Putting names on the back of players jumpers could be a reality in years to come, with the AFL admitting that there has been a push from various coaches within the league.
The idea which is most popular in soccer is now being pushed due to the introduction of the two new teams and consequently nearly 100 extra players for football diehards to memorise.
This topic has been raised at meetings between AFL officials for years but it is only now gathering momentum.
Deputy CEO of the AFL Gillon McLachlan had a lot to say on the new developments.
“There are a number of people that think, especially in the context of a couple of new teams, that now is the time,” McLachlan said.
“It is getting a bit of momentum.”
GWS Giants coach Kevin Sheedy is one of the driving forces behind this, due to the introduction of his new team.
Throughout his campaign the traditionalists have won the debate every time, except for a little win back in the summer of 2011 where he was allowed to put players names on the jumpers of his young NAB Cup side.
Kevin argues that putting the names on players jumpers will help fans identify his young Giants players.
“I’m in the marketplace of explaining who we are, so if people want to get to know Jeremy Cameron, people want to know Stephen Coniglio…we’ve got to try to make superstars in Sydney,” Sheedy said.
“Don’t run around with blank sheets of paper on their back. Don’t run around with a whiteboard with nothing on it.”
Other more successful teams value it as less of a priority because their fan-base doesn’t need it. However these teams say they wouldn’t oppose the plan either if it came down to that.
The number system was first introduced back in 1911 to help fans identify their players.
Carlton and Essendon were the first two teams to wear numbers back then, so many believe they should be the first to test out the naming system.
The practicality of this plan could be questioned however, due to people with names like Lewis Roberts-Thompson, though maybe we could settle for his nickname LRT.
What do you think, Roarers? Should the AFL introduce jumper names?
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