THE West Coast Eagles’ away jumper is set to change yet again, providing the club can find a new sponsor to take a naming position on the new strip.
WCE marketing manager Deane Pieters said the club was hoping to launch a package of new away sponsor and jumper. SGIO has been signed as naming sponsor on the club’s home strip, which will remain the same.
Mr Pieters said the new away strip would include some elements of the club’s 1992 premiership colours.
“We’re trying to retain some tradition and elements of the heritage in the club with the new design,” he said.
The controversial blue and ochre away strip will remain but its future is uncertain.
Mr Pieters said the club’s decision to change its jumpers from those associated with so much success had been made to “fast-track” evolution.
“However, some of our fans have resisted the change. I believe the changeover would have gone well, had the club enjoyed more success in its away strip,” he said. “The away strip colour had proved popular with young people.”
Mr Pieters said the club was still considering returning to its old strip, and was canvassing the idea with focus groups.
Telos proprietor Mike Gleadell had the job of creating the brand that has become known as the West Coast Eagles.
“The Eagles came from the fact that the club had to travel the furthest in the league. It became a matter of identifying what birds weren’t taken,” he said. “When we were designing the jumpers the look was meant to reinforce the bird concept. The yellow continuing around the back of the jumpers signified the wings.
“The colours came from what colours we were allowed to have. Then it came down to blue and gold – the blue of the sky and the gold of the beach sand.
“It turned out they were some of the most contrasting colours for television broadcasting.”