Should have been started years ago.

i think daisycutter would look cool on a jumper

maybe we could follow suit with forum footy

Absolutely no downside.

No, simply because they will begin to look too cluttered.

Footy Record sales are probably still a big consideration, but the TV audience is likely a bigger one.

I wouldn't have thought so today, when I've not purchased a footy record in about 7 years, and I can easily find all the player numbers on my mobile phone in an instant.

There's the obvious reason -- so new supporters in the expansion states can learn and identify the players more easily.

I'd have also thought a lot of it had to do with merchandising.

An old number 3 "Lyon" jumper is now obsolete or vintage throwback.

If I was a fan of Salem, I'd have to get a new jumper.

Increases jumper sales simply, which I imagine lag behind some other sports.

Just wait for the NBA-like introduction of sleeves, so it doesn't look as stupid for adults to wear the jumpers.

From this morning's Age:

"Police request AFL put player names on nightclub attire."

No, simply because they will begin to look too cluttered.

Agreed. There is already too much crap on jumpers

From this morning's Age:

"Police request AFL put player names on nightclub attire."

lets put a GPS chip in them.

we can Monitor them 24/7. just sayin'.

I like it

I think it will be good for player legacy as well. Take Geelong for example, a No 5 with 'Ablett' on it would be far more sought after then a No 5 with 'Varco' on it.

Like it a lot....especially with all these new teams with unknown "guns"** appearing every season.

**absolutely hate hearing the word other than for established players NB Ablett x2, Barassi, Flower, Voss etc etc

IMVHO it should never ever be used prospectively - how many times have we heard it here Morton, Maric, Gysberts, Cook etc etc etc

I'm not a fan, merely because it looks overcrowded on the back.

Really doesn't bother me either way, although I agree that if they were to go ahead with it they would want to ensure the back of the jumper didn't become too cluttered. Some sponsors might need to be bumped, and I don't see that happening in a hurry.

But on the traditional front, doesn't bother me. The world will keep spinning. It's also not just an American thing so I don't understand that argument at all.

If clutter's a problem, why have numbers at all? So long as the issue of players sharing a surname is sorted, I don't see that numbers add anything. I try to learn to recognise the new Demons as quickly as I can each season anyway, and I don't buy a Record. The people I go with do, so I'm always asking them "Who's 29 for Norf?" - but names would remove even that diversion.

Agin it.

More Americanised crap , more suited to the theatre goers as others have noted.

It might also be a soccer thing which is another good reason for giving it the flick.

And a one day cricket thing which is etc...

No need for it and the jumpers are cluttered enough as it is.

And in the heat of the contest who is going to have the time to read names from the cheap seats anyway, let alone from the fence if play is on the other side of the oval.

Now I have thought about it a bit more I think it's total horseshit.

Agreed. There is already too much crap on jumpers

pretty sure thats why they put numbers on jumpers

the kardashian twins will have a lot of shoulder padding

Agin it.

More Americanised crap , more suited to the theatre goers as others have noted.

It might also be a soccer thing which is another good reason for giving it the flick.

And a one day cricket thing which is etc...

No need for it and the jumpers are cluttered enough as it is.

And in the heat of the contest who is going to have the time to read names from the cheap seats anyway, let alone from the fence if play is on the other side of the oval.

Now I have thought about it a bit more I think it's total horseshit.

You've come up with a couple of reasons why you don't think it's necessary, but no valid arguments against doing it.

I'm yet to see any from anyone.

You've come up with a couple of reasons why you don't think it's necessary, but no valid arguments against doing it.

I'm yet to see any from anyone.

I thought the argument about clutter on the jumpers is a valid reason against it. Did you see my post?

I don't see why it HAS to make the jumper more cluttered.

Surely there is potential for that, but I think a competent design can avoid that.

You've come up with a couple of reasons why you don't think it's necessary, but no valid arguments against doing it.

I'm yet to see any from anyone.

It adds clutter and won't be legible (did you not get that bit) - that's two arguments against it that I consider valid - or if it is to be legible it will need to be so big that it will add even more clutter.

the WHOLE POINT of numbers is that they are a short hand way of identifying individuals. That's why they were introduced in the first place.

If clutter's a problem, why have numbers at all? So long as the issue of players sharing a surname is sorted, I don't see that numbers add anything. I try to learn to recognise the new Demons as quickly as I can each season anyway, and I don't buy a Record. The people I go with do, so I'm always asking them "Who's 29 for Norf?" - but names would remove even that diversion.

No idea how technologically savvy you are and I understand that mobile data can be horrible at the footy but smart phones and the internet have removed that concern about who the opposition player is for me. I just load an app and check it that way. Just a tip.

It adds clutter and won't be legible (did you not get that bit) - that's two arguments against it that I consider valid - or if it is to be legible it will need to be so big that it will add even more clutter.

the WHOLE POINT of numbers is that they are a short hand way of identifying individuals. That's why they were introduced in the first place.

That's if you assume the purpose is for the name to be on there for people in the crowd to read.

I don't think that's the point.

It's for merchandising and name recognition purposes.

There's also no reason why it has to be cluttered.

You're jumping at shadows.

All I'm hearing is "I don't like change!"

That's if you assume the purpose is for the name to be on there for people in the crowd to read.

I don't think that's the point.

It's for merchandising and name recognition purposes.

There's also no reason why it has to be cluttered.

You're jumping at shadows.

All I'm hearing is "I don't like change!"

That is the filter you choose to apply.

Try as an alternative: 'I love our indigenous game. It does not need US-style or soccer-inspired hoopla. It is distinctive and special. Let's maintain its uniqueness as much as possible.'

That is the filter you choose to apply.

Try as an alternative: 'I love our indigenous game. It does not need US-style or soccer-inspired hoopla. It is distinctive and special. Let's maintain its uniqueness as much as possible.'

Still hearing 'I don't like change'.

That's if you assume the purpose is for the name to be on there for people in the crowd to read.

I don't think that's the point.

It's for merchandising and name recognition purposes.

There's also no reason why it has to be cluttered.

You're jumping at shadows.

All I'm hearing is "I don't like change!"

But if it's for merchandising they can make the named jumpers without the players wearing them on game day. If it's for name recognition does it really help much, on TV you can see a guys face which is better than a name, plus a commentator calls the players name. It doesn't have to be cluttered but it will be hard to make it both uncluttered and large enough to be prominent. I believe the Brent Harvey example I saw as cluttered.

Personally I think all the kids at Auskick know the good players numbers and fans can access players names from their phones and on the bigscreen, you don't need a record. I think it doesn't add a lot.

http://www.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Tenant/Media/Images/277512-tlsgallerylandscape.jpg

See this photo from last years practice match at Casey. Their is already a lot going on back there. To fit the name on you probably bump the sponsor down, shrink the number and move it down a bit as well and then put the name in the red area of the back. All in all you end up with a lot of white detail and not as much red and blue.

I'm kind of torn on the topic. I've heard a lot of people say it'd be "Americanizing" it. But I don't agree with that. Soccer jerseys have names on the back, Non-test cricket jerseys do as well. I don't think it'd look tacky. But I am an American so i'm used to it in most of our sports. I mainly just don't know what the point would really be, I mean it's not like it'd be easy to see the name, while watching games. Seems a bit silly to me. But then again, in American Football it's not like you're close enough to see the name on the back of the jersey either. My biggets problem with it is just because there's such a great tradition of players and certain numbers and I think this might diminish that a little.