Patrick Dangerfield leading the charge for footy fashion runways

Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield is leading a new push for the AFL to introduce a radical change to pre-match TV coverage.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 22: Dylan Shiel of Team Rampage arrives before the AFLX match between Team Bolts and Team Rampage at Marvel Stadium on February 22, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)

AFL players are at the forefront of a new American-style push for high fashion before games, with Seven's Tom Browne reporting that Patrick Dangerfield is leading the charge.

“It’s popular with fans, popular as a feature on social media in the build-up to games, and popular on the broadcast,” Browne said.

According to Browne, the 18 AFL captains discussed the idea at the season launch.

“Some of the top players, including (Patrick) Dangerfield...are now specifically pushing for this concept - that is, the right to wear their own gear to the ground.”

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Browne went as far as suggesting that “players could even specifically push for this right (to wear their own gear) in the next collective bargaining agreement”, with an expected pushback from clubs who want to protect the relationships they have with prominently displayed sponsors on club merchandise.

Rory Laird of Team Flyers at the ill-fated AFLX. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media.

Nat Fyfe’s arrival was about the highest point of AFLX. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media.

The US-inspired approach is not new to the sport, with the short-lived AFLX pre-season competition allowing players to wear their own clothing and incorporating a pre-game catwalk.

Richmond fullback Alex Rance arrived in an all-white double-breasted suit atop a motorised scooter, while Jaidyn Stephenson showed up sporting a popped collar on his polo shirt with cargo shorts and thongs, showing the full spectrum of AFL fashion.

The fashion-sport movement swept American sports throughout the 2000s, courtesy of basketball icon Allen Iverson.

Tom Rockliff of Team Bolts. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media.

Steele Sidebottom dressed down. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media.

Iverson’s colourful and expressive fashion was at the centre of controversy in 2005 after the NBA enforced that players arriving to games would have to wear business casual attire, in a move branded racist at the time for attempting to stamp out elements of fashion that were particularly taken to by the league’s African-American players.

Over the years, NBA players adapted the dress code regulations and made it their own, turning the pre-game arrival into a runway that would rival the likes of Milan, Melbourne and Paris.

Browne said the move to allow players to express themselves through fashion could "become a huge feature particularly on Thursday and Friday night football.”

Originally published as Patrick Dangerfield leading the charge for footy fashion runways