AFL Heritage Round

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Heritage Round was a round of matches in the Australian Football League in which all the teams wore guernseys from their past. The first Heritage Round was in 2003 and had been continuing every year until 2008.^[1][2]

Origin[]

The concept of the Heritage Round originated from the Centenary Celebration Round, which took place in 1996, in the centenary year of the VFL/AFL. As a tribute, the 8 original teams of the VFL played each other in Round 7, 100 years after Round 1 in the inaugural season. Essendon defeated Geelong at the MCG, while Carlton defeated Fitzroy, Collingwood lost to St Kilda, and Melbourne lost to Sydney. The remaining eight clubs played in their normal jumpers, as they came into the VFL/AFL at different times, not 1897.

Heritage Round Over The Years[]

2003 – The First Heritage Round[]

Port Adelaide's 2003 'AFL Heritage Round' guernsey on display at Alberton Oval.

The first Heritage Round in 2003 saw heritage guernseys worn by all teams except two. The Adelaide and West Coast Football Clubs (who played each other during the round) both had a short history had always used a variant of their original jumper throughout their existence. It was seen in a very positive and nostalgic light, especially as Brisbane wore the 1968 to 1973 Fitzroy Lions guernsey which was Maroon and Navy Blue and worn during the days of Black and White TV. Sydney wore their 1933 to 1986 South Melbourne/Sydney Swans guernsey. St. Kilda's guernsey got such a positive reaction that it became their Clash Guernsey from 2004 until 2006. Port Adelaide wore its SANFL Magpies "Prison Bar" guernsey from 1914 when the club was made Champions of Australia.

2004 – Adelaide and West Coast and the Umpires Join In[]

The second Heritage Round in 2004 saw all sixteen teams wear a heritage guernsey. It was also the first year which the Field and Goal Umpires wore uniforms from the past as well. All the umpires wore White uniforms (the traditional colour the umpires wore before changing to coloured uniforms) and the Goal Umpires wore their traditional long coats and White brimmed hats.

Brisbane chose to wear the Brisbane Bears guernsey worn from 1992 until 1996, West Coast wore an original 1987 guernsey and Adelaide wore a manufactured guernsey based on a 1991 original with the SANFL logo on the back and AFC monogram on the front. Port Adelaide wore a Magenta and Blue guernsey based on their original guernsey from to , prior to its famous black and White "Prison Bar" guernsey. West Coast wore a replica of their 1987 Gold and Blue guernsey.

2005 – Complacent or Outlandish[]

The third Heritage Round in 2005 was becoming complacent or outlandish and it was starting to become clear that the current concept of heritage round had either become stale or made clubs make outlandish choices. The Field Umpires wore replica uniforms from an old fashioned period (with colours brought back) that were unpractical in modern day.

The Saints wore a guernsey worn during the First World War in which White was replaced with Gold so they were not to be seen as a supporter of Germany. Hawthorn's guernsey was not Brown and Gold, but Red, White, and Blue from its 1902 guernsey worn when they were a part of the VFA. The Adelaide Football club wore a 1930s South Australia state guernsey with an AFC insignia replacing SA, where Port Adelaide Football Club wore a White guernsey with Light Blue hoops based on their first guernsey in the SANFL.

With the focus of heritage round starting to turn into a gimmick the AFL knew they had so do something to re-invigorate the interest. The result came in the following year.

2006 – The Electrifying Eighties[]

The fourth Heritage Round in 2006 was themed around football in the 1980s. This achieved very heavy media coverage with both The Footy Show and Before the Game taking on 1980s themes and both dressing up in clothes from the 1980s. The AFL even release a compilation CD of songs recorded during the 1980s.

Brisbane wore the 1987 to 1990 Brisbane Bears clash guernsey, a variant of its original Brisbane Bears guernsey (which was always criticised during its existence up until 1992, especially when its Gold and Maroon colours were changed to Gold and Cerise). Adelaide, who were non-existent in the 1980s, wore a modified home guernsey, including an AFC monogrammed crest featuring all the colours of all the teams in the SANFL from the 1980s. Melbourne wore a guernsey with Red and Royal Blue instead of its Red and Navy Blue it used prior to 1974 with the introduction of colour TV. Richmond wore Yellow Shorts from the 1980s with their 1980s Guernsey with printed laces. Essendon wore Red shorts as they did in the 1980s when they played Carlton in the battle for the Wooden Spoon. (The two clubs were clearly the worst performers in the league that year and the match ended in a draw. Carlton coach Denis Pagan famously described it as feeling like "Dancing with your Sister"). West Coast wore a replica of their 1988 to 1994 Blue and Gold guernsey

The AFL prevented Port Adelaide from wearing their 1980s SANFL guernsey.^[3]

2007 – Living In The Seventies[]

Sydney and Fremantle donned heritage guernseys in round 14, 2007, as part of Heritage Round

The fifth Heritage Round in 2007 was based on Football in the 1970s. It took place in July from the 7th to the 9th. Once again it generated media coverage both in News broadcasts and both The Footy Show and Before the Game holding 1970s themed shows.

As West Coast were not established in the 1970s they chose to wear the original WA State of Origin guernsey from the first State of Origin game played against Victoria. They lost to Brisbane who wore the Red and Blue Fitzroy Guernsey worn 1975 to 1996. Adelaide wore the same guernsey as what was worn in the 2006 Heritage Round in its defeat against Hawthorn. Port Adelaide's application to the AFL for its 1970s Black and White "Prison Bar" was rejected at first but an agreement was later reached with Collingwood and the AFL for Port to wear the guernsey this year but with conditions for further heritage rounds. They lost to the Bulldogs who wore an original Footscray guernsey with Red shorts. As Essendon and Richmond were both still wearing guernseys with no major change from what was worn in the 1970s, Essendon once again wore Red shorts and Richmond wore Yellow shorts in both of their games.

Two Teams that did not wear a heritage guernsey were St. Kilda, who instead wore their White clash guernsey, and Collingwood.

Other teams to not wear a heritage guernsey due to extreme similarities to current day versions included Geelong, Carlton (whose "CFC" insignia was the current version and not of the one worn from 1933 to 1997), and North Melbourne.

Fremantle had to wear an original East Fremantle guernsey as one of the past guernseys clashed with the old South Melbourne/Sydney jumper, as they were playing the Sydney Swans that round; resulting in the teams taking the field in uniforms almost identical to those of the 1979 WAFL Grand Final- the Fremantle Derby Grand Final between East Fremantle and South Fremantle.

2008 – The Sesquicentenary of Australian Rules Football[]

The sixth Heritage Round in 2008 was called the Tom Wills round but only Melbourne and Geelong wore a heritage guernsey.

Hawthorn played Brisbane in Launceston, Tasmania, Brisbane wore their Fitzroy inspired strip as an away guernsey in Victoria.

Richmond celebrated their 100th year of league football by wearing a striped guernsey from their early years.

2009 – No Heritage Round, only the Tom Wills Round[]

The seventh Heritage Round in 2009 did not take place, but The Brisbane Lions continued to wear their Fitzroy Lions-based red and Blue away guernsey.

The Sydney Swans chose to wear their guernsey from their first premiership to celebrate 100 year since winning it in 1909 against the Carlton Blues in Round 16 at Etihad Stadium.

Heritage Guernsey List From 2003 To 2008[]

2003 Heritage Round - Various Choices[]

Port Adelaide 1914 heritage

Adelaide Crows - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Brisbane Lions - 1968 to 1973 Fitzroy Lions Guernsey
Carlton Blues - 1897 Guernsey with 1910 Carlton Football Club Logo
Collingwood Magpies - 1928 to 1952 Guernsey?
Essendon Bombers - 1897 to 1974 Guernsey
Footscray/Western Bulldogs - 1935 Guernsey
Fremantle Dockers - to Fremantle (WAFL) Guernsey
Geelong Cats - 1897 to 1907 Guernsey
Hawthorn Hawks - 1926 to 1932 Guernsey
Melbourne Demons - 1897 to 1915 Guernsey
North Melbourne Kangaroos - 1925 to 1928 Guernsey
Port Adelaide Power - to Port Adelaide (SANFL) Guernsey
Richmond Tigers - 1908 to 1909 Guernsey
St Kilda Saints - to Guernsey
Sydney Swans - 1933 to 1976 South Melbourne Swans Guernsey
West Coast Eagles - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey

2004 Heritage Round - Various Choices[]

Adelaide Crows - Manufactured Guernsey with Adelaide Football Club Logo
Brisbane Lions - 1992 to 1996 Brisbane Bears Guernsey
Carlton Blues - 1897 Guernsey with 1910 Carlton Football Club Logo
Collingwood Magpies - 1923 to 1952 Guernsey
Essendon Bombers - 1897 to 1974 Guernsey
Footscray/Western Bulldogs - 1946 and 1952 to 1960 Guernsey
Fremantle Dockers - to Fremantle (WAFL) Guernsey
Geelong Cats - 1897 to 1907 Guernsey
Hawthorn Hawks - 1926 to 1932 Guernsey
Melbourne Demons - 1897 Guernsey combined with 1919 Guernsey
North Melbourne Kangaroos - to Guernsey
Port Adelaide Power - to Port Adelaide (SANFL) Guernsey
Richmond Tigers - to Guernsey
St Kilda Saints - 1933 to 1944 Guernsey
Sydney Swans - 1933 to 1976 South Melbourne Swans Guernsey
West Coast Eagles - 1987 to 1988 Gold Guernsey worn from Round 01, 1987 to Round 16, 1988

2005 Heritage Round - Various Choices[]

St. Kilda 1915 heritage

Adelaide Crows - 1930 South Australia State Guernsey with Adelaide Football Club Logo
Brisbane Lions - 1968 to 1973 Fitzroy Lions Guernsey
Carlton Blues - 1933 to 1997 Guernsey with 1998 to 2014 Carlton Football Club Logo
Collingwood Magpies - 1923 to Guernsey
Essendon Bombers - 1897 to 1974 Guernsey
Footscray/Western Bulldogs - 1946 and 1952 to 1960 Guernsey
Fremantle Dockers - to Fremantle (WAFL) Guernsey
Geelong Cats - 1914 to 1918 Guernsey
Hawthorn Hawks - 1902 Guernsey
Melbourne Demons - 1897 Guernsey combined with 1919 Guernsey
North Melbourne Kangaroos - 1925 to 1928 Guernsey with North story logo
Port Adelaide Power - to Light Blue and White Port Adelaide (SANFL) Guernsey
Richmond Tigers - 1980 to 1986 Guernsey
St Kilda Saints - 1915 to 1918 Guernsey
Sydney Swans - 1933 to 1976 South Melbourne Swans Guernsey
West Coast Eagles - 1987 to 1988 Gold Guernsey worn from Round 01, 1987 to Round 16, 1988

2006 Heritage Round - The 1980s[]

Brisbane Bears 1987 heritage

Adelaide Crows - Manufactured Guernsey with Adelaide Football Club Logo and stripes of the SANFL Clubs
Brisbane Lions - 1987 to 1990 Brisbane Bears Clash Guernsey
Carlton Blues - to 1997 Guernsey with 1998 to 2014 Carlton Football Club Logo
Collingwood Magpies - 1981 Guernsey
Essendon Bombers - 1975 to present Guernsey with Red Shorts
Footscray/Western Bulldogs - 1980 to 1996 Guernsey
Fremantle Dockers - to Fremantle (WAFL) Guernsey
Geelong Cats - 1981 - 1993 Guernsey
Hawthorn Hawks - 1980 to 1989 Guernsey
Melbourne Demons - 1975 to 1989 Guernsey
North Melbourne Kangaroos - 1987 to 1995 Guernsey
Port Adelaide Power - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Richmond Tigers - 1981 to 1986 Guernsey with Yellow Shorts
St Kilda Saints - 1986 to 1996 Guernsey
Sydney Swans - 1933 to 1976 South Melbourne Swans Guernsey
West Coast Eagles - 1988 to 1994 Royal Blue Guernsey worn from Round 17, 1988 to Grand Final 1994

2007 Heritage Round - The 1970s[]

Fremantle 1970s heritage

Sydney heritage

Adelaide Crows - Manufactured Guernsey with Adelaide Football Club Logo and stripes of the SANFL Clubs
Brisbane Lions - 1975 to 1996 Fitzroy Lions Guernsey
Carlton Blues - 1933 to 1997 Guernsey with 1998 to 2014 Carlton Football Club Logo
Collingwood Magpies - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Essendon Bombers - 1975 to present Guernsey with Red Shorts
Footscray/Western Bulldogs - 1975 to 1979 Guernsey
Fremantle Dockers - to East Fremantle Guernsey
Geelong Cats - 1976 to 1977 Guernsey
Hawthorn Hawks - 1978 to 1990 Guernsey
Melbourne Demons - 1975 to 1989 Guernsey
North Melbourne Kangaroos - 1975 Guernsey
Port Adelaide Power - 1977 SANFL Centenary Guernsey
Richmond Tigers - 1975 to 1980 Guernsey with Yellow Shorts
St Kilda Saints - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Sydney Swans - 1933 to 1976 South Melbourne Swans Guernsey
West Coast Eagles - Western Australia State/State Of Origin Guernsey

2008 Heritage Round - The Sesquicentenary[]

Adelaide Crows - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Brisbane Lions - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Carlton Blues - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Collingwood Magpies - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Essendon Bombers - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Footscray/Western Bulldogs - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Fremantle Dockers - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Geelong Cats - 1897 to 1907 Guernsey
Hawthorn Hawks - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Melbourne Demons - 1897 to 1915 Guernsey
North Melbourne Kangaroos - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Port Adelaide Power - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Richmond Tigers - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
St Kilda Saints - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
Sydney Swans - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey
West Coast Eagles - Did Not Wear A Heritage Guernsey

Criticism[]

Port Adelaide VS Collingwood[]

An ongoing battle between both the Port Adelaide and Collingwood football clubs is over Port Adelaide wearing the colours Black and White. Port Adelaide was established in the SANFL and, like Collingwood, were known as the Magpies and wore Black and White. As Port Adelaide won a licence to enter the AFL in 1996 they had to agree not to overshadow the branding of the Collingwood football club by using the name "Magpies" and using only the colours Black and White.

An agreement was finally reached between the two clubs which lets Port Adelaide wear the "Prison Bar" in 2007 as a one off, and for Port Adelaide to be able to wear the "Prison Bar" in future Heritage Rounds at AAMI Stadium so long as it is not against Collingwood.

See also[]

• NRL Heritage Round

References[]

External links[]

• Footy Jumpers, website covering the history of AFL/VFL jumpers