for the first time for a number of years in recent meetings involving AFL officials and there was significant support for the idea.

Many believe the recent introduction of two new teams into the competition has made the change necessary.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-07-05/guernsey-name-game-is-on

So this is always talked about and nothing seems to happen. But these relatively minor alterations generally pass these days – especially when GWS and Gold Coast are the beneficiaries.

While I don't support the stupidity of parochial hatred toward the upper-Barassi Line clubs, I just don't think this will do what they want. How are names going to attract attention, build brands, and create income? Buddy Franklin and Gary Ablett are big names because they're good footballers on plenty of money. Names aren't going to do anything when you consider this fact: unless you're in the cheersquad, you won't be able to make out a single name.

It just seems baseless and pointless. Why?

And for the aesthetics-obsessed on here, the worst thing is how tacky it'll look. The jumpers are clean and simple. A name won't help that case.

( Gibbsy , there is probably a thread somewhere else, so if there's the urge to merge...)

 

[Cole Dammett]

So pointless, would look horrible on the relatively clean guernseys of the AFL

 

[Mr Eagle]

How are names going to attract attention, build brands, and create income?

'Personalised' jumpers can be sold at a nice large markup.


Aaaaaaand.... that's about it.

 

[Greater Gattsby]

Nope, don't like it, don't want it.

 

[lmach]

Names only work on shirts, not jumpers.

 

[Feraligatr]

I don't like the idea of it. Personally, I think it will make the back of the jumper seem overly crowded.

 

[QS]

Just posted on the MB about this in the thread there. Changed my mind; hate the idea. Why? Reeks of Americanism or following other sports, and very soon we will have little left to call our own.
Make people work to recognise players and numbers.

 

[Shabi19]

It could work on teams with simple, plain backs on their guernseys, but then the clubs with a 'busy back' (e.g. Hawthorn and the three stripes at the top, or the teams with small writing there already) could look nasty.
Also depends on the size of the font they use I guess

 

[Gibbsy]

The AFL already have their answer, asking the cretins on Facebook they've got a 2 to 1 response in favour of the names. Shame

 

[krisholio14]

It was only a matter of time. Bunch of bloody sheep from top to bottom.

No wonder i've lost substantial interest in footy this year.

 

[Feraligatr]

The AFL already have their answer, asking the cretins on Facebook they've got a 2 to 1 response in favour of the names. Shame

I logged on to Facebook for the first time in a while just to vote no.

 

[QS]

How did you figure that out? It's part of our grand conspiracy to "Americanize" Australia. It starts small, like requiring "name on back", then next thing you know you're driving on the right side of the road and singing "God Bless America".

Let's reverse that reasoning and see how it sounds: Just the opposite is happening here with the NBA. They want sponsors on uniforms, no doubt a blatant attempt to "Australianize" the States, soon leaving us with very little to call our own.

Vacuous (to say the least), isn't it?

What a terrible comparison, you've conveniently selected one thing (which already happens in America and the advertising bug started there anyway). I could rattle off a few Americanisms in our game: 'quarter back', countdowns on the big screens before games, mic'ed up umpires, sponsored stadiums..

 

[Noctorniquet]

surely just a ploy so they can sell "players jumpers" at inflated prices, maybe you will no longer be able to buy a "blank" jumper anymore

 

[akkaps]

As much as names on the jumpers would be easier for people to recognize who each player is without having to know their number, I would like to buy a Carlton jumper that said represented Kouta, instead of having to buy a 43 with Simon White name on the back.

 

[Silent Alarm]

How did you figure that out? It's part of our grand conspiracy to "Americanize" Australia. It starts small, like requiring "name on back", then next thing you know you're driving on the right side of the road and singing "God Bless America".

Let's reverse that reasoning and see how it sounds: Just the opposite is happening here with the NBA. They want sponsors on uniforms, no doubt a blatant attempt to "Australianize" the States, soon leaving us with very little to call our own.

Vacuous (to say the least), isn't it?

The US is seen as the capital capital – and it is. Good on yers, too.

If the AFL came out and said "look, Geelong and North Melbourne really want names for identification purposes," then it wouldn't have that implication of pocket-lining. But the AFL have said the Suns and Giants want names to build profiles. That's capitalism and consumerism and as the kings of it, that's inadvertently 'American.'

[submits via Blackboard]

 

[Silent Alarm]

Just made a joke about uni essay submission tools. I'm probably the coolest guy on here now.

 

[Hand]

Kill the idea, kill it with fire.

 

[melatonii]

Name doesn't look terrible on the warm up top, but I imagine it'd just make a regular top look cluttered and a mess.

 

[Feraligatr]

Oddly enough, I think the sleeves offset the name a bit, making it look better.

 

[Smeagle]

The end of 'SMFC', 'BBFFC', 'NMFC', '1870' and the fishing hook?

Utterly ridiculous, of course.
The very thought of the AFL attempting to select a suitable font might send this board into meltdown. Early money on Times New Roman.

 

[Maxwell110]

This is from earlier in the year when a few people were suggesting the idea of names on guernseys.

 

[melatonii]

Comic Sans for names on umpire jumpers.

 

[Gibbsy]

Early money on Times New Roman.

Bauhaus!

 

[Geeky Grub]

I must be the only one here who thinks its a great move!

 

[Bacon Warrior]

Let's keep names to warm up shirts only.