- AFL’s Gather Round footy jersey has been widely panned
- Contains all 18 clubs, many fans find it an eyesore
- NRL has also been guilty of some kit howlers over the years
Footy fans have criticized the AFL for the competition’s specially designed Gather Round strip, with supporters lining up to call it an absolute eyesore.
The jersey – and a hat and scarf – featured the colors and logos of all 18 AFL clubs as they play each round four match in Adelaide.
Veteran sports journalist Mark Gottlieb led the pile, declare on X: ‘If this is a real jersey for sale, this is by far the worst piece of AFL merchandise I have ever seen.
“I’d rather jump off a cliff than carry that.”
“I love that the designer alphabetized the teams on the jersey and went home,” another fan responded sarcastically.
Footy fans have lashed the AFL for their specially designed Gather Round strip (pictured) featuring the colors and logos of all 18 clubs
The AFL’s Gather Round cap is also unlikely to be a hit with supporters as every round four match will be played in Adelaide.
The new strip brings back memories of other terrible footy uniforms, such as this Brisbane Bears effort modeled by Warwick Capper in 1988
Teammates console Glen Jacovich (center) as the West Coast Eagles lost in his 200th game in 2000. To make matters worse, they wore a widely panned hypercolor sweater
Jack Gunston didn’t seem thrilled at the idea of dressing as a Power Ranger for the Hawks in 2015
The NRL are also guilty of some uniform shockers, such as Penrith’s strip in their premiership-winning season in 2003 (pictured)
Yes, we know Alfie. It’s a shame the Broncos had to wear this teal monstrosity twice – in 1998 and then again in 2002
“Real ‘marketing student intern’ vibes on this one,” said another.
Questionable playing strips in the AFL seem to go hand in hand.
The 1988 Brisbane Bears strip, the 2000 West Coast hypercolour guernsey with an ‘artistic’ eagle and Hawthorn’s ‘Power Ranger’ come to mind in 2015 when the subject of horror Aussie Rules Guernseys comes up.
But before NRL fans start giggling, their code is just as guilty of causing some shockers.
Penrith won the premiership in 2003, but their green away strip was a monstrosity – just like Brisbane’s blue-green number of 1998 – and again in 2002, before fans called for an end to the torture.
Incredibly, the club decided to bring it back in 2017 for the Nines tournament.
