The topic has come up again today due to Harry McKay's tweet.
SHOULD THE AFL REVISIT NAMES ON PLAYER GUERNSEYS?By Nic Negrepontis
SEN
11 January 2022Is it time for the AFL to commit to names on the back of guernseys?
While obviously low on the league’s priority list, it has been put back on the agenda by Carlton spearhead Harry McKay, who put the idea out there on Twitter.
“Surely names on the back of jumpers has to be revisited in AFL and AFLW?” the tweet read.
“Just about only team sport in world that doesn’t do it, even Test cricket does it now. No brainer to help grow the game.”
McKay’s tweet was in reference to Sunday’s AFLW clash between Carlton and Collingwood and given the league is still young and growing, it could be particularly beneficial for it from a name recognition standpoint.
The AFL trialled surnames on the back of guernseys back in 2014, but opted against making it permanent at the time due to practical limitations.
"The round five trial demonstrated that the unique cut of AFL guernseys restricts the size of lettering that can be used and this in turn limits the legibility of the player names for fans at the ground, and to a lesser extent, for those watching on television or via other media channels," an AFL spokesperson said at the time.
"To varying degrees depending on the club, there is only limited space available on the back of match day guernseys for suitably sized names due to player numbers, club acronyms and sponsor logos.”
The AFL’s half-hearted attempt at it in 2014 never closed the door on the concept however and former Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins agrees that it is time to revisit the concept.
“I don’t think it desperately has to happen, but we do look around the world and we see names on the back of guernseys and jumpers and whatever players wear,” Jenkins told SEN Breakfast.
“I actually don’t like the look of the big clunky numbers and names in the Test matches, I think that looks a little bit silly.
“Now (in the AFL) we’ve got a sponsor sitting in the spot where a name would be.
“I think it would certainly sell more jumpers. I can’t see why we shouldn’t have names on the back of jumpers just as the reigning Coleman Medallist says.”
SEN Chief Reporter Sam Edmund agreed, believing it would be an easy win for the league, while also not tampering with the traditions of the code too much.
“I can’t see how it wouldn’t be a hit either. I think it’s one of those things that would only help the game,” Edmund said.
“I don’t see it as a crushing blow to the traditional elements of the game. This is no day Grand Final debate, this is just a printed name on the back of a jumper.
“I think it would be a welcome edition to the game and help grow it with the younger generation of fans who can relate more to their player.
“I think especially now that cricket has jumped that hurdle.”
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/01/11/should-the-afl-revisit-names-on-player-guernseys/
