The 2011 AFL Media Guide confirms this:
Official Colours: Jumper - dark navy blue with a white monogram. Socks - dark navy blue. Shorts - dark navy blue.
So why the light blue guernsey and shorts in Monday night’s match against St Kilda?
AFL rules - that is the only reason.
The AFL stipulates that all clubs must have an alternate ‘clash’ strip to wear as the away team during designated matches. For Carlton the AFL has designated our away matches against St Kilda, Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Fremantle as games in which we must wear a ‘clash’ uniform.
During the last four seasons Carlton wore a white guernsey with navy CFC monogram and white shorts for the AFL designated matches where an alternative clash strip was required.
This year, after discussions with members and working closely with our performance partner Nike, the Club introduced a new alternate strip. We wanted to ensure we had a blue colour and something that was unique to the AFL. The AFL requirement as a clash strip meant it had to be a lighter colour.
The result is a light blue that some have likened to the colour worn by the sporting teams of the University of North Carolina, the tar heels. Importantly it provides Carlton with an alternative strip that is approved by the AFL and ensures we are still ‘the Blues’ even if not the Navy Blues.
It really doesn’t matter what the alternate strip is, it is not the Carlton uniform. It is not Navy Blue. And because it is not our Navy Blue there is sure to be plenty of discussion and supporters who will never like the alternative strip. Indeed some in the media were also questioning the strip.
In the end the Carlton official colour is Navy Blue because “We Are the Navy Blues” and the most important thing is that we are winning.
