I should like to direct attention towards Martin Flanagans article today in the AGED. Whilst not specifically about strips there are interesting and informed comments about them towards the end.

Flanagan in The Age

I should like to direct attention towards Martin Flanagans article today in the AGED. Whilst not specifically about strips there are interesting and informed comments about them towards the end.

Flanagan in The Age

These things are better seen from a distance than up close, but the first thing that strikes me about the 2010 AFL grand final is that St Kilda is not wearing its traditional guernsey. The argument is, supposedly, that the black upper half on the back of the Collingwood guernsey "clashes" with the black back of the traditional St Kilda guernsey.

But is there really a problem? Are players going to mistake one another? They didn't in the old days when there were wet, muddy playing fields and the likelihood of doing so was far greater. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, there was never any mention of it. The impetus for away strips seems to have come from television, which now supplies most of football's income.

Ultimately, running the game is a creative act that requires precarious balance. It's like running any show, any great performance which is what a grand final is, or rather, can be. But in all such shows, there are certain magic ingredients that you tamper with at your peril.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire stood up against the AFL, refusing to adopt an away strip. I support him in this, but I also support the right of Port Adelaide to wear their old jailhouse guernsey, which Collingwood opposes, and I also support St Kilda's right to wear its traditional guernsey today.

The colour of the guernseys will not determine the intensity of today's match, but footy followers need to be constantly on guard against the power of television to fashion subjects to its own ends. The game predates television by a century.

Martin Flanagan is an Age senior writer

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I don't wish to steal a mans words-But Martin here has summed up my feeling completely.

The AFL are taking an ingredient out of our game with the Clash jumper. It may be small to some, but it is important.

In todays game i do not see a clash. Some will.

But the Saints sure don't look like St.kilda to me, & that to me is a little sad.

Edited September 25, 201015 yr by why you little

At least St Kilda's clash jumper still makes them look like St Kilda, unlike Hawthorn, Adelaide and Melbourne.

At least St Kilda's clash jumper still makes them look like St Kilda, unlike Hawthorn, Adelaide and Melbourne.

Fair Comment, and that is why it is imperative we stand firm as a club in years to come.

We must wear our colours in September & i shall always believe that.