Names on Jumpers a 'no-brainer'

[Proud Pies]

TWO of the game's most enduring figures say it's time tradition made way for common sense.

The AFL remains one of the few sports in the world where players' names are not featured on the backs of guernseys, and North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey and Greater Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy want that to change.

Both men, who have 1200 AFL games of playing and coaching experience between them, would not hesitate to introduce the names this season - thus bringing the AFL into line with international cricket and soccer as well as America's football, basketball, baseball and hockey leagues.

But the veteran duo would settle for the ''baby step'' of trialling the concept in the NAB Cup.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/names-on-jumpers-a-nobrainer-20130117-2cw65.html#ixzz2IH2x17z4

so, what do you all think? you happy for the names to be on the backs of the jumpers?

I'm happy for it if they keep the numbers as well, I can barely see those now, with my eyesight, it'll be very hard to read the names only.

[Rick]

I don't see the need. The only people to benefit from it would be television audiences and people sitting on ground level. I doubt you'd be able to read the players name from the top level at any ground?

Seems like doing something for the sake of doing something.

[ConBigWig]

Most importantly, the players will benefit.

All for it!

[watt price tully]

I can't see why not. I see no issue with it whatsoever.

Causes no harm

Good for kids to learn the names of players

Good for a lot of people who don't know all of the players or some of the players.

They should combine this with less advertising.

[GoWoodsmen]

Why not?
Can't see it be anything but helpful for people learning the game.
Might kill the AFL Record though because you wouldn't have people having to look down at the player listing all the time.... then again I haven't bought a record in 20 years (bar Grand Finals) so maybe I'm not the best to comment on that!

[jackcass]

Presti would have had to wear 2 jumpers

[GoWoodsmen]

[sixpoints]

It's a "no brainer" alright, as it takes absolutely no brains whatsoever to copy other sports.
It will happen as there is a buck in it. No one cares if they are visible at the ground, no one cares that it helps you recognize the players, all that matters is that it makes the jumpers more marketable and they will be likely to sell more of them.
So it will happen.

[Member 7167]

[Proud Pies]

like i said, I don't have a problem with it, i won't be able to see the names anyway, but I think it's for the television audience and it is helpful when you're watching on TV and don't know all the players numbers, particularly another team when I don't care who they are lol

[David]

It's not exactly the most pressing issue of our time either way, but I do dislike the mentality that any differences between the AFL and EPL/NFL/NBA are somehow an indictment on our sport. I don't see our game as inferior; in fact, there are many aspects of the other codes that I'm glad we don't share (cheerleaders, stop-start play, background music, embarrassingly soft umpiring, absurd player payments or Darwinist competitive structures).

What I'd love to see from the administration and football media is more pride and affection for our unique game. The sport doesn't need to be 'fixed', and it smacks of an unwarranted inferiority complex to assume it does. Martin Flanagan gets that, but not many others do.

[loki04]

Only issue I have is if it makes the backs look over crowded with sponsor names and too big of a number.

The Harvey example looks shocking.

[WhyPhilWhy?]

The only issue I have is that we already have the busiest outfits going around - we don't need anything more on them.

[Lazza]

I cant see the need for them. FFS, stop changing the game and jumpers etc. just for the sake of change.......

[stui magpie]

I think it's a great idea, long overdue.

Yeah the regular match day goer will get bugger all benefit except for when an opposition player gets close enough, but the TV audience is many times larger than the physical attending one and if it helps people identify players, all for it.