SEN host Dwayne Russell has called for the AFL to introduce player names onto the back of guernseys.
The AFL trialled surnames on kits in Round 5, 2014, but opted against making it permanent at the time due to practical limitations.
The league suggested at the time that names wouldn’t be added due to the unique cut of guernseys, which they said restricted the size of lettering that could be used.
They argued that those restrictions would limit the legibility of the player names for fans at the ground and those watching on TV.
While the AFL has its arguments against adding names onto guernseys, Russell doesn’t believe that holds up as most other sports around the world manage to work surnames onto their uniforms.
Russell feels that it would help fans who are new to the sport recognise and familiarise themselves with individual players more easily.
“I've been on this for a long time,” Russell said on SEN Afternoons.
“If you watch overseas sport or if you watch the Matildas for the first time ever, you don't know who everybody is.
“But if the names are on the back of the jumpers, the jerseys, the singlets - if it's NBA, you know who everybody is.
“The AFL is so far behind every other sport in the aspect of letting those who are new to the sport know who everybody is. It's ridiculous.
“I think names on the back of shirts would be a good idea. Maybe they don't want to do that because you have to buy a Record to find out who's who by looking at the number.
“And if you can't buy a Record, well, you can't find out.
“We’ve got to get names on the back for people that are new to the sport.”
The AFL never closed the door entirely on the concept after trialling it a decade ago.
