2012/13 A-League kits rated and slated

With the seasons concluding last week, I thought I’d write a new piece, but something different. Being a self proclaimed kit nerd, I figured I’d give all 10 A-League team’s jersey an evaluation.

This year was the second season that teams were allowed to venture away from those dreadful Reebok kits that were worn since Season 1. This year we had kits made by Nike, Adidas, Kappa, Puma, X-Blades and ISC and in my opinion the best year of jerseys. Here’s my review of all 10 team’s kit, starting alphabetically with Adelaide United:

1.       Adelaide United

Adelaide United was one of the clubs that changed kit supplier this year to Kappa (from Errea). Keeping to their traditional colours, red and yellow can be seen on the jersey, and this year, more prominence of blue. Venturing away from the black, Adelaide changed their away kit to a white inverse of the home kit, keeping the red shoulders. As a pair, the two jerseys work very well, but the neck (as on all Kappa) jerseys is a letdown. The away kit tried to make it more bearable, but with the skin tight material, the home kit looks like a rash shirt from the beach.

Rating: Home 6/10, Away 8/10, Overall 7/10

2.       Brisbane Roar

Brisbane Roar kept their 2011/12 kit for the 2012/13 kit, and rightly so, as I’ve always been a fan of Roar’s kit. A very basic yet classy template used by Puma accentuates the great combination of the colours orange, black and white on both kits. The jersey is topped off with a sponsor that fits the colour scheme brilliantly on both the home and away kit. The shorts also are quite elegant with a nice, but not over bearing trim. Although on both kits the shorts and socks are the same, they match the two jerseys very well. I would, however, have liked to see a difference.

Rating: Home 8/10, Away 9/10, Overall 8.5/10

3.       Central Coast Mariners

After recent years of catastrophes, including the almost identical home and away kits of 2009 and 2010, surely a new kit supplier could pull out a decent strip? Unfortunately, at least in my opinion, they were far from it. Not a fan at all of the home jersey as the dark blue takes too much of the kit than it should for a team known for being yellow. The away is a little more bearable, however I dislike the trim on the white socks as well as the navy blue Kappa symbol on the shorts that does not match the yellow on the jersey. Furthermore, although they have no control over it, the red sponsor looks out of place on both jerseys.

Rating: Home 4/10, Away 6/10, Overall 5/10

4.       Melbourne Heart

Although being another club that changed suppliers to Kappa, Heart kept the same designs as last year and replicated their previous ISC kits. I quite like both these jerseys, although the fact that they are very similar is an issue. The red and white stripes on the home kit are interesting, and what I particularly like is how the back is all red, opposed to the stripes continuing and ruining the numbering. The away is also class, venturing away from typical block colour and stripes to a nice diagonal, red sash. Although the red shorts did look good when they wore them with the away jersey, the full white kit is a winner.

Rating: Home 7/10, Away 8/10, Overall 7.5/10

5.       Melbourne Victory

The first of the Adidas trio, Melbourne Victory’s jersey remains unchanged from last year. Whilst both templates have plenty of potential, I dislike the size of the ‘V’ on the kits, and find them too thick and large. The away kits are also quite hit and miss and looks a lot like a tradesman’s top. I know plenty that love the jersey, and others that find it putrid. I find myself in the latter half, although I do applaud the club attempting to have a go and not use the generic, basic colours for an away jersey. Neither sponsor either really fits on either kit, but I find the home kit somewhat slightly better in that sense

Rating: Home 6/10, Away 4/10, Overall 5/10

6.       Newcastle Jets

Newcastle Jets are the only club this year to have their jersey made by ISC. Featuring almost a replica of the Newcastle NRL side, the Knights, the Jets kept the same blue and red stripes as last year. Although I am a fan of the jersey, the Jets will always be known, at least by me, for being gold and navy, as they were in the first few seasons. What I do like is how they’ve still incorporated that gold into the trim of both jerseys; a nice touch. The Juventus like away jersey looks better than the home, although I can’t say I like the fact that the stripes stop in the middle just to accommodate the “Hunter Ports” sponsorship sign

Rating: Home 6/10, Away 7/10, Overall 6.5/10

7.       Perth Glory

Perth Glory continued their contract with X-Blades for the second year running this season. Both home and away remain unchanged, and I can see why. Keeping with the traditional colours of Perth Glory, purple and white, Perth found a winner in terms of jerseys last season and kept with it. Subtle orange trim with sort of unique purple and white stripes on the front of the home kit look great. The away kit is also quite interesting, a classy all white strip with the traditional colours down the middle of the jersey. Similar to other unique jerseys, I quite like how no other team in the league have a similar design as the away jersey

Rating: Home 8/10, Away 8/10, Overall 8/10

8.       Sydney FC

Sydney FC is another Adidas user, and have their kits unchanged from last season. Quite like the two different shades of blue in the shorts and jersey on the home kit, while a full black away kit with sky blue trim is also quite nice. But if we’re talking about Sydney FC jerseys, it’s impossible not to look away from the elephant in the room. That Webjet sponsor is utterly ridiculous. Whilst it looks slightly more bearable on the away kit, which featured once all year, size and shape of it completely destroys what was once a beautiful kit.

Rating: Home 5/10, Away 6/10, Overall 5.5/10

9.       Wellington Phoenix

Wellington round up the trio of Adidas kits, and just like their partners, have kept their previous kits. In the last few years, I’ve found Wellington to have the best looking kits in the A-League, both home and away. Their current set is also no different. Gold and black always look classy together and the design of the strips on the Adidas kits emphasise the great relationship. The away kit also looks great, white an all white kit still featuring both the two traditional colours of gold and black. I also particularly like the bold trim around the top of the socks, and compliment the jersey by breaking up the white with black.

Rating: Home 8/10, Away 8/10, Overall 8/10

10.   Western Sydney Wanderers

Finally we have the new boys on the block. With the link to the FFA, Western Sydney’s inaugural kit was designed by Nike, as red and black were decided by the fans for the colours home kit. The Flamengo-esque design is replicated in the away kit, this time with red and white. I’m a huge fan of both the Wanderers’ kits. The home kit that was worn against Melbourne Heart with black shorts and socks is a stand out winner of this year. Opposed from the common stripes, both the home and away jersey sport horizontal hoops. The sponsor also fits in perfectly, and rounds off a fantastic design.

Rating: Home 9/10, Away 8/10, Overall 8.5/10

11.   WILD CARDS

This year saw four clubs release a one-off, charity purposed 3rd kit. Those three clubs were Melbourne Heart, Sydney FC, Central Coast Mariners, and Wellington Phoenix. Central Coast was the first to parade their third kit in the name of Breast Cancer during Round 2. The full bright pink kits may not have been the most flattering look, but the club was commended for raising funds for the Cancer Council. Sydney FC and Melbourne Heart both wore their third kits in their respective Round 20 clashes. Sydney FC represented the Children’s Medical Research Institute while Melbourne Heart did their bit for the Save the Children foundation. It must be noted that Melbourne Heart attempted to refigure the traditional kit by printing the player’s Twitter username, and not their last name. In saying that, Heart’s kit was the best out of all of them. The classy kit includes two different shades of black to provide an elegant touch. Wellington Phoenix was last in Round 23, with an all white design and nice black trim.

Rating: CCM 2/10 (But 10/10 for the novelty), SFC 6/10, MH 9/10, WPH 5/10

 

I’d be interested to hear what you think. Do you rate them the same as me?

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