But if it's for merchandising they can make the named jumpers without the players wearing them on game day.

Not effectively, I don't think. People want to wear as close to what the players are wearing as possible, imho.

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.

I think it's more about seeing it on people's backs in the crowd. Helps to build hype about players.

And yeah, commentators will say the name, seeing it visually reinforces that.

It's about getting the names out there in the public sphere, so the spectators get to know them better, especially in the expansion territories.

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.

I don't think it would be that hard & I don't agree.

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.

It's about brand reinforcement and shoving the names down supporters throats subliminally.

I imagine the size of any sponsorship logo will be reduced if that's deemed necessary, but I don't think it will be too busy or cluttered.

And that is a subjective argument.

Any more objective reasons why it's a bad idea?

Beyond generally not being comfortable with change?

I'm kind of torn on the topic. I've heard a lot of people say it'd be "Americanizing" it. 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.

precisely

What's the problem with it being a bit like an American jersey?

Honestly - what is wrong with that?

It's about brand reinforcement and shoving the names down supporters throats subliminally.

I imagine the size of any sponsorship logo will be reduced if that's deemed necessary, but I don't think it will be too busy or cluttered.

And that is a subjective argument.

Any more objective reasons why it's a bad idea?

Beyond generally not being comfortable with change?

I don't like your tone. You've dismissed my arguments fair enough but of course they are subjective, it's putting a name on a jumper it's a subjective thing. And I never mentioned anything to do with comfort with change. I'm all for change if I think it's a good idea.

What about that it detracts from the team nature of the sport. For that reason several of the bigger college football teams in America don't have the names on the jerseys.

. For that reason several of the bigger college football teams in America don't have the names on the jerseys.

do you think these yanks have watched real aussie footy and copied our idea of putting numbers on players geurnseys?

Well you can not like the tone. That's your issue, princess.

It was more a general comment about most people being against it because they're not comfortable with change.

Nothing personal.

But I think you're clutching at straws.

By the very same sentiment you could make an argument that numbers be removed from players backs.

I think it's a stupid argument, that it in any way detracts from the team nature of the sport.

I don't know about any colleges doing it, but it sounds like a limp gimmick.

My other concern, aside from clutter (and let's hope Michael Hoomanawanui never attempts to cross codes from the New England Patriots) is the impact on young supporters if a popular, high profile player changes clubs

Let's say a kid has his jumper with Barassi proudly emblazoned above the number 31. Then Barassi moves to Carlton & what was a much loved jumper is now useless, if not hated.

At least if it was only a number, the kid gets the opportunity to get some love for Ray Groom ! Can't do that with a name on the back.

To modernise the example, how many Hawthorn #23 jumpers with Franklin on the back would now be despised ? Or West Coast kids with their Judd jumpers. How many parents hacked off that they have to shell out another hundred bucks ?

I think that's the point.

Instead of hoping the next player to wear 23 a gun, they buy a new jumper.

More cash in the AFL's pockets.

Or you do what I did with the Energy Watch logo, and black the name out with tape.

Not ideal, but beggars can't be choosers.

Casual dismissal of opinion and fact (see 'not comfortable with change', 'clutching at straws', 'it's a stupid argument', 'sounds like a limp gimmick') does nothing to build the case for - which is usually a pre-requisit for (good) change.

I'm not trying to.

I'm simply saying the case against is weak.

Well you can not like the tone. That's your issue, princess.

It was more a general comment about most people being against it because they're not comfortable with change.

Nothing personal.

But I think you're clutching at straws.

By the very same sentiment you could make an argument that numbers be removed from players backs.

I think it's a stupid argument, that it in any way detracts from the team nature of the sport.

I don't know about any colleges doing it, but it sounds like a limp gimmick.

No you need some sort of identification for the fans and officials so numbers are important.

But you could make a case for names and scratching the numbers but you'd find numbers are much easier to recognise from a distance.

Anyway I'm happy there's a trial. I think it should be implemented for this 18 days of NAB challenge, in fact it makes perfect sense to do it in the practice matches when the commentators struggle to pick the players most of the time. I'm just not convinced it will add anything on a permanent basis.

This is happening this weekend.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-04-14/names-may-get-nod

Like it or not this will probably be the future so lets just get used to it

i like it *shrugs*

some of those jumper backs look changed (apart from name)

creates more potential clashes???

No MCC monogram on the Melbourne jumper...

no.

no no no no no no no no no no no no no

no

no

no

no

*facepalm*

Will Kennedy-Harris fit on the back? Especially since his jumper would be an extra-small to begin with.

Oh well another change to our game. This will be the norm.

I like just numbers. But the clash jumpers are far more of an issue to me than player names.

Whats the point of numbers if you have names?

don't mind it, to be honest but i'm a [censored] idiot.

They don't look too bad but I really don't see the point.

Will Kennedy-Harris fit on the back? Especially since his jumper would be an extra-small to begin with.

K-HARRIS ?

About bloody time Australia started to catch up to the rest of the world.