Opinion Why I hate clash jumper discussions

[Gibbsy]

***I originally posted this on the Footy Graphic Design board but I think it has a place here also.***
Every time a new clash jumper is announced, typically, the media jumps on board and dissects the need and use of clash jumpers in the AFL. Some journalists applaud them, others disagree. One thing is constant - the issue is always prevalent each season.

What annoys me most is the introduction of Collingwood into the clash jumper argument. Journalistic comments like "Collingwood and Essendon were the last to comply," "Collingwood believes changing the order of its stripes is okay," etc, really grind my gears.

I cringe reading some of the comments on these articles. The naivety and ignorance of football supporters is disgusting. Many of these comments directed against Collingwood are purely because of hatred for the club, and these individuals fail to see the efforts that the club is actually making.

Here's a short sample from the AFL Facebook page (often the lowest common denominator):

Collingwood needs to comply, changing stripe sequences is not a clash jumper. Gray with a Magpie on the front would work. Glad Essendon finally grew up.

Yes I agree, especially Collingwood who think they are untouchable

why does every team other than collingwood have to have a different guernsey?

Pointless to say yes . I heard Collingwood (sic) will never have a clash jersey ever.

That is just a small selection of the comments made on the AFL's Facebook page, in response to whether all clubs need a clash guernsey or not. A funny question for the AFL to ask, considering they enforce the issue with such a hard hand.

Collingwood are the only club in the AFL to provide not one, but two different guernseys specifically to remove a clash. One could argue that Brisbane and West Coast also have three guernseys, however only one of each were specifically designed to prevent a clash (the white variants). The other guernsey is merely an 'away' jumper, or in Brisbane's case, a loosely-termed 'Victorian' jumper.

HOME

CLASH

ALTERNATE

One thing I love about the Footy Graphic Design board, made up of all different supporters, is that we are often all in agreement on a particular issue. I think I could speak for 95% of people on FGD when I say that Collingwood have one of the best jumper sets in the league - it's traditional and keeps the historical stripes while removing any clash against other 'dark' teams (or 'light' in North's situation).

This isn't Collingwood bias, or ignorance, or a "we're better than you" attitude.

This is common sense.

 

[Suspense]

it's not just idiots on the afl facebook page either. damien barrett's article on the afl website:

The AFL was long overdue in forcing the Bombers down this path, just as it was in its dealings with Collingwood, which has somehow been allowed to get away with a white and black arrangement, instead of a black and white one, for its alternative jumper.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/140252/default.aspx


fwiw, i LOVE our clash v kangas.

svelte as f**k.

 

[Wooljay]

I really like our 'alternate' jumper, and dislike the 'clash' one. Too much white for my liking in the clash, much prefer the darker jumpers. Actually would love to see us wear the 'alternate' one a bit more, I can't remember seeing us play in it recently? Maybe someone could refresh my memory.

 

[Cory]

Own both the clash guernsey's Alternate and Player issue White clash.

Don't worry most people who complain about our us having a proper clash are usually thick headed.

 

[Gibbsy]

I really like our 'alternate' jumper, and dislike the 'clash' one. Too much white for my liking in the clash, much prefer the darker jumpers. Actually would love to see us wear the 'alternate' one a bit more, I can't remember seeing us play in it recently? Maybe someone could refresh my memory.

We are only scheduled to wear the alternate against North, and even then, it's sort of unnecessary. At least it shoves it up the rest of the league though. I hate when other clubs say we're too good to change.

 

[Wooljay]

We are only scheduled to wear the alternate against North, and even then, it's sort of unnecessary. At least it shoves it up the rest of the league though. I hate when other clubs say we're too good to change.

I'd totally be down for us wearing this at more Away games or something, I really like it and it's disappointing that it gets used so infrequently. Variety is the spice of life after all.

 

[PieNSauce]

We are only scheduled to wear the alternate against North, and even then, it's sort of unnecessary. At least it shoves it up the rest of the league though. I hate when other clubs say we're too good to change.

Do you? I love it!

 

[Gibbsy]

Do you? I love it!

I probably worded that the wrong way I think it's just jealousy from the poorer and less significant clubs.

Notice how not a single journo or cretin on the FB page has kicked up a stink about North Melbourne's clash jumper? Even though it is just a reversal, white stripes on blue rather than blue stripes on white? It's just people hating Collingwood because it's Collingwood.

I do love that we're hated.

 

[morgues]

Great post OP. I agree completely, just don't read the comments they are not worth your time!

I don't normally take much from Caroline Wilson other than a feeling of contempt and disgust, but her article on the situation for Essendon was alarming - it would appear the AFL is not letting them use the TAC-sponsored "seat belt sash" because they are also doing the yellow arm stripe in another game. So the AFL will not let clubs come up with fantastic initiatives. What a joke.

But in terms of clashes in general, what are they exactly? How can the AFL possibly state with any confidence that there is a clash? Where was the clash 20 years ago when we didn't have Foxtel's excellent HD broadcast? Honestly, it is a joke. Perhaps the AFL want us to believe that clangers are caused by clashes and not just human error? Right.

I could understand if it was an AFL initiative to create alternate jumpers purely for revenue, like other big codes in the world, but to disallow great ideas like the TAC one, just shows how much of a child Anderson can be.

 

[DThomas]

I don't see why the AFL have introduced clash jumpers in the first place. I've never had a problem distinguishing the different teams even from the last row at the top deck of the MCG. It just seems completely unnecessary to me.

I do get a kick out of watching Carlton in their light blue though, the little fairies!

 

[DThomas]

I propose that we wear this on Friday night:

 

[morgues]

I do get a kick out of watching Carlton in their light blue though, the little fairies!

Hahahahah that is classic mate I agree!!!
Oh and **** carlton (for good measure)

 

[DThomas]

I thought this one was good from 2002 to 2004:

And this was a decent one from the '90s:

I reckon they should put a Magpie on that thick stripe for the alternate jumper, because it looks a bit strange on its own.

And this was a pretty bad jumper from the '90s:

It looks so cartoonish!

 

[millsy29gopies]

I get so pissed off about this topic to too. People just making up excuses to bag the s**t out of us. Totally agree on the best set of jumpers, they are classy.

 

[GreatBradScott]

Won't lie dudes, that alternate jumper is classy as ****.

 

[Cory]

Will always love the 2004 away shame I was never able to snap one up

Agreed it is one classy jumper one of my prized possessions.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

This myth about clashes doesn't exist.

In reality, no team clashes. Especially Collingwood. Collingwood once clashed with North Melbourne 20 years ago, and that's about it.

Everything else is related to people's eye sight. Collingwood should never change it's strip because a clash doesn't exist. Essendon shouldn't have buckled either.

 

[GreatBradScott]

This myth about clashes doesn't exist.

In reality, no team clashes. Especially Collingwood. Collingwood once clashed with North Melbourne 20 years ago, and that's about it.

Everything else is related to people's eye sight. Collingwood should never change it's strip because a clash doesn't exist. Essendon shouldn't have buckled either.

An explanation of how Hawthorn's away jumper clashes with Carlton's home is beyond me. NFI why they had their clash strip on Friday night.

 

[standingroomonly]

We are only scheduled to wear the alternate against North, and even then, it's sort of unnecessary. At least it shoves it up the rest of the league though. I hate when other clubs say we're too good to change.

I like our alternate guernsey, but why are we wearing it when we're the home team?

 

[morgues]

An explanation of how Hawthorn's away jumper clashes with Carlton's home is beyond me. NFI why they had their clash strip on Friday night.

I think that boofhead Kernahan said that was a mistake?

How do you make that mistake in the first place? Another example of how shit that club is

 

[Cory]

Another Joke is why we have to wear our clash jumper against Carlton when it's their home game yet when it's our home game they don't wear their shit clash jumper.

 

[Suspense]

I like our alternate guernsey, but why are we wearing it when we're the home team?

we won't wear it this year.

we wore it last year for the first time (iirc) and north made a bit of a song and dance about them wearing their own home strip against us in their home game

...we won by 14 goals.

 

[Thommo 42]

I love our clash jumper, in fact I think it should be our main jumper like it was for close to 100 years.

We were always white with black stripes. My jumpers as a kid were all white with black stripes, the premiership photo's of 53,58 and 90 and my grandparents house all show white jumpers with black stripes.

I don't dislike our current main jumper, but it comes 2nd to the clash jumper for me.

 

[Ilch]

I love our clash jumper, in fact I think it should be our main jumper like it was for close to 100 years.

We were always white with black stripes. My jumpers as a kid were all white with black stripes, the premiership photo's of 53,58 and 90 and my grandparents house all show white jumpers with black stripes.

I don't dislike our current main jumper, but it comes 2nd to the clash jumper for me.

I agree, love the clash guernsey. Just like the VFL team wear what resembles our AFL clash guernsey with the black shorts. Reminder of 1990 and previous premierships.

Apparently our current home guernsey style, (The predominantly black with white stripes) was worn at some stage durring our existence. Anyone know??
From all 'old' footage or photos i see from pre '90s all i ever remember seeing is the predominantly white jumper with black stripes be worn.

 

[DThomas]

I love our clash jumper, in fact I think it should be our main jumper like it was for close to 100 years.

We were always white with black stripes. My jumpers as a kid were all white with black stripes, the premiership photo's of 53,58 and 90 and my grandparents house all show white jumpers with black stripes.

I don't dislike our current main jumper, but it comes 2nd to the clash jumper for me.

I agree, love the clash guernsey. Just like the VFL team wear what resembles our AFL clash guernsey with the black shorts. Reminder of 1990 and previous premierships.

Apparently our current home guernsey style, (The predominantly black with white stripes) was worn at some stage durring our existence. Anyone know??
From all 'old' footage or photos i see from pre '90s all i ever remember seeing is the predominantly white jumper with black stripes be worn.

We actually wore this guernsey from 1910 to 1922, with the current stripe position (still predominately white though):

And here's a picture of the great Syd Coventry wearing that jumper:

Personally, I absolutely love both the black on white and the white on black, and it doesn't bother me which one we wear. I may be biased, but in my opinion we have by far the best jumper in the league.