Jumper

[AnnieH]

leave it the way it is.
Love it and the opera house.

[BigD]

leave it the way it is.
Love it and the opera house.

Absolutely, don't change it. Besides it's the gurnsey we wore to the 2005 premiership.

[Lucky Knickers]

The Sydney Swans jumper is absolutely iconic, instantly recognisable, unique and incredibly clever to incorporate the city, our mascot and a globally recognisable landmark. The design was a stroke of genius. There'd be very few teams in the world that could match it.

[Big Al]

The Sydney Swans jumper is absolutely iconic, instantly recognisable, unique and incredibly clever to incorporate the city, our mascot and a globally recognisable landmark. The design was a stroke of genius. There'd be very few teams in the world that could match it.

+1 Leave the jumper as it is.

[BSA5]

The Sydney Swans jumper is absolutely iconic, instantly recognisable, unique and incredibly clever to incorporate the city, our mascot and a globally recognisable landmark. The design was a stroke of genius. There'd be very few teams in the world that could match it.

Agree with that. However, if a little wedge of white was added just below the collar, we'd have all of that which you've just mentioned, plus a nod to the good old red V. We could keep the red back (I agree with the sentiments expressed earlier, a predominantly white strip is a bit lame for a home strip), but have a red V. The V could maybe do with being a touch sharper as well, but that's getting pedantic.

EDIT: I took the liberty of designing something based on a combo of the current home and clash guernseys along these lines, with a few tweaks as well.



It's a bit rough and ready, but you get the idea. I reckon we should move to a slightly darker red like I've got here, a bit more blood-like.

[swansrob]

That's actually not too bad BSA5.

[CureTheSane]

Why not vertical stripes then?
The only reason the red V is so revered is because it was the jumper being worn at the time of the relocation.
To me it's just moving backwards.
I'd rather move forward.
They're the Sydney Swans, and have been for over 20 years.

[AnnieH]

I took the liberty of designing something based on a combo of the current home and clash guernseys along these lines, with a few tweaks as well.



It's a bit rough and ready, but you get the idea. I reckon we should move to a slightly darker red like I've got here, a bit more blood-like.

Love it.
Off to China with the pattern ... quick.

[Trickster]

It's a bit rough and ready, but you get the idea. I reckon we should move to a slightly darker red like I've got here, a bit more blood-like.

I like it, also the darker red helps to distinguish from the cheesy Gold Coast red

[goswannie14]

Why not vertical stripes then?
The only reason the red V is so revered is because it was the jumper being worn at the time of the relocation.
To me it's just moving backwards.
I'd rather move forward.
They're the Sydney Swans, and have been for over 20 years.

Vertical stripes is waaaaaay back, 1905 and 1906. Although there was a pre-season version of the "opera house" design and vertical stripes in 1997 and 1998. All the past jumpers are available here.

[BSA5]

Why not vertical stripes then?
The only reason the red V is so revered is because it was the jumper being worn at the time of the relocation.
To me it's just moving backwards.
I'd rather move forward.
They're the Sydney Swans, and have been for over 20 years.

The Red V is so revered because it's the design the club has used for the longest period of time, and is also where the current guernsey took its inspiration. Now, very few people would suggest that we go back to the old South Red V in all its glory, and I'm certainly not one of them. I like the strip, but I agree, it would be moving backwards. However, a design based primarily on the current Sydney strip, but with a little tweak that hints at the old South Melbourne days, would not be moving backwards at all. If anything, I'd see it as a necessary step forward in rebuilding and consolidating the identity of a club which is stretched across two states, at times in the past seemingly at breaking point.

In my opinion, the Sydney Swans have established their identity as a Sydney club, and can now look back at the South Melbourne days without defensiveness, without shame, without blushing, but with pride that what was once a great Victorian club is now a great NSW club, pioneer of Australian Rules football in the most hostile of hostile territories, that has faced up to numerous challenges and always come through in the end, with a fanbase that stretches right across Australia (apparently we've got a higher percentage than normal of fans in Perth, the descendants of converts from the WA raiding days perhaps?). Tipping the hat to the old Red V, without bowing to it, will be a perfect way of showing that as a club, we're comfortable with where we are at.

[bandwagon]

I like this ..

Home games: Current jumper with SMFC on back
Away games: South Melb. Jumper with SFC on back.

But can someone tell me is it a guernsey, jersey, or jumper?

[goswannie14]

But can someone tell me is it a guernsey, jersey, or jumper?

Either jumper or guernsey. Definitely not a jersey.

[CureTheSane]

The Red V is so revered because it's the design the club has used for the longest period of time, and is also where the current guernsey took its inspiration. Now, very few people would suggest that we go back to the old South Red V in all its glory, and I'm certainly not one of them. I like the strip, but I agree, it would be moving backwards. However, a design based primarily on the current Sydney strip, but with a little tweak that hints at the old South Melbourne days, would not be moving backwards at all. If anything, I'd see it as a necessary step forward in rebuilding and consolidating the identity of a club which is stretched across two states, at times in the past seemingly at breaking point.

In my opinion, the Sydney Swans have established their identity as a Sydney club, and can now look back at the South Melbourne days without defensiveness, without shame, without blushing, but with pride that what was once a great Victorian club is now a great NSW club, pioneer of Australian Rules football in the most hostile of hostile territories, that has faced up to numerous challenges and always come through in the end, with a fanbase that stretches right across Australia (apparently we've got a higher percentage than normal of fans in Perth, the descendants of converts from the WA raiding days perhaps?). Tipping the hat to the old Red V, without bowing to it, will be a perfect way of showing that as a club, we're comfortable with where we are at.

Problem is, the Swans are losing all connections with Melbourne.
I'd suggest that before they look at changing the jumper for some lame ass "we recognise our history" line, that they actually start to look after what fans remain in Melbourne.
I don't see them sticking up for Melbourne supporters when they TV rights are negotiated (& FTA games into Melbourne this year - and most of them were actually PLAYED IN MELBOURNE anyway)

This is why I hate the "bloods" line Kirk sprouted when we won the flag.
It's kind of irrelevant.
There are no bloods anymore. And those closest to recognising what that comment means are dwindling fast.
As I've said before, the ones who will hurt the most are the kids.
My kids who suppoort the Swans but rarely see them play, and therefore have little interest.
Most Swans supporters will pass that tradition down to their kids, but their kids have little access to the team they support and end up being less than half hearted supporters.
When they have kids, they really won't give a damn who they support, and so it pretty much ends down here in Melbourne.
In 10 - 20 years I predict that the number of Melbourne based Swans supporters will halve.

So why would the club look to perpetuating a dying tradition? (the red V)

They may as well just move on and be their own 'current' club and Melbourne will become more and more distant history.

[Melbournehammer]

Problem is, the Swans are losing all connections with Melbourne.
I'd suggest that before they look at changing the jumper for some lame ass "we recognise our history" line, that they actually start to look after what fans remain in Melbourne.
I don't see them sticking up for Melbourne supporters when they TV rights are negotiated (& FTA games into Melbourne this year - and most of them were actually PLAYED IN MELBOURNE anyway)

This is why I hate the "bloods" line Kirk sprouted when we won the flag.
It's kind of irrelevant.
There are no bloods anymore. And those closest to recognising what that comment means are dwindling fast.
As I've said before, the ones who will hurt the most are the kids.
My kids who suppoort the Swans but rarely see them play, and therefore have little interest.
Most Swans supporters will pass that tradition down to their kids, but their kids have little access to the team they support and end up being less than half hearted supporters.
When they have kids, they really won't give a damn who they support, and so it pretty much ends down here in Melbourne.
In 10 - 20 years I predict that the number of Melbourne based Swans supporters will halve.

So why would the club look to perpetuating a dying tradition? (the red V)

They may as well just move on and be their own 'current' club and Melbourne will become more and more distant history.

fwiw I disagree with this.

The sydney to melbourne interstate mobility for many people is large enough that if they support the swans they will keep the swans down here. So there will always be a large enough group of expats who will keep the swans flying in melb.

And i reckno the swans attendances for melb games are pretty well at least what they were in 1996/97/98 (i remember a game at the mcg in 97 where plugger got suspended where i reckon there were two swans for every dee supporter in the ground) and that has been as good as we've had in my memory.