Main/Home jumpers (AFL)
Adelaide’s original AFL jumper design has stood the test of time since it was created in a rush in late 1990.
But even if the navy blue, red and gold hooped main jumper is counted as one style, it has been through a series of changes in the past three decades. There have been different collars, number size and font, fabric, sponsors, manufacturer template, fit, and the shape and width of the horizontal red, gold and blue stripes and hoops.
In the early years, numbers and badges were sewn on to the jumpers, made of wool? neas
Adelaide wore the guernsey with navy blue or white shorts in every premiership game or final for the first eight seasons. Even after a new away/clash jumper was first used by the Crows in 1999, the main guernsey remained the Club’s preferred choice for as many games as possible.
Only occasional special event guernseys have replaced the main jumper in home games.
1991-94
Created in the Adelaide Football Club’s first few weeks, the AFL jumper was launched in November 1990 at the same time as the name and logo. A range of colour combinations was considered by the Club’s interim board but it was eventually agreed to finalise a design using the State colours of navy blue, red and gold. Simon Tregenza was the player chosen to model the oufit at the launch. Numbers and badges were sewn on to the jumpers.
Andrew Jarman asked to wear a long-sleeved guernsey with a collar and this was hurriedly made in time for the first season. The AFC has a set of framed jumpers of the first 20 players to represent the Crows.
Adelaide Crows Andrew Jarman, Tony McGuinness, Scott Lee, Bruce Lindner, Bruce Lindsay (at back), Darren Smith and Romano Negri in the rooms after winning a 1991 match. Crows Graham Cornes talks to the players during the 1993 round five match against Melbourne.
1995
The AFL and Camry (Toyoto) logos were on the front blue panel from the start but there was no sponsor name on the back until 1995, one season after the AFL allowed clubs to have a sponsor below the numbers.
1996
The gold numbers were first outlined in white for the 1996 season, when the AFL celebrated its centenary.
1997
Adidas had its name first appear on the front of the jumper in 1997, when Adelaide won its first AFL premiership. The Crows wore white shorts in the grand final.
1998-99
The Adidas logo changed on the front and the Toyota logo was added next to the word Toyota on the back. Adelaide once again wore white shorts in the AFL grand final.
2000
A new AFL logo was the main change on the home jumper in 2000, although it was the first season for the polyester version.
2001
Fila took over as the new apparel supplier in 2001 with both the home and clash jumpers featuring a new neckline and shiny look. The Crows wore their main guernsey, with white shorts, in the elimination final against Carlton at the MCG.
2002
The main jumper was worn in all three finals.
2003
The arrival of Russell Athletic led to another change of neckline style in 2003.
2004
There was another collar change in 2004 with the Russell Athletic logo moving to below the collar block.
2005
A slight change to the front Toyota badge differentiates the 2005 jumper from the previous season.
2006
Adidas returned to partner the Crows in 2006 and there were some major changes to the jumpers. Blue side panels were added to the home jumper, splitting the lower hoops, and the gold sleeve cuff was also removed.
2007
The Club pushed to wear the main guernsey in more interstate matches and this was allowed in three games in 2007. This was the first year the AFL logo appeared on the bottom of each number.
2008
2009
A gold bib was added at the collar of the home guernsey, gold sleeve cuffs returned, the top red stripe on the back (below the number) was replaced by a thin, red curved line, and the side panel blue was not as prominent from the front.
2010
Reebok was the new supplier, leading to another change of guernsey template. The red band returned to the back of the main guernsey below the number and sponsor badge.
2011
2012
The Toyota name was red on the sponsor spots, front and back, on both home and away jumpers, and for the first time was not on a white badge.
2013
Puma was the new supplier in 2013, with a new template. It was the first season with the Crows logo watermarked across the jumper.
2014
There was a slight change to the collar, with the Puma logo dropping below the front of the collar.
2015
BLK took over as the supplier for the 2015 season. To recognise the Club’s 25th season there was a logo above the numbers. After the death of senior coach Phil Walsh in July 2015, the initials PW were added to the back of the collar in his memory.
2016
The full hoops returned as Adelaide refreshed its set of jumpers. For the first time since 2005, the bands at the bottom continued around the main jumper.
2017
Another change of supplier (to ISC) and another different collar template, with gold added to the shoulders of the home jumper and the front of the collar being navy blue. Toyota had the option to use two different sponsorship badges on the back of the main guernsey, opting for the Toyota logo and C-HR. Adelaide wore its main jumper, with blue shorts, in all three finals.
2018
Another change of collar, with the gold trim continuing around the front. The main guernsey was worn in only one interstate game, against Sydney.
2019
For the first time since a sponsor name appeared on the back of the jumpers in 1995, major partner Toyota allowed the Crows to offer the position to another sponsor, Optus. Adelaide wore its main jumper in three interstate games against Sydney, Geelong and West Coast.
2020
The Crows logo above the number was replaced with a sponsor logo when the competition resumed from the COVID break for round two.
2021
A new apparel deal with O’Neills started for the 2021 season. The names of the 238 Crows AFL players of the first 30 seasons were embedded on the guernsey and the white outline on the numbers was removed on the main guernsey for the first time since 1995. There were no Crows logo watermarks.