DEFENDER Colin Garland has given Melbourne’s new jumper the big tick of approval for its “sleek” look and feel.
Club partner New Balance has redeveloped Melbourne’s jumper to a lightweight performance. It includes patented New Balance dry moisture wicking technology for players’ jumpers and shorts, plus a new look collar and neckline.
To assist with Melbourne’s brand development, New Balance has also incorporated the MCC logo into the back of the playing jumper, as a reminder of Melbourne’s status as the original home club of the MCG.
New Balance worked with the Melbourne players to build a new contoured jumper body form and Garland said the result was impressive.
“To wear the jumper and be a custodian of the Melbourne Football Club just means so much to me,” he said.
“We really wanted that flat neckline this year and we feel that New Balance has really achieved that.
“The whole jumper feels really sleek and it makes it feel a part of you.”
New Balance general manager of Pacific, Ricky Knight, said his company was proud to be involved in the design of the new Melbourne jumper.
“We as a business really work hard on making sure that everything we do is around performance and function,” he said.
“The jumper, when you look at it, has a lot of technical features through it.
“The reason New Balance chose the Melbourne Football Club as a partner was pretty clear to us. We were looking for someone who had similar values, heritage and history.”
Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stephen Gough said the MCC was delighted to be represented on Melbourne’s guernsey.
“The MFC and the MCC have had long established traditions that go back into the late 1800s,” he said.
“And it’s entirely appropriate that the MCC branding should be on the MFC guernsey, as we go into season 2014.”
Garland said donning the red and blue was something he did with immense pride.
“Sometimes it’s staggering to think how many people have worn the jumper – I know myself I was the 1,247th player to wear the jumper and that’s really special to me,” he said.
“It’s just a representation of who you are and the club and where it’s come from and where it is now.”
