AFL 2021: Collingwood vs Essendon jumper clash, Anzac Day game, black guernseys, dumb, amateurish, news

The AFL has been lashed for a “dumb” decision to allow a blatant jumper clash in the biggest home and away game of the year between Collingwood and Essendon.

In front of the biggest crowd since the COVID-19 pandemic began, both clubs wore a primarily black guernsey, making it difficult for players and fans to distinguish between the two sides at a glance.

Making matters worse, the league was warned about the issue during the week, yet AFL footy operations boss Steve Hocking said he was “very comfortable” with the situation.

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Teams usually wear guernseys that are clearly different colours so there is no problem identifying which team a player plays for.

With Collingwood wearing primarily black with less-bold-than-usual white stripes, and Essendon wearing primarily black with a red sash and white shorts, there were complaints aplenty, particularly when looking at the players’ backs.

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“The wide shots are where it’s really difficult to work out who’s who,” Saints great Nick Riewoldt said on Fox Footy.

“To be honest, it takes me a second to figure out who’s actually got the ball, as in which team has got the ball, only after they’ve possessed the footy.

“Forearmed is forewarned, boys, we warned them about this on Monday On The Couch and no-one listened.”

Melbourne champion Garry Lyon didn’t hold back.

“You’ve got the biggest home and away game of the year, and you’ve put two teams out there in black jumpers,” he said.

“It is dumb. It makes us look amateurish, that’s the bottom line. How it happens is beyond me.”

Collingwood typically wears a primarily white guernsey on Anzac Day to avoid this sort of problem.

Victorian clubs like them, Essendon, Carlton and Richmond frequently don’t wear dedicated clash guernseys when facing one another.