Brady Rawlings of North Melbourne gathers the ball ahead of Dane Swan of Collingwood during the AFL Round 06 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Collingwood Magpies at the Docklands Stadium. Slattery Images
How much longer will the AFL let Collingwood get away with pale blue murder? The farcical sight of North Melbourne turning out in a sleeveless variation on the Argentine national soccer strip, with the blue stripes barely distinguishable from the white – for a “home” game, mark you – was the latest example of the league’s weak-kneed stance on this issue, which has included the approval of Collingwood’s so-called clash jumper even though it is no such thing.
To add insult to injury the Kangaroos wore white shorts instead of the traditional home-team black, which Collingwood wore even though they were the “visitors” at Telstra Dome.
This came only a few days after the AFL hammered Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett with instructions to attend a course on umpiring (he chose to pay a $5000 fine instead) while almost simultaneously letting Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse’s on-field tirade towards the umpires go unpunished.
Malthouse’s behaviour, it seems, was overlooked because the Magpies sent a delegation to have a fireside chat to the AFL, and president Eddie McGuire emerged offering a mealy-mouthed homily to remind the rest of the world to be nicer to the umpires.
The same Eddie McGuire who has reminded the same rest of the world that Collingwood will never, ever, wear a change strip because the black and white stripes are sacred relics never to be put to the indignity of being left in the clubhouse while the team wears something to distinguish itself from the home team when playing away.
It’s OK for Carlton, the Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, Richmond and the other 11 clubs in the competition to toe the line, but not Collingwood, no sir.
North Melbourne adopted the Argentina-like strip because its players were unhappy with the previous alternative jersey with its royal blue background, white V and kangaroo.
But surely it should be worn only when the team is playing away, as is the case in other major competitions such as English soccer’s Premier League and other major club competitions around the world, as well as international games.
Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, to quote a few, all wear white, yellow, grey or some other distinguishing colour when their red or blue clashes with their hosts.
Last month Aston Villa had to wear their third strip when the referee thought their home colours were too similar to West Ham’s away kit.
The only real concern this caused was that the club sponsor’s logo wasn’t on the shirts in the first half.
The incident provoked some fans’ memories of how, faced with similar problems in the past, it had been known for a team to wear its opponent’s alternative strip!
So how come Collingwood can defy all logic and common sense?
That’s easy, Eddie will tell you – because we’re Collingwood, we wear black and white stripes and that’s that.
The irony of all this is that the club is throwing away hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Just think of all the moolah that would flow into the Magpies’ coffers from sales of, say, an all-black jumper with a magpie big enough to take on a flock of eagles emblazoned across the front.
But perhaps the real reason for Eddie’s obstinate stance is fear.
Fear that the descendants of the women who used to sit in the front row on the outer fence at Victoria Park and give opposition players a whack with their rolled-up brollies when the chance presented itself might come out of the woodwork and take to him.
Especially in these though economic times, when adding another hundred bucks to the family budget so little Johnny can play away to the Kangaroos in the park kick-around would be likely to go down like the proverbial lead balloon.
Just like umpires boss Jeff Gieschen’s view that you can’t push an opponent in the front or side has provoked outrage among some commentators.
It depends on the circumstances. Law 15.4.3(b) says pushing in the chest or side is OK if the ball is within five metres; but 15.4.5(d) bans any pushing if the opponent is “in the act of marking or attempting to mark the football”.
Simple, really.
Isn’t it?
40 Degrees S
Guest
Can understand mentioning what foreign sports do, but dont really care; smacks too much of that bad old Aussie cultural cringe. Cwd could easily get away with white shorts and a white jumper with narrow black front-panel stripes & a plain white back which would clearly differentiate it from NM's royal blue stripes and royal blue shorts. The real point of all this is the perception of preferential treatment for Cwd, which no amount of spin will dispel. Anyway, why all the angst over this once-a-year happening, when dodgy deals for most tenants at Idiot Stadium are crippling some Vic clubs financially? Every time Idiot Stadium is on TV, there are these empty seats right-of-screen supposedly for Collo's mates, those damned elusive pimpernels of theatre-goers - what a farce! No wonder some people pine for Princes Park.
Redb
Guest
Lazza, I realise AFL teams are tiny in a world sense outside of Australia. I accept my views towards the jumper are ancient to some but that's just the way i feel about Essendon's red and black, aint gunna change. As i've said there are alternatives. Redb
Lazza
Guest
Redb, Sometimes you have to change colours to avoid a clash, it’s not about tradition just common sense. There’s a club in the EPL called Newcastle Utd who wear B&W stripes and dare call themselves the ‘Magpies’. The only reason Eddie hasn’t tried to sue them is because in his tiny sporting world he probably doesn’t know they exist. Most sports fans around the world associate red & black with AC Milan not Essendon? My point. These shirts are not unique to the AFL and saying that Collingwood has more tradition than Man Utd or the New York Yankees is just silly. They have no problem with away shirts.
Redb
Guest
Pip, North or Collingwood could have kept their colours with a differing design (big logo or magpie, kanga), as can Essendon. At the end of the day its the vertical stripes that cause the problem. That is my stance and I think I'm right and not at all hypocritical :-) Redb
Colin
Guest
Totally agree redb, if there is a clash the home team should play in there home strip, I think the other night North's did the smart thing in changing even know they shouldn't had to. When I was playing Junior Football, I was in the same situation that my team wore the North team and the opponents wore Collingwood's strip and during the game at a quick glance it's hard to tell so I can understand in try make the game professional the need for clash strips, but it goes both ways Collingwood should be made to have a clash strip and the AFL should stand firm on this issue.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
redb so dons and woods are one on this issue? :)
Redb
Guest
I'm dead against changing the colours of my team, you can vary the design but dont touch the colours I think the other clubs are poorer for it. Classic was North's light blue and white the other night. However, if there is a clash then the home team deserves to stay in their own strip. Redb
Pippinu
Roar Guru
One obvious area where aussie rules has lagged far behind the rest of the world has been in the department of clash strips - at times it borders on bizarre and irrational (but then again, passion for a sporting team is an irrational human response). Apart from the obvious point that it can be difficult for both spectators and players when strips are to close in design - there is the other argument (the clincher I would have thought) that it's a great opportunity to make a shit loat of money!! (and it may come from using an alternative strip only 2 or 3 times per season)
Colin
Guest
Being from South Australia originally I look at this, to be surprised when Collingwood enteted the VFL is when Port Adelaide went to the Black and white. The only other option is for the AFL to develop a clash strip and for any team that does not have one they must where this, I'm sure Collingwood would soon develop a Clash strip.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Yes - Essendon did widen the sash (a fair bit actually, so that it is predominantly a red guernsey). At least Essendon can boast that they have the longest, unbroken, continuous, unchanged playing strip in the world in any sport. I have some sympathy with Essendon for wanting to retain that. But Collingwood has nothing. I think Port had the black and white vertical stripes before Collingwood. Collingwoods design is barely 110 years old - a mere trifle in aussie rules sporting history!!
Colin
Guest
From what I have been told by my manager at work, It's the AFL who set what strip each teams wheres. So North Melbourne wearing there clash would have come from the AFL, but basically the AFL need to grow a pair and stand up to both Collingwood and Essendon. Essendon away strip is just as bad, If i remember correctly that they have only widen the red slash not sure if they have a clash strip tho.
Redb
Guest
MC, It is BS that Collingwood are allowed to get away this. Is there a monetary contribution we dont know about? Redb
Michael C
Guest
Collingwood are the zebras, black on white or white on black - - it doesn't seem to change the zebra to anything but a zebra. The AFL approves the designs. Far better the VAFA where the jumper clashes are identified and we have to apply to get a set of clash jumpers off the VAFA.
tigersforever
Guest
I agree gocats the officials and the umpires are ruining a great game - they better watch out or those that really count - the loyal supporters - just might start to follow other codes which pay them more respect
gocats
Guest
Its a disgrace that Collingwood can away with all this- fans of other clubs are sick and tired of the lily-livered AFL officials who are obvioulsy not able to stand up to them - lets sack the officials and get some with balls
Mattay
Guest
If not the AFL, then surely James Brayshaw needs to grow a pair and use his role as host of the Footy Show to pour fuel on the fire of this issue rather than just shrug his shoulders and moan that it is an "AFL directive". Gee whizz, when Eddie was host every week's episode began with a 30 minute tirade about whatever issue was cheesing the Collingwood president off. In a week when the Hawthorn president stood firm, it was a gutless performance by Brayshaw.
Lazza
Guest
Redb, "smashed' by 26 points. That was a close game by AFL standards? Very disappointing, 'soft' performance by the boys though.
Ryan Steele
Roar Pro
I, for one, was cnofused - and annoyed - when I saw Collingwood playing Aussie Rules against Argentina. Of course, while Collingwood's home strip is black and white stripes, their away strip is white and black stripes. Very zebra-like, Magpies. Collingwood have an old lady mentality; "Anything but change, please, dear. That's all too much fuss, and I can't fit the time into my busy schedule of falling asleep in front of the tellie, complaining about the weather, and knitting a lovely scarf." They're set in their ways, with a them-against-the-world mentality that is one of the reasons for the love-hate relationship with Australia. Being stubborn and fragile - with their drop-of-the-hat tantrums - causes grief for everyone in the code, and could stop the game from going forward at a faster rate. Can't we all just get along? Aftrer all, as Jeff Kennett said, we're all just a bunch of "football-loving bogons."
Redb
Guest
Lazza, I'm having a few beers tonight with a Crows fan over from Adelaide who had the temerity to send a text 'Go lions' this morning, gee I could have sworn the Power smashed them on the weekend. :-) Redb
Lazza
Guest
Pippinu, That's why Port are going broke. Any club that adopts such ugly shirts doesn't deserve to survive. Crows supporters felt sorry for them so we showed up for their 'home' game on the weekend. They could never get a decent crowd by themselves.