Cornes: Significant push for AFL players to drop club attire

Could we see AFL players turning up to games in casual clothes?

SEN’s Kane Cornes believes there has been a push from within the industry for players to express their personalities by ridding themselves of club attire.

It’s a similar view to how NBA and NFL players rock up to their matches.

But will the sponsors like it? Cornes explained the situation on Monday morning.

“There is a significant push from the industry for players to turn up to games in casual attire,” Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball.

“We see the big deal that the NBA players’ arrivals are and the different kits. We see it in the NFL where you can express your personality as a player by what you arrive in on game day.

“This is a significant hurdle for the clubs to overcome. There are a certain amount of times that these sponsors need to be seen.

“But I’m just telling you there has been a significant push - and don’t be surprised to see it in Opening Round - where Collingwood and St Kilda players turn up wearing whatever they like.

“The industry (is pushing for this). I think the players are very much open to it.”

“We saw it in AFLX where the players turned up and expressed themselves. Alex Rance was on a skateboard.”

Cornes says broadcasters would love the buzz surrounding this idea.

“Broadcasters and the industry are looking for value,” he added.

“To be able to have something else when the players arrive in the tunnel, ‘Look, Patrick Cripps is wearing this’, and then it explodes on social media.

“As long as they don’t take it to the extreme, I just want the players to turn up in comfortable gear and be able to express themselves.”

Co-host David King is more of a traditionalist.

“If you do something pre-game it’s just another avenue for players to make money,” King said.

“The club uniform is nice and standard. Let’s be honest, it’s another avenue for sponsorship.

“When is enough enough? Why don’t we just become America? That’s the criticism, it’s obvious.

“Why do we have to follow everything they do?”