Australian rules football is one of the nation's favourite pastimes. It is a game steeped in and sustained by its tradition, beloved for its singularity as much as its spectacle.
However, this has rarely hindered those in charge of the country's most-watched code from attempting to edit its foundations. History is littered with ill-fated, albeit well-intentioned experiments, undertaken for a variety of reasons. Some were executed in an effort to broaden the game's appeal to the dormant masses, particularly in the northern frontier; some were an attempt to level the playing field, while others were in aid of globalising this uniquely Australian sport.
We're counting down 10 of these AFL experiments, and casting a verdict on their respective efficacies.
Names on guernseys
Where were you between Thursday, April 17th and Monday, April 21st, 2014?
I'll tell you where I was.
I was witnessing the wide-eyed disbelief of my traditionalist father as, in an affront to all things he held dear, the AFL trialled players' names on the backs of guernseys.
Thankfully, the idea went the way of the dodo after just a week, and despite numerous requests, particularly from clubs in 'emerging markets', to try again, the AFL has held firm on its stance.
Verdict: 1/10. We're not American.
