It won’t be long before our footballers – avid followers of the NFL and NBA – will insist upon having their names adorned on their guernseys. It’s inevitable, and rightly so.
The outfits of the other professional football codes, and those of professional sports teams the world over (Test cricket being a prominent exception), include the names of the players.
As recognition of the achievement of each individual and as a means of identification, it makes sense.
While I’ve always preferred words over numbers (best to leave the games’ statistics and the secrets they can reveal to those who know what they’re doing; like Roar guru The Wookie) I must admit to a love for numbers on jumpers.
The large round-shaped numbers. The ones that have adorned our players’ backs for 100 years and successfully repelled the imperialist advances of American sports’ squarish versions. Personally, I think the American ‘futuristic’ font looks dated; better suited to James Caan’s Rollerball costume.
Single digit numbers on an AFL jumper, positioned perfectly in the centre and framed by the team’s colours, are probably the most aesthetic, although I do have a weakness, strangely enough, for the fulsome 30s; particularly 35 and 36.
Substituting numbers for the names of individuals could have been viewed as an act of debasement, however that wasn’t the aim of the VFL when it decided to formally identify players by placing numbers on their guernseys late in the 1911 season.
Numbers were easier to sew than names, numbered jumpers were easier to transfer between players and numbers were easier to identify during the helter-skelter action of game time.
More importantly, they expressed the egalitarian nature of the game in which the team was deemed more important than the individual.
Of course the numbers are more than a means of identification or an aesthetic quirk. They have a historical significance and mystique.
After young players are presented with their numbers, they arrive at the locker and see the list of those who wore the guernsey before them. Each time they run out to play they carry part of their club’s history with them.
Traditionally, the smallest numbers are reserved for the best or most experienced players but many players choose to stick with their debut number, or at least the one they had when they achieved the status of champion.
Even among club captains there appears to be an aversion towards the number one jumper. Last year’s grand final teams each had a number 2, 3, 4 and 5… but no number 1.
Avid supporters consider the numbers of their greatest champions to be sacred, but they have no need for names or numbers during games. From vast distances, they can identify any player from his hair, build, gait or skills.
For the onlooker wanting to know more about the game, he could do worse than checking the footy record or leaning over to a fan and asking “Who’s number 23 for Hawthorn?”
Inexplicably, I couldn’t recall the numbers of three of the greatest players of the modern era: Gary Ablett Snr, Wayne Carey and Leigh Matthews.
I had no trouble, however, in coming up with the 23 of Dermott Brereton. It must have been the unique combination of busy hair, barrel chest, stick-thin legs and psychotic genius that sharpened my memory.
Commercial considerations have already seen an end to numbers monopolising their players’ backs – their appearance sullied by the sponsors’ names underneath – so the addition of the more deserving players’ names is not such a big issue.
Still, I would prefer it if the numbers were left alone to work their magic.
Baino
Guest
Why do the Sydney Swans train in different numbered jerseys to those they wear during a game?
Daryl Adair
Guest
Names on jumpers are particularly useful (and needed) in new footy markets, such as Western Sydney and the Gold Coast. It is often difficult to know who the young players are without looking at the record repeatedly. Also, in terms of attracting people new to the sport, they find it difficult to identify with players who have, from their point of view, no name. I have experienced this personally when taking people to Giants games. More generally, there are plenty of fan identification positives associated with having names on jumpers. When I occasionally watch other team sports on TV I'm relieved that they have names on jumpers because, as a casual observer (but potential fan) I would have little idea who these people were from the number and the commentator call. In the end, there is no strong argument AGAINST having numbers and names on jumpers. It's a logical and beneficial idea that will one day come to fruition.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
There used to be quite simple rules in relation to numbers until Adelaide University (I think) jogged out with gamma, beta, infinity, 0.08 etc on their jumpers. Now the rules are quite detailed in relation to them! "Bruce, stand on the bloke with the funny fish shaped thing.... no, not that one, that looks more like a pair of breasts, I said 'fish' "
Soccerlogic
Guest
Also avid followers of soccer too!
pope paul v11
Guest
Or who is that idiot no.27? Long may numbers reign.
pope paul v11
Guest
Foster is mental.
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Would look strange to change it after all this time. Traditionalists would of course hate it, I wouldn't mind either way. We'd eventually get used to it but don't really see the reason for a change.
Brendon
Guest
Port's captain always gets the number 1, I love it
me too
Guest
Judd's the bald one. I dare say it would also be easier to recognise Messi by his hair and build than trying to actually read the name on the back of a jumper.
Fred
Guest
Picture someone going to their first football match and watching Carlton versus Richmond. They have heard that Judd is an unbelievable player, and so is Martin. They remember two numbers but keep mixing them up. Names on the back of jumpers will help a great deal for people who dont attend the football much. I am a regular TV football viewer and have no idea what the numbers of most Geelong players are (I know what they look like). A first gamer would struggle to know which player is which even more. On TV there is no time to look up someones number. If i went to a soccer match I would want to identify Messi each time I saw him. If i went to an American Football match I would want to identify The Monstar! We are the greatest sport, we have the greatest spectacle but this is one tradition that football needs to trend with the world.
bigrig
Guest
Just leave the numbers. Dont need names. Its a great tradition of asking someone " who is 27?" Then checking the Footy Record for their name... Good times...
TomC
Roar Guru
Yep. That is a much more succint way of putting what I was trying to say.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
We have very large playing fields by the standards of other sports. Names would generally not be readable to those at the ground. They could work for TV though, een then only for the close up shots, and for when play happens in the near portion of the field for those in the stands. The numbers need to be retained, and their size not reduced. If the names can fit on top of that, then fine. I would like to see an attempt made to get number on the front, even if they are smallr and often not readbale. That might be difficult to do though in a meaningful way while maintaing the jumper's design. On the front they may need to be smaller, and not visible much of the time, but it may be better than nothing. Of course, front on players have faces as well which can help identify them.
Australian Rules
Guest
A bizarre footy doppel if ever there was one.
langou
Roar Guru
It will certainly help Melbourne supporters from having to yell "go number 17" or "go number 26..i mean 28"
Redb
Roar Guru
Thanks marc, You know I had that lingering doubt it was 10. Matty Lloyd swayed me.
Marc
Guest
Redb, just a small correction if you are talking about the Great John Coleman he wore 10
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Hey chaps, I love the numbers but not my poor memory! :)
TomC
Roar Guru
Stokes and Christensen at the Cats is another one they get wrong a lot. They happen to wear numbers 27 and 28 repectively, but somehow in that case I don't think that's what's causing the confusion.
Dg
Guest
Yeah it'll be the commentators not the players. I remember watching a Freo game on TV where a particularly well known commentator was calling Pearce, Broughton and Walters as the one player. They were playing a fantastic game between them.