Guernsey (Australian rules football)

Australian rules footballers wearing guernseys

A guernsey (also called a jumper) is a type of shirt worn by Australian rules footballers. It is typically sleeveless, although long sleeves may also be worn.[1][2]

The typical guernsey features the player's number on the back, the colours of the player's team, and the team logo. Sponsor logos may also appear on the guernsey. Unlike sports such as soccer and American football, the surnames of Australian rules footballers do not appear on their shirts (with the exception of International Rules football, which is a hybrid code). Australian rules football is unique in referring to the player's shirt as a "guernsey", with most other sports referring to their respective uniforms as a "jersey".[3][4] As an extension of this tradition, the expression "to get a guernsey"[5] is a metaphor for being selected for something or gaining recognition for an achievement.

  1. ^ "Guernsey". Meanings and Origins of Australian Words and Idioms. Australian National Dictionary Centre. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  2. ^ AFL heritage critics slammed by Worsfold
  3. ^ Jackson, Glenn; "Pride in the Rabbitohs jersey - and dollars, too", Sydney Morning Herald, 20 December 2006, accessed 9 January 2007
  4. ^ "History of the ARU" [1] Archived 24 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine accessed 9 January 2007
  5. ^ Miller, Nick; "Technology gets a guernsey", Sydney Morning Herald, 21 November 2006, accessed 9 January 2007