“It’s horrible and it’s a terrible misread”: Crows slammed for “shameless” cash grab with new jumper
Andy Maher has criticised the Adelaide Crows’ decision to wear a special jersey for their Thursday night clash in Gather Round.
The Crows unveiled the new strip earlier this week after winning the rights to host their Round 5 clash against Carlton. Adelaide was fortunate to win the coin toss that gave them hosting rights, having designed a blue jumper that would have been a clash with Carlton’s home kit.
Adelaide says the new jersey is a nod to their heritage logo, with a yellow and red outlined Crow featuring heavily on the front. But Maher called out the initiative, describing it as a “shameless” cash grab.
“The Adelaide jumper that they’re wearing as part of Gather Round… some nod to their heritage… it is nothing more than a shameless pitch to get money in the bank by making people buy another footy jumper,” he told SEN’s The Run Home.
The adult jersey is available for pre-order on Adelaide’s website for $125, while the junior size can be immediately purchased for $110.
The club has stated the jumper will only be worn for the Gather Round matchup. Maher believes the Crows have done themselves a disservice by failing to best represent the club with all eyes of the footy world on Adelaide this week.
“Particularly in a game like this. This is an important game, this is one of the great showcases, people are coming to your town for your Gather Round, you are kicking it off, you’re in good nick, it’s at your 50,000 seat stadium that’s sold out and you’re going to run out in a jumper that looks nothing like your traditional jumper, which by the way, is a magnificent jumper,” he continued.
“It’s horrible and it’s a terrible misread. Just wear your proper jumper… I think you want to honour the moment by representing your club wearing its traditional jumper.”
Adelaide CEO Tim Silvers earlier this week advocated for the jumper as “instantly recognisable”.
“This week is about celebrating everything that makes our game so great, it will be a round of footy like never before and we thought it was fitting to celebrate that with a special guernsey,” Silvers said in a club statement.
“The design has been adapted from a traditional version of the Club’s logo, which we know is very popular among our supporters.
“We also see it as a nod to our past with a contemporary and modern look that is instantly recognisable as representing the Crows.”
Adelaide is the first city to host Gather Round, a concept the AFL has stated it's keen to continue. However, the hosts for next year are yet to be locked in.
Image: Adelaide FC