Yeah I watched that last night with someone who is new to AFL. Neither of us could follow which team was which as soon as there were a few players around the ball (and I've neem following AFL for over 20 years). As far as making the "product" more marketable and accessible to potential new fans clash strips are definately the way to go.

A few thoughts about ours.

1. No would would care about ours if we were 4-0. People latch on to anything to vent their anger when we're losing. Usually it's just some poor 19 year old kid who has played half a dosen games and has the misfortune to have not discovered all Australian form yet.

Sure Melvey would still not like the white strip and he may have even have still started this thread but, it would have had about 3 replies because the first one would have been "who cares we're winning".

2. People need to distinguish between the clash strip and the colour of it. If the problem is that white is too submissive then we should go back to the drawing board and design one what is more suitable (perhaps figuring navy blue more prominately).

However, if people think the problem is actually having a clash strip then I can't agree and think that makes about as much sense as arguing that football should still only be played on Saturday afternoons at Prince's Park.

3. I was actually a bit dissapointed with Swann. He comments about the clash strip just seemed like a transparent attempt to direct attention away from the performance of the players and the MC. He was also completely reactive to Walls calling us the inspided whites in the comentary box. He should have said

"we're the Navy Blues and the Blues can win wearing anything, even a heshan sack. That performance was unacceptable and the players know that".

I actually don't mind the clash strip and both of my little guys have it (but they also have the regular jumper too!)

I like the fact that it's sortof a "negative" of our regular strip and agree with Graham Smorgan when he said the AFL demands a clash strip, here it is, move on. From that point of view, the current clash is perfect (being the "negative").
My issue is with the fact that we have to wear it when there isn't a clash....and when teams bloody do clash, they don't have to wear it!?

I just don't get the point of the clash strips if they aren't going to be used properly?...actually there is no point. if they aren't

I don't mind it either but it would be a hell of lot better with navy shorts - all white is just too much.

Yeah it does. The home team wears their coloured shorts and the away team wears the white shorts. There's no need for clash jumpers.

I overheard this old guy at the pub today talking about watching footy when TV started in Australia, B&W and traditional tops, and pissing down with rain. The shorts are what you ALWAYS look for.

It was never a problem, for over 100 years.

Spectators today are babies.

Yeah it does. The home team wears their coloured shorts and the away team wears the white shorts. There's no need for clash jumpers.

I overheard this old guy at the pub today talking about watching footy when TV started in Australia, B&W and traditional tops, and pissing down with rain. The shorts are what you ALWAYS look for.

It was never a problem, for over 100 years.

Spectators today are babies.

Fremantle away

Their jumper is purple FFS - surely that cannot be enforced?

Their jumper is purple FFS - surely that cannot be enforced?