The initiative will be trialled across all nine matches in Round 5, starting with the Easter Thursday clash at the Gabba.
AFL General Manager – Football Operations Mark Evans said the trial would take place across Round 5 only, with a view to garnering feedback from fans and other key stakeholders before a decision was made as to the long-term viability of surnames on the back of AFL jumpers.
“The idea of player names on AFL guernseys has been talked about for some time and clubs have been coming forward for a while now asking us to consider the idea based on the fact that many young people now identify very strongly with both name and number when supporting their favourite players or teams,” Mr Evans said.
“With 18 clubs in the AFL competition now, the reality is many fans don’t know every player and so being able to identify players – whether you’re watching a match live or via broadcast - becomes very important.
“This is particularly relevant for clubs in our developing markets, where many spectators might be watching the game for the first time or only getting to know their club and its players.”
Those clubs such as the Lions currently with key acronyms and symbols recognising aspects of their history (eg. BBFFC) will retain those key points on the back of their respective guernseys.
Across the 18 AFL clubs 832 named guernseys were produced in total, which equates to 5,422 letters.
The AFL player currently with the longest surname in the AFL is Sydney’s Lewis Roberts-Thomson, who will wear the initials LRT this week, while a number of players share the shortest surname in the AFL comprising of three letters.
By way of background, the shortest surname in League history belongs to Tom Re who played for Fitzroy (1936-1937) while the three Cockatoo-Collins brothers - Che, David and Donald - share the record of having the longest surname in the game’s history.
It won’t be the first time that the Lions have been involved in an important competition ‘first’, with Fitzroy early pioneers of some of the early VFL concepts. Below are just a few:
A Draw
Fitzroy and South Melbourne played the first VFL draw in 1897. Both sides scored 5.13 (43).
Grand Final
Fitzroy won the first VFL Grand Final in 1898, defeating Essendon 5.8 (38) to 3.5 (23), after a top-four play-off system without a grand final had decided the first VFL premiers in 1897.
Brothers in Arms
Fitzroy's Bill and Jack Dalton and Jim and Michael Grace were the first brothers to play in a VFL premiership team in 1898.
Two in a Row
Fitzroy completed the VFL's first back-to-back premierships, beating South 3.9 (27) to 3.8 (26) in 1899.
Indigenous Initiative
Fitzroy's Joe Johnson became the VFL's first Aboriginal player. He had 55 games from 1904-05, including the 1904-05 flag sides and was the first Aboriginal premiership player.
Killed in Action
Fitzroy's Stan Reid, killed in the Boer War, was the first VFL player to lose his life in active service.
No Score
Fitzroy and Collingwood played the only scoreless quarter in VFL history - the fourth in Round 13, 1901.
Numbers and Sydney
Fitzroy played Collingwood in the first VFL game in Sydney, winning 7.20 (62) to 6.9 (45) at Moore Park in 1903. It was also the first time jumper numbers were worn.
Hobart
Fitzroy defeated Melbourne 12.10 (82) to 10.10 (70) in the first VFL match in Hobart in 1952.
Royalty on Sunday
Fitzroy played in the VFL's first Sunday match before royalty on 5 April, 1970. The players appeared after halftime groomed and showered to be introduced by president Ern Joseph to Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Fitzroy upset premiers Richmond 16.20 (116) to 14.12 (96).
Welcome Waverley
Fitzroy played Geelong in the first VFL game at Waverley in 1970. Shane Molloy, father of Jarrod, kicked the first goal on the ground in the Reserves.
Night Football
Fitzroy played in the first official match under lights against North Melbourne in the 1977 pre-season series. They won 16.12 (108) to 11.8 (74).
National Capital
Fitzroy played West Coast in the first AFL premiership match played in Canberra in 1995.
A Merger
Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears joined forces in the first merger in 1996
Under the Dome
The Brisbane Lions played the Western Bulldogs in the first match played under the roof at Etihad Stadium in 2000.
