The Ultimate Guide to Milestone Footy Banners: History, Culture & Future

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What Is a Footy Banner?

Whether you know them as footy banners, milestone banners, AFL banners, or run-through banners, they are all exactly the same thing, just being called a different name.

On this page, and on this website, we use the terms footy banners, milestone banners, AFL banners, and run-through banners interchangeably—they all mean the same thing, and work the same way.

They are banners used to celebrate milestones like a 50th Game, 100th Game or 200th Game and also all other celebrations by teams all over Australia playing Australian Rules Football (AFL) whether professionally, or at a local junior or senior footy club, and get run-through just before the game. Grand Final Banners are very commonly used.

These vibrant, handcrafted displays are more than just pre-game decorations; they are symbols of team spirit, community pride, and fan creativity. This guide explores the origins, evolution, and cultural significance of footy banners, highlighting their role in the sport and their enduring legacy.

A milestone banner or footy banner is a large, colourful display banner traditionally made primarily of crepe paper and tape, constructed by a football team's cheer squad or footy fans. Held up by poles, the banner features messages celebrating players, milestones, or upcoming matches. As the team enters the field, players run through the banner, tearing it apart—a moment that ignites excitement among fans and sets the tone for the game.

The History, Culture, and Future of AFL Footy Banners

Australian Rules football has many unique traditions, but few are as colourful and beloved as the AFL footy banner. These giant sheets of crepe paper, taped together and painted with bold slogans, form an archway of anticipation on game day. Players burst through them to raucous cheers, shredding hours of handiwork in seconds. It’s a slightly bizarre ritual when you think about it – why do teams run through a paper wall? – yet it has become a cherished symbol of team spirit and fan involvement in Australian football. As AFL Fans Association president Cheryl Critchley explains, “AFL banners are unique and such an important part of our game. They add colour to the match-day experience and connect grassroots fans to their clubs.” (aflfans.com.au)

Indeed, from the elite AFL level down to junior footy on suburban ovals, the humble run-through banner endures as a vibrant expression of community and club pride. This article dives deep into the history of footy banners, the culture surrounding them, and where this tradition is headed in the future.

Origins of the Footy Banner Tradition

Banners began in the early 20th century as simple decorations rather than the elaborate run-through spectacles we know today. In the 1930s, enthusiastic supporters started draping streamers and paper in the players’ entrance tunnel (the “race”) before big games. (foxsports) A famous early example occurred at the 1939 VFL Grand Final, when Collingwood fans created a “tapestry of streamers” in the Melbourne Cricket Ground tunnel for their team. These improvised arches of crepe paper were the ancestors of modern banners. Over time, what was initially just dressing up the race evolved into a full run-through banner held aloft on the field.

By the post-war decades, cheer squads – groups of diehard supporters dedicated to boosting team spirit – had taken charge of banner-making. The term “the race” gradually gave way to “the banner” as the displays moved from the tunnel onto the ground itself. Exactly which club first introduced the breakable or run-through on-field banner is the subject of footy folklore, but photographic archives show run-through banners in use by the 1950s. For instance, a classic image from the 1954 Grand Final shows Footscray captain Charlie Sutton leading his team through a celebratory banner. (fox Sports) What started as a few streamers had, by mid-century, become the giant handmade backdrops we recognise today.

Throughout the 1960s and 70s, the tradition solidified as an essential pre-game ritual across the league. Each team’s cheer squad would craft a unique banner for every match, often bearing a motivational slogan or a tribute to a player’s milestone. Running through the banner became as routine as singing the club song – in fact, the team song is always played as players crash through to hit the field. (Wikipedia) Over these decades the banners grew larger and more elaborate, setting the stage (literally) for the grand spectacles of modern AFL.

Hawthorn players prepare to burst through a giant grand final banner. Cheer squads spend countless hours – and metres of crepe paper and tape – constructing these vibrant run-throughs for the big day. Grand Final banners are often especially massive and detailed, reflecting the significance of the occasion.

Building the Banner: Materials and Methods

Despite their fleeting existence, footy banners require careful planning and construction. Traditionally they are made from lightweight, easily tearable materials – chiefly crepe paper for the banner’s body, and a lot of sticky tape to assemble it. Two long PVC or wooden poles on either side hold the banner upright like a big sail. The basic technique is straightforward: large sheets of crepe paper are laid out and taped together in layers, forming a panel big enough for the whole team to run through. Volunteer crew members (usually cheer squad fans) will tape long strips about every 15–30 cm across the paper for stability, and often create a grid of taped “squares” so that the banner doesn’t flap too wildly in the wind. Crucially, they use stronger tape reinforcement at the top and very minimal tape near the middle and bottom, ensuring that it rips apart easily at player impact. The goal is to avoid a “brick wall” effect – a banner should burst open with a good push.

Lettering and artwork on the banner were traditionally cut from coloured paper and glued or taped on. This meant hundreds of individual letters and shapes prepared ahead of time. In the early days, all this was done by hand each week, often with volunteers working late into the night at the club to get the banner ready. (zerohanger) As one fan recalls, “the banners are held together solely by sticky tape and the blood, sweat and tears of volunteer labour” (aflfans). Indeed, cheer squads devote hours every week to design and build these crepe paper masterpieces, purely for love of the team. It’s common to see 10–20 people crammed into a clubrooms or a garage on a Friday night, furiously taping and cutting, fueled by pizza and passion!

In recent years, some clubs have adopted modern techniques to save time and cost. For example, pre-printed paper banners with high-resolution graphics (including sponsor logos, photographs and club emblems) are now used for special occasions. (as made on this site) These are essentially giant sheets of paper printed with a message and team logo, which can then be mounted on the poles. A few clubs have even tried using fabric or curtain-style banners that split in the middle: in 2014 some teams experimented with reusable cloth banners to reduce the recurring expense of crepe paper. (Carlton famously used a permanent cloth top-half of their banner for a period, inserting new messages on the bottom half each week to save on materials.) However, purists argue nothing beats the charm of crepe paper – the slight sag, the occasional wobble in the breeze, and the satisfying “cr-r-ack!” as it tears.

One interesting balancing act for banner makers is ensuring the banner survives until the team runs through, but not a second longer. Rain, wind and even dew are mortal enemies of crepe paper. A strong gust can shred a banner prematurely (more on a famous case of that later), and rain will soak and weaken the paper. Cheer squads have learned tricks like wrapping the banner in plastic until the last minute if rain threatens, or adding just enough tape to hold it together against wind but still break on impact. As one veteran observed, “among the countless stats kept in the game, whether these heart-breaking banner ends [from weather] have proven to be bad luck or not has not been recorded.” (sportress) Superstition runs high (some fans truly believe a torn or failed banner is a bad omen). Thus, constructing the perfect banner is almost an art form – one that footy diehards take great pride in.

A Beloved Game-Day Ritual and Cultural Icon

On game day, the unfurling of the banner is a moment full of anticipation. The cheer squad proudly carries their creation to the centre of the field and hoists it up with the two big side poles. Often the banner will have a message or slogan in bold letters that the whole crowd can read. These messages range from simple rallying cries (“Go Lions – Eat ’Em Alive!”), to milestone congratulations (“Congratulations on 200 games, Captain!”), to cheeky taunts at the opposition. Whatever the words, the banner serves as a direct line of communication from fans to players, showcasing support and setting the tone for the contest. Fans in the stands always pause to read the banner as it’s displayed, sometimes giving an extra cheer or laugh if the line is especially good.

When the team lineup is ready to enter, they gather in the race and line up behind their captain or the milestone man being honoured. There’s often a little ritual here too – for instance, some clubs let the milestone player be the first through the banner, or have the team captain and the celebrant charge through together. Some players have personal superstitions about the banner: North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey once admitted that during a form slump he stopped running through the banner and would jog around it (after emulating a teammate’s quirky habit), then later resumed crashing through once the “bad juju” passed. (aflplayers) Another former star, Nick Dal Santo, insisted on being the last player through and only touching the banner with his hand every time! Such routines underline how integral the banner ritual is to players’ psyche – it’s not “just paper,” it’s part of their mental warm-up.

As the team finally bursts through the banner, usually the stadium PA is blasting the club’s song and the crowd is roaring. (Wikipedia) In that instant, months of training and decades of tradition come together in a thrilling show of unity. Fans see their heroes literally smashing through a symbol of challenge, emerging on the other side ready for battle. It’s goosebump-inducing stuff for the true believers. The remains of the banner flutter to the ground like giant confetti, to be hastily rolled up and cleared by the cheer squad once the players run out. In a sense, the destruction of the banner “launches” the game – a signal that the time for talk is over, and action is beginning.

Beyond the drama, footy banners carry deep cultural significance. They embody the sense of community and camaraderie among supporters. The process of making them – cutting, taping, painting in cramped quarters with fellow fans – forges bonds that often last a lifetime. Long-serving cheer squad members speak fondly of all-night banner-making sessions and the satisfaction of seeing players acknowledge their work on game day. In fact, many footy clubs make a point to thank their banner crews; it’s not uncommon to see players give a thumbs-up or pat on the back to the volunteers as they line up to run through. The banner is for the players, but it is also about the fans feeling connected to the team’s effort. (aflfans)

Banner messages have also reflected broader social themes over time. Clubs now often use banners to promote inclusivity and diversity, aligning with special rounds such as the AFL’s Indigenous Round or Pride Game. You might see an Indigenous artwork design on a banner during Sir Doug Nicholls Round, or a rainbow flag motif during the Pride Round, with slogans of unity. This modern trend shows how banners, while light-hearted, can carry meaningful messages that resonate with the community’s values. They have also been used as tributes in times of loss or celebration – for example, memorial banners for club legends (as we’ll see below with Jack Dyer’s story) or messages of support after tragedies. In all cases, the banner is a canvas on which fans paint their emotions and identity for all to witness.

It’s clear that this tradition, born of crepe paper and passion, has become entrenched in AFL culture. When any discussion arises about altering or removing banners, the backlash from traditionalists is fierce. The ritual is seen as something uniquely Australian and essentially football – a “time-honoured part of our game,” as one commentator put it, carried on by the sticky tape and tears of volunteers. (sportress) No cheerleaders, no pyrotechnics or giant LED screens can replicate the quirky, homespun charm of a footy banner. As West Coast Eagles legend Nic Naitanui – a self-described “traditionalist” – said when his club briefly did away with banners, “I like some of the things in footy that make footy, footy… I always dreamed of running through it as a kid.” The humble banner is one of those things that make footy, footy. (thewest)

Memorable Banners, Slogans and Moments

Over the decades, banners have given us countless moments of joy, humour, and occasionally controversy. Entire books have been written compiling the best (and worst) banner slogans in footy history. Let’s revisit a few of the most memorable banner episodes – the ones that AFL fans still talk about years later:

Wit and Banter: Some banners are legendary for their clever wordplay. In the mid-2010s, the Western Bulldogs cheer squad gained fame by recruiting a comedian, Danny McGinlay, to write their banner lines. (sportress) The result was a string of hilarious sledges that had fans across the league eagerly checking the Dogs’ banner each week. For example, before a game against Port Adelaide, the Bulldogs ran through a banner reading: “A Bulldog’s love, never in doubt – Port tastes yuck and gives you gout.” Port’s cheer squad cheekily responded in the rematch with: “Port may give you gout but it’s great with cheese – Bulldogs give you nothing but fleas.” (sportress) This good-natured banner banter between clubs added a new layer of entertainment. It harked back to an earlier era when cheeky or even biting slogans were common. In fact, some older fans lament that banners have become more generic in recent years as clubs try to avoid offence. The Bulldogs showed that a bit of daring humour could re-energize the art of the banner.
The “Bombres” Mishap: Not all banner messages go out as intended. Essendon supporters learned this the hard way when, before one match, their banner proudly (and accidentally) urged fans to “See the Bombres fly up!” – a misspelling of the team’s nickname “Bombers” in the lyrics of their song. The typo was enormous, on full display to tens of thousands of spectators. Rival fans had a field day; to this day, some still jokingly refer to Essendon as the “Bombres” because of that gaffe. (sportres) It was an embarrassing moment for the cheer squad, but also a reminder that these banners are homemade labours of love, not professionally proofread posters. The occasional spelling slip or upside-down letter only adds to the folklore.
Fitzroy’s Furious Farewell: Perhaps the most infamous banner in history was unfurled by the Fitzroy Football Club’s cheer squad in 1996. Faced with their club’s impending merger and effectively the end of Fitzroy in the AFL, the normally jubilant fans were heartbroken and angry. In their final matches, they used the banner as a platform for protest. One week, they altered Queensland’s tourism slogan “Beautiful One Day, Perfect the Next” into a pointed jab at the failed deal: “North Melbourne One Day, Brisbane the Next.” Then, in a decidedly un-family-friendly outburst, another Fitzroy banner bluntly declared the fans felt “Seduced by Brisbane. Raped by North Melbourne. F**d by the AFL.”. (sportres) (The raw language was a shock – the AFL quickly required remaining Fitzroy banners to get approval, but by then the point had been made.) Those banners, filled with grief and rage, have gone down in history as the most emotive ever. They underscore that for fans, the banner isn’t always about celebration; it can also voice dissent or despair. After Fitzroy’s explicit protest, the AFL and clubs became much more cautious about banner content, heralding an era of stricter oversight.
Wrong Side of History: In 1995, just after the league introduced a racial vilification code, the Collingwood cheer squad produced a banner that is now remembered for all the wrong reasons. It featured a bastardised nursery rhyme taking a derogatory swipe at Aboriginal Essendon star Michael Long, apparently as retaliation for the Magpies player who had been punished under the new anti-racism rules. (zerohanger) The banner’s content was widely condemned as offensive, highlighting how out-of-touch some attitudes were at the time. This incident further spurred clubs to vet banner slogans and avoid sensitive topics, lest a rogue message embarrass the club. Collingwood, in fact, eventually took banner-making responsibility away from its cheer squad entirely for a period, issuing only club-approved messages. While censorship upset some fan traditionalists, many saw it as a necessary step to prevent hurtful or divisive messages from tarnishing match day.
Tributes and Tears – Jack Dyer’s Farewell: Banners can also rise to poignancy in moments of tribute. A powerful example came in 2003, when Richmond legend Jack “Captain Blood” Dyer passed away. With only a day’s notice before Richmond’s next game, the Tigers’ former cheer squad leader David Norman rallied his troops. They worked through the night to create a eulogistic banner honouring Dyer. The banner carried a simple yet deeply moving message beside Dyer’s likeness: “Heaven’s football team can now take the field because your captain has arrived.” (zerohanger) When it was raised the following day at Telstra Dome, many in the crowd misted up – it gave the Tiger faithful “an anchor to mourn,” as author Matthew Hagias recounted. (zerohanger) Instead of the team running through and destroying this one, Richmond’s players walked out slowly and stood with the banner, turning it into a giant memorial card. The Jack Dyer banner, captured in photos, remains one of the most touching uses of the medium: proof that a few words on crepe paper can give solace to a whole community of fans.

Richmond’s cheer squad created this emotional tribute banner overnight when club icon Jack “Captain Blood” Dyer died in 2003. Emblazoned with the words “Heaven’s football team can now take the field, because your captain has arrived,” the banner gave fans a focus for their grief. Such tribute banners show the power of this tradition to unite and heal supporters in tough times.

The Banner That Wouldn’t Break: While most banner stories end with players triumphantly crashing through, one famous tale flips the script. In Round 19, 1983, Richmond prepared a colossal banner for Kevin Bartlett’s 400th VFL game – a record at the time. It was (with typical Tiger hubris) one of the biggest banners ever made, reportedly 10 metres high and 20 metres long, reinforced within an inch of its life. (richmondfc) The cheer squad spent 500 hours building it, using extra-strong materials to ensure it stood tall. (richmondfc) Come game day, Bartlett sprinted out in front of 70,000 fans, headfirst into the banner… and bounced off it like a brick wall. The poor man ricocheted to the turf, stunned, as his teammates helped tear open an entry point. Bartlett later joked the banner nearly ended his 400th game before it started, quipping “Running through that banner was like running through a brick wall.” (richmondfc) The banner had been over-engineered – too much sticky tape, and even (he suspected) a wooden plank at the bottom for stability. (richmondfc) The champion got up grinning, finished the game, and Richmond’s mega-banner passedd into legend as a lesson in not overdoing it. It’s a story every cheer squad knows, and they’re careful to mark “weak spots” in big banners now so players don’t face another brick wall.
Banner Fail on the Big Stage: If Bartlett’s banner was too strong, Collingwood’s was too fragile when it mattered most. The 2018 AFL Grand Final provided an unforgettable banner blooper. The Magpies cheer squad had worked tirelessly to create their grand final banner, only for Melbourne’s swirling winds at the MCG to tear it to shreds moments before the team ran out. (thenewdaily) As the Collingwood players emerged from the tunnel, they were greeted not by a triumphant slogan but by tatters of navy blue and white paper flapping sadly from the poles. Some cheer squad members were in tears, distraught that their hours of work lay in ruins. (thenewdaily) In a touching display of empathy, Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley walked over to the cheer squad before the opening bounce and hugged the sobbing banner-makers, (thenewdaily) thanking them for their effort despite the mishap. The moment was caught on camera and widely praised – a bit of humanity amid a high-pressure sporting event. Collingwood even joked on Twitter that their banners had “surprised everyone all year” and they “saved the biggest one ’til last,” making light of the disaster. (For the record, the Pies jumped to an early lead in that game despite the omen, though they eventually lost a thriller.) The 2018 “banner fail” highlighted just how much the banners mean to fans – seeing grown adults cry over torn crepe paper underscored that it’s never “just a banner” to those who made it. And Buckley’s gesture showed that players and coaches do value that passion.

These examples are just a few from an endless archive. Media outlets have even compiled lists and videos of “best footy banners” to celebrate this quirky tradition. The Herald Sun delved into its photo archives to showcase great Grand Final banners over the years (from Melbourne’s plain but poignant 1960 design to Hawthorn’s artistic 2013 version). (foxsports) On YouTube, you can find highlight reels of funny or historic banner moments – from the “Bombres” typo to heartfelt milestone messages. Fans love reminiscing about banner hits and misses, which have become a rich part of footy folklore. It’s all testament to how ingrained the run-through banner is in the experience of Australian football.

From Grassroots to the Grand Final: Banners at All Levels

While we often picture the massive AFL banners at the MCG or Marvel Stadium, the tradition runs much deeper than the professional game. Footy banners are a staple of grassroots football culture, embraced by local clubs, country leagues, and junior teams across Australia. In fact, many AFL players get their first taste of breaking a banner when they are kids in junior footy – an experience that can inspire them for years.

It’s common in community leagues for teams to organise banners to celebrate significant moments, just like the pros. Milestone games are a big one: when a local club player reaches 100 games (or a junior reaches 50 games in under-age footy), teammates and family often secretly prepare a banner for them to run through. These are sometimes called “milestone banners”, and they’re effectively identical to AFL banners (though usually a bit smaller). As one banner-making company notes, teams all over Australia, from professional AFL to local junior clubs, use run-through banners to celebrate milestones like 50th or 100th games. (footybanners) For a young player, nothing beats the thrill of charging through a congratulatory banner with your name on it while your friends and parents cheer – it makes a junior footy game feel like an AFL Grand Final.

Grassroots banners often feature adorable handmade touches. Parents might paint the club logo or an inside joke on the banner, and younger siblings help hold the ends. The materials can be improvised too – butcher’s paper and streamers will do if crepe rolls aren’t available. The important thing is the gesture: it shows the player that their community acknowledges their achievement. Many a local club newsletter or social media page is filled with photos of grinning kids bursting through paper banners, streamers flying. For instance, the Fitzroy Junior Football Club in Melbourne regularly shares images of their junior teams enjoying milestone banners, reinforcing how ingrained the practice is even at junior level. (facebook) (instagram)

The banner tradition also lives on in state leagues (like the VFL, SANFL, WAFL) and even AFLW to an extent. In the early years of the AFL Women’s competition, not all teams had established cheer squads, so banners were less common. However, by the late 2010s, AFLW Grand Finalists began to have banners for the big game. The AFL Fans Association successfully lobbied for banners to be included once it was feasible, emphasizing that run-throughs add excitement and colour to any footy match. (aflfans) (aflfans) Fans “welcomed the return of banners” in AFLW and lower leagues as COVID-19 restrictions eased, noting that these traditions connect the elite game to its grassroots supporters. (aflfans) (aflfans) There’s something egalitarian about the fact that a local under-12 team in the country can share the same ritual as the AFL stars: both get to feel that rush of smashing through the club banner. It’s one of the ways footy knits together communities big and small.

Interestingly, the banner-making business has trickled down as well. There are now companies and online stores where you can order custom “breakaway banners” for your school or junior team – some even made of fabric with velcro seams for easy reuse. Pre-perforated paper banners (so kids won’t struggle to break them) are another innovation for youth sports. But plenty of families still DIY them. Strolling around any suburban ground on a Sunday, you might spot a bedsheet painted with “Go Team!” serving as a makeshift banner, or a patchwork of coloured plastic tablecloths taped together for the local footy final. The specific form doesn’t matter – the spirit of the banner lives in every level of footy, uniting 8-year-old Auskickers with 30-year-old AFL veterans in a shared tradition.

Challenges, Changes, and the Future of Footy Banners

Like any long-standing tradition, footy banners have faced their share of challenges and changes over time. In recent years especially, some have wondered: will banners survive in the modern era of slick sports entertainment? The resounding answer from fans appears to be “Yes – if we have anything to say about it!” But it’s worth examining a few of the pressures and evolutions affecting banners, and how the future might look.

Commercialization and “Club Control”: One significant change over the years has been the shift from purely fan-driven banners to club-sanctioned messages. After some of the controversies in the ’90s (like the offensive Collingwood banner in 1995), many clubs started vetting or outright scripting the banner slogans to avoid embarrassment. (sportres) Sponsorship messages have also crept in – it’s not uncommon now to see a sponsor’s logo or punny tagline integrated into a banner alongside the cheer. This corporatization irks some old-school fans who miss the cheeky, independent cheer squad creations. A longtime fan bemoaned that “the cheekiness and light-heartedness was lost when the fun police decided to interfere… banners [became] more and more generic as clubs, wary of offence, took more control”. (sportres) There’s truth to that: club media teams now often design the banner wording, and some even mass-produce printed banners with polished graphics. The DIY, punk element has been dialed down. Co-author of a banner history book, Matthew Hagias, noted that in the old days cheer squads could say whatever they wanted, but now “those tasked with displaying these contrived messages may soon grow weary of the muted performance.” (zerohanger) He suggests that if banners become too sanitised, the volunteers might lose interest – a real threat to the tradition’s survival.

The Threat of the Inflatable Tunnel: Perhaps the most ominous challenge to banners has been the rise (and partial fall) of inflatable run-throughs. Some AFL clubs, influenced by other sports or a desire for easy spectacle, experimented with replacing the delicate crepe banner with reusable inflatable structures. The Brisbane Lions were an early adopter – unveiling a giant inflatable lion’s head nicknamed “Brion the Lion” for players to run out of at home games (essentially emerging from the lion’s mouth). Around 2015, Brisbane and North Melbourne both stopped using paper banners at home, sidelining their cheer squads’ role in favor of these inflatables. (footyalmanac) The trend continued when West Coast moved to Perth’s new Optus Stadium in 2018 and ditched banners in favor of a big inflatable “Eagles” tunnel. However, the pushback from fans was swift and fierce. Many supporters saw this as sacrificing one of the last authentic fan traditions for a sterile “match-day experience” gimmick. The AFL Fans Association harshly criticized it, with lines like: “Replacing AFL banners with gimmicks such as inflatable sausages and blow-up lions… is putting many fans off. Why can’t Brion the Lion and banners co-exist?” (footyalmanac) (footyalmanac) In other words, could clubs perhaps use the inflatable for show but still have a small breakable banner for tradition? The overwhelming sentiment was that fans wanted their crepe paper back.

This fan pressure eventually scored a big win. In late 2023, the West Coast Eagles announced that “the banner is back” for 2024, after five seasons of the inflatable tunnel. (thewest) (thewest) Newly appointed CEO Don Pyke acknowledged it was in response to fan and member feedback: “We see the banner as part of the culture and match day experience… having heard the views of many members and fans… it’s coming back.” (thewest) (thewest) West Coast’s decision was even championed by club hero Nic Naitanui, who personally lobbied the CEO to restore the tradition. (thewest) Supporters rejoiced – a poll showed 94% of West Coast fans wanted the banner returned (thewest) – and they gleefully derided the abandoned inflatable tunnel as the “bouncy castle”.(thewest) Similarly in Brisbane, “Brion the Lion” was met with such ridicule that it quietly faded from prominence (fans had literally yelled “send Brion flyin’!”). (footyalmanac) By 2023, the Lions were again running through paper banners on occasion. These episodes illustrate that while club marketing departments might fancy modern alternatives, the collective will of fans and even players still leans strongly toward preserving banners. As one writer quipped, seeing the spate of ridiculous inflatables in use these days, I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry (zerohanger) – but the relief is palpable when clubs come to their senses.

COVID-19 Pause and Return: The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021 introduced an unexpected hiatus for banners. With strict health protocols, no crowds, and minimal on-field personnel, the AFL banned banners for safety reasons (fewer people gathering to build and hold them). (aflfans) From the 2020 season restart through 2021, AFL games lacked banners – a jarring sight for traditionalists, as teams simply jogged out onto empty grounds. Fans understood the necessity, but something felt missing. “Not having them left a big hole on game day,” said AFLFA’s Cheryl Critchley, adding that even though everyone understood why, “their content is often entertaining and recognises players’ milestones… not having them took away a bit of normality.” (aflfans) The AFL Fans Association kept campaigning behind the scenes for banners to return as soon as it was feasible. Sure enough, by late 2021 banners made a comeback – first at the AFLW Grand Final that year, and then in the men’s AFL from Round 6 of 2022.(aflfans) Fans and cheer squads were thrilled to see the tradition restored, viewing it as a sign that footy was regaining its soul after the weird COVID era. If anything, the temporary ban only reinforced how much people valued the banner ritual.

Sustainability and Innovation: Looking ahead, one factor clubs are grappling with is the cost and waste involved in making new banners each week. A typical AFL banner can use dozens of 10m crepe rolls and lots of tape – all torn up and thrown out after one use. Multiply that by 22 games a season, plus finals, and it’s a mountain of paper (and plastic tape) going to landfill. In today’s environmentally conscious climate, that raises eyebrows. To address this, there’s momentum towards more sustainable banner practices. Some clubs and companies now produce 100% recyclable banners, (footybanners) using paper-based tapes or velcro instead of plastic tape. Others, as mentioned, have tried reusable fabric which can be refitted with new velcroed messages each match. Those experiments have had mixed reception – fabric banners don’t rip in the same dramatic way – but the technology is improving. We may see a hybrid approach where the main banner is recyclable plastic or cloth that splits open, combined with some token crepe paper for the “rip effect.” The key will be balancing sustainability with the traditional look and feel. Digital integration has also been floated: e.g. LED-lit banners or augmented reality overlays on TV broadcasts. While we haven’t yet seen a banner with LED lights blinking a message, it’s conceivable a club might try a light-up logo or similar someday. And in the age of TikTok and Twitter, banner unveilings and particularly witty lines gain a second life online – extending their reach far beyond the stadium. In the future, we might find clubs engaging fans through social media to suggest banner slogans, or running online “banner galleries” to celebrate the best creations of the year.

Despite challenges, the future of footy banners actually looks bright if guided by those who truly love the tradition. Authors Leigh Meyrick and Matthew Hagias, who in 2021 published Footy Banners: A Complete Run-Through, expressed cautious optimism. Hagias did voice concern that banners are “fighting a lot of environmental factors” – from over-regulation by clubs, to budget cuts, to environmental scrutiny. (zerohanger) (zerohanger) He even warned that banners could “go the way of the dodo” if we’re not careful. (zerohanger) But at the same time, the very act of documenting banner history in a book, and the positive response it received, shows there’s a large constituency that cares. Hagias hoped that by reminding people of how fun and meaningful banners are, it would “plant a seed in people’s heads to just think twice” before discarding the custom.(zerohanger) Judging by the fan campaigns that brought banners back to Brisbane and West Coast, that seed is already growing. Club executives learned that tinkering with this ritual can incur a backlash not worth any perceived benefit.

In many ways, the banner tradition is evolving rather than dying. Banners now incorporate more inclusive and uplifting messages, reflecting the broader AFL community values. (footybanners) The materials and methods are adapting to be more cost-effective and eco-friendly. And crucially, a new generation of fans and junior players are experiencing the joy of banners for themselves – ensuring the practice is passed on. Nothing quite matches the excitement in a child’s eyes as they run through a banner to celebrate their 50th game, emulating their AFL heroes. Those kids carry that memory and eventually become the next cheer squad members or even players advocating for banners.

So, what will footy banners look like in, say, 2030? Perhaps a bit different – maybe printed or partially reusable – but one suspects they’ll still be around. The core appeal is timeless: the banner is a canvas for passion. It’s fan-crafted, imperfect, and personal in a way no high-tech replacement can replicate. As long as footy remains more than just a business, as long as clubs recognise the importance of fan engagement and tradition, the run-through banner will have a place. After all, on the list of things that make Aussie Rules unique – speccy marks, meat pies, and singing the club song – charging through a footy banner with your mates ranks high. It’s our quirky ritual, and we’re proudly sticking to it!

In the words printed on a recent banner celebrating the revival of the custom: “We heard you praying… the banner is back!”. (thewest) The sight of those poles being raised and that big sheet stretching out once more drew cheers from fans who had feared it lost. Footy banners, it seems, are woven into the very fabric (or should we say paper?) of Australian football culture. With fans, players, and even coaches defending them, these vibrant run-throughs look set to remain a cherished spectacle for generations to come – sustaining a link from the grassroots to the grand final, and from the game’s past into its future.

Mark Lunn - Milestone Footy Banners Australia - footybanners.com

Traditional Construction & Materials

Materials Used:
- Crepe paper for the main body.
- Sticky tape to hold the structure together.
- Two long poles to hoist the banner. AFL Banners Wikipedia Page
Design Techniques:
- Taping parallel lines every six inches or creating 1-foot square panels for stability.
- Using thicker tape at the top and thinner tape at the bottom to ensure easy break-through.
- Some AFL teams, like Carlton, have used a permanent cloth upper half, reusing it weekly with new messages. Wikipedia

Cultural Significance

Fan Engagement: Football Banners serve as a direct line of communication between fans and players, often featuring messages that celebrate achievements or motivate the team. The Guardian
Community Identity: The creation of banners fosters a sense of community among fans, with cheer squads dedicating hours to design and assemble them. Google Books
Tradition and Ritual: Running through the banner is a ritual that signifies the start of the game, embodying the spirit and unity of the team and its supporters. Wikipedia

Modern Innovations & Trends

Fabric Banners: In 2014, some AFL Football teams began using full fabric curtains instead of crepe paper, allowing for reuse and cost savings. Wikipedia
Digital Integration: With advancements in technology, some banners now incorporate LED lights or digital screens to enhance visual impact.
Themed Messages: Banners have evolved to include humorous, political, or emotional messages, reflecting broader societal themes and engaging a wider audience. Simon & Schuster AU

The Future of Footy Banners

Sustainability: As environmental concerns grow, there's a push towards using recyclable materials and reducing waste in banner production. Printed Banners like the ones made by us here at Milestone Footy Banners Australia do not use Plastic Tape or Glue, and are fully recyclable.
Inclusivity: Modern banners increasingly celebrate diversity and promote inclusive messages, aligning with the evolving values of the AFL community.
Digital Platforms: Social media platforms amplify the reach of footy banners, allowing fans worldwide to engage with and appreciate the creativity and humour involved.