The big change coming to jumper designs next season

AFLW jumpers will look a little different in 2027

AFLW clubs will be mandated to put player names on jumpers from the start of next season as part of the League's idea to grow player recognition across the competition.

AFL.com.au understands that women's teams were recently told that player names would be a requirement on all AFLW guernseys from 2027 onwards and to factor in the addition into licensing and merchandising opportunities.

The idea is part of a wider push to help build the branding of AFLW players and to aid player identification among supporters.

The League has long considered the idea to be introduced full-time in AFLW, while it also trialled the new look during Australia's clash against Ireland in August. Both teams featured the names of players underneath their jumper numbers.

The idea had previously been tested in the men's competition for a solitary weekend back in 2014, before the AFL quickly shut down the idea of making the switch permanently.

Greater Western Sydney independently pitched to the AFL for it to be able to revive the design change as recently as 2024 to increase awareness and connection with players in non-traditional football states.

However, the League again denied the Giants' proposal in the men's competition on the basis of wanting uniformity across all 18 teams.

All clubs now hold lucrative sponsorship agreements on the back of jumpers, with the Giants previously suggesting the names could be placed underneath corporate partners.

Displaying player names on the back of guernseys is commonplace in most global sporting competitions and occurs in the NFL, NBA and in the vast majority of all football competitions like the English Premier League.

The AFL has been contacted for comment.