THE AFL is set to investigate the permanent use of player names on jumpers following a "very positive" response from fans throughout the round five trial.
The AFL said immediate fan reaction indicated an appetite for the concept.
"The feedback across the weekend has been very positive and now we plan to gauge the views of the fans directly via a survey before determining next steps," an AFL spokesman told AFL.com.au.
AFL Media monitored fan responses across its social media platforms from last Monday when the jumper designs were unveiled and throughout the Easter round in which they featured.
Almost 4000 responses from fans were gathered across a number of platforms.
The immediate response was positive with 62 per cent of social media interactions tracked between Monday and Wednesday last week complimentary of the concept.
After the named jumpers made their debut on Thursday night in the Brisbane Lions-Richmond clash at the Gabba, the social media feedback from fans changed.
The sentiment dropped to 40 per cent with the majority of comments claiming the lettering was too small to be effective in a live game.
Across the entire period from last Monday to this Tuesday, positive sentiment on the topic sat at 48 per cent, with plenty of interest from fans
* Insights were provided by Radian6, a social media analytical listening tool.
Player reactionI am a massive fan of the name on the back of the guernsey. It is a brilliant idea and should be permanent. Flat I miss out this weekend!
— Phil Davis (@phildavis_1) April 17, 2014“@tomryan13: @Jschulz28 thoughts on names on the back of guernseys?” Love it
— Jay Schulz (@Jschulz28) April 18, 2014Looking Fwd to Representing my #Family this Thursday Night V the Tiges #NamesOnTheBack #BigJons #250… http://t.co/gUu4nLTuD2
— Brent Moloney (@Beamnation3) April 15, 2014@AFL names on back of jumpers works for me!!! Better than some away clash jumpers which are difficult to differentiate or make no sense!
— Dean Wallace (@WallaceDeano) April 17, 2014@AFL love the names on the guernsey's. #bigtick
— Rhys Potuszynski (@Potters33) April 14, 2014. @AFL dumb idea. You cant see the names if you're at the ground and the TV is pointless when it's that close.
— guseyk (@guseyk) April 14, 2014@AFL please don't make the names on the back of guernseys permanent. It seems like every year the AFL are ruining the tradition of the game.
— Jarrod Heideman (@JarrodHeideman) April 14, 2014@AFL Names on the back of Guernseys... Are you trying to slowly destroy our game? Americanising the little things is cringe worthy!
— Todd Stacey (@ToddSvS) April 14, 2014@AFL loving the names on the jumpers. Please consider this a permanent thing #abouttime
— Luke Stevens (@muffler_lukey) April 17, 2014
