‘Atrocious viewing’: Fans roast Carlton vs Collingwood clash at the MCG
A persistent issue, which the AFL apparently has no issue in addressing, was back in Collingwood’s comfortable win over Carlton.
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Collingwood’s 17-point victory over Carlton at the MCG once again stirred up a persistent issue that has enraged fans for years.
The winless Blues’ miserable start to 2025 continued, holding yet another halftime lead before being run over after the main break en route to an 8.15 (63) to 6.10 (46) defeat in front of 82,058 fans.
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While Carlton coach Michael Voss is under a mountain of pressure, fans quickly pointed out another ongoing problem whenever these teams face off – the clash of their respective jumpers.
Carlton’s navy blue looks confusingly similar to Collingwood’s black jumper, particularly on a wide TV angle and when looking at the back of the players.
The issue has been around for years, with former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire declaring back in 2018 he was going to commission a new Pies strip “to avoid the clash”.
Check out an example of the clash in the video player above
Many readers will know that is the same McGuire who has fought doggedly over Collingwood’s famous old guernsey, including an ongoing stoush with Port Adelaide over the use of “prison bars”, but we digress.
Two years ago in the corresponding match a Reddit user posted: “This is the most predictable clash every year and nothing ever gets done about it. Wear a clash guernsey Carlton.”
Home team preferences and traditional strips often win the day in the AFL, with Carlton games against Collingwood dating way back to the first held in 1892.
While the Blues are wearing white shorts to Collingwood’s black on Thursday night, many fans are struggling to tell the teams apart, judging by a flood of comments on social media during the game.
Sports broadcaster Daniel Garb wrote on X: “How on earth isn’t a clash guernsey being worn?! Not great on TV. Reckon the players can’t tell each other apart half the time.”
ABC boundary rider Tim Hodges described the jumper clash as “ridiculous” and suggested one of the teams should have had coloured numbers on the back of the guernseys instead of both Carlton and Collingwood having white numbers.
Richmond supporter Daniel Diviak posted: “Is it just me or do these two clubs guernseys clash so bad?”
No Daniel, it’s clearly not just you.
Jack Plant tweeted: “Horrible visual product for the game. Why are Collingwood and Carlton exempt from wearing clash jumpers against each other? For the love of god can someone please outline the AFL’s clash jumper policy for me.”
An account called Chuck Ledgend wrote: “Biggest jumper clash ever.”
Another asked: “Serious question, why do neither of these teams ever feel the need to wear their clash jumper? Atrocious viewing.”
One fan said: “Jumper clash from the back or a wide shot is terrible. How can they get away without using a clash jumper? The AFL needs to be stronger. This is horrific for the TV audience.”
Another wrote cheekily: “Jumper clashes don’t exist when “big” clubs play each other.”
An angry fan offered: “Forgot about the stupid jumper clash they wear every f**king game.”
The Falcon footy podcast wheeled out a reference to an infamous online debate that erupted back in 2015 over the colour of a woman’s dress.
Just about everyone seemed to have an opinion on whether the dress was blue and gold or white and gold.
Trying to tell these guernseys apart like... #AFLPiesBluespic.twitter.com/fZNF4wjETe
— The Falcon: A Footy Podcast (@falconfootypod) April 3, 2025
X user Jonathon Momsen, who was also watching the action at the MCG, doubled down on his feelings.
Momsen initially tweeted about AFL jumpers when he replied to a post on the Sydney Swans’ all-white strip to be used in Gather Round, writing: “More AFL clubs need actual away strips.
“Like cool, you’re wearing different shorts but it’s still black v black or black v dark grey or black v dark blue.
“Hard to track and follow even on TV sometimes but impossible from the stands some nights.”
Momsen then backed that up on Thursday night, writing: “Once again pleading with the AFL to make teams wear a kit that’s distinguishable in a pack from the opposite side of the field (or at least on TV).”
It appears those pleas will fall on deaf ears yet again as these traditional, centuries-old strips continue to get the nod.
The victory is Collingwood’s third straight and puts the Pies in the top four early in round four, while the Blues are still looking for answers ahead of next week’s clash with West Coast.
Originally published as ‘Atrocious viewing’: Fans roast Carlton vs Collingwood clash at the MCG
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