Each year, a new line of guernseys for Sir Doug Nicholls Round is rolled out, and each year they all look good.
This year, however, they’ve gone a step further – whether that’s a product of the clubs offering more creative licence to the artists who conceive them or simply a coincidence, there is a greater departure from the traditional guernseys than usual in 2019, and I like it.
I jokingly asked a friend why the clubs don’t wear them every week – he agreed, and I soon realised my joke was actually a terrific idea.
Why don’t we? They look better, and it would provide a weekly nod to the Indigenous Australians who have played such a significant role in shaping our game.
The designs could be worn each and every week, and at the end of the year a new one could be voted upon by the fans.
(Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
The benefits are numerous: multiple artists every year get a chance to show off their work, fans get a chance to be more directly involved with their club, and most importantly we’ll have the best looking guernseys in world sport.
If that’s too gimmicky, then just settle on a design and wear it all the time.
Of course, there would be plenty of arguments against the idea.
“But what about respecting tradition!?” is one I can already hear being bleated by people who probably have no interest in tradition in literally any other circumstance.
We had this debate a few years ago when a number of teams were too afraid to widen their stripes by a couple of centimetres for fear of upsetting the apple cart and we can all safely agree in hindsight that entire argument was relatively mundane.
Who honestly cares if their club doesn’t wear the exact same jumper as it did 50 years ago? You don’t see people getting up in arms about the fact that no one wears scratchy woolen jumpers with redundant collars anymore.
Some of you will no doubt shout from the rafters that this is yet another idea brought about by the age of political correctness – an obsession with doing the right thing by everyone even in the absence of any particular need for change.
(AAP Image/David Moir)
Maybe that’s true – there’s no problem with our current jumpers and Indigenous Round is already a great annual occasion.
But even if you’re not someone who wants to think about the potential social benefits, surely you can agree that these jumpers simply look better, and games played wearing them are more aesthetically pleasing.
The AFL is desperate to spread the game abroad, something evidenced by their obsession with AFLX and playing in China – two things that nobody else cares about.
Attracting interest in a product that an international audience aren’t particulary interested in isn’t easy, but if someone dragged me kicking and screaming to a round-ball football game and the players were wearing outrageously colourful and unique tops, I know I’d be a slightly higher chance of going back the next week.
The jumpers every club will wear this week – without a single exception – look fantastic, far better than their traditional counterparts.
What a great way to add another element of individuality to a game with it coming out of every pore.
They are uniquely Australian, and they have a history and a story behind them. The same could be said about most of our current jumpers, but these jumpers cover those bases to an even larger degree – so why not?
Richo
Guest
I like the indigenous designs and I'm glad they seem to happen every year. I wouldn't mind seeing the Herritage round jumpers reappear either.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
The West Coast indigenous jumper design features were very subtle. So subtle, I couldn’t see them. Was it on the back of the guernsey or something?
Lroy
Guest
Exactly, the only thing that should be there is the AFL logo on one breast corner.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
Jim, you are welcome to wear it every day if you like it so much. I prefer our "traditional" jumper and long may it stay. The indigenous jumper is too acknowledge the contribution of indigenous players. Once per season makes it special.
Wise Old Elf
Guest
Your club song is all about Toyota Camrys. eg We are the pride of South Australia, we are the mighty Camry Crows. If it is any consolation, ask any car mechanic and what they recommend and it is Toyota. Don't forget the only car ever driven to the north pole, whilst being driven drunk was a Toyota!
Ron The Bear
Roar Rookie
Why don't we bypass the football and have a boomerang throwing competition instead?
Wise Old Elf
Guest
Would love to see a round(really the whole season) of no badges or adverts over the jerseys. Like it was back in the day, I believe pre 1975. It has gotten to almost as pathetic as the rugby uniforms where they are on a par with racing car drivers for ads per square inch of jersey. They even have adverts with conflicting colour schemes. Such as red background badges on Carlton outfits. The clubs make so much from tv, tickets and all these other characters do they need it. I would be happy to see 10 percent knocked off the incomes of the clubs to restore some semblance of reduced advertising whoredom. Really they should now be giving the strips away to fans for free because you are in essence acting as a free mobile bill board.
Lroy
Guest
''why dont we wear them every week'' let me guess, your not a real AFL fan are you? Why doesnt every club change its colours, name, theme song every week? Because without them you are not a football club. Tradition means something.... not to you maybe, but to others it does.
Jason
Roar Rookie
They could wear women's knickers as a "nod" to women who have contributed so much to their development. Good idea Jim. ????
Hugh
Guest
Aussie rules uniforms outclass those of soccer and rugby league for one reason: they're simple. Having indigenous jumpers once a year is a nice point of difference, but the clean red on white of the Swans, the hoops of Geelong, even the increasingly less purple Freo kit are uncluttered, distinctive, and speak to a code that has a legacy, a unique voice, and a respect for club colours. Why did the Tigers fans fight for a return to yellow rather than the marketing-preferred gold sash? Why have the Dogs returned to their traditional hoop form? Because these things *do* matter to the fans, and they do matter in creating community. And so when there's an exception, it stands out, and when it is done right is special.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I am aware of what my team has done....in the oh so distant past. Keyword: will.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Like others don't mind the idea of the Indigenous jumpers being used a clash option. Think it should be more than a one off, but not every single week.
Grints
Roar Rookie
The Eagles one from last year was prob the best i had seen - i wouldnt mind them using that one again
IAP
Guest
People don't like change for the sake of it, or change that dilutes the things that they hold dear. There's nothing wrong with that.
IAP
Guest
Yep. It's pure tokenism. Until we challenge the current structures and us vs them cultural divide that is ever widening we will see more of this instead of actually improving outcomes.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
"Why don't we wear the Indigenous guernseys every week?" Because it they were worn every week they would be just guernseys! For mine some are good; others less so. However, I would be glad to see them in some additional games over some of the current clash strips. But, even then since the indigenous guernsey's are close to the normal strip it may not help.
Butts
Guest
Its about marketing and dedicating a week of the season to this particular issue. Other weeks are dedicated to other issues and team strips sometimes also change for that. Not everyone would buy a 'theme' gurnsey, they simply don'y like it for whatever reason. They will buy the normal strip that doesn't have any 'focus' on a particular issue other than its their clubs strip. And yes traditional strips are liked and getting rid of them would definitely upset more people than it would make happy. People don't like change.
Scott
Guest
I actually reckon the lions have the best indigenous jumper this year. I agree with what your saying though. I love how they still wear the Fitzroy strip and should keep doing that forever. Did a pretty good job of that merger imo
Scott
Guest
I came down here to write the exact same thing. This years designs are bloody awesome and there is so much going on with each design that they wouldn’t clash with many traditional guernseys. Perfect clash strip
IAP
Guest
The whole premise of Indigenous round is a token nod to Indigenous culture.