The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a place where the impossible happens. There are planets made of Kurt Russell, a WWE wrestler is somehow a good actor, and Bradley Cooper is more attractive as a raccoon (well, not a raccoon) than as a human being.
Yet nowhere in this vast expanse could we find anyone who thought this jersey was a good idea.
Not sure whose 'brand' this cheapens more, the Bulldogs' or Thor's. pic.twitter.com/JW7ulz5uHv
— Titus O'Reily (@TitusOReily) March 12, 2019
Yup, that’s a Thor-cosplay footy jumper. No, those aren’t pokéballs.
Dogs Thor-inspired jumper they’ll wear in R1 at @marvelstadiumau
Y/N? pic.twitter.com/bye7pGGag1
— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) March 12, 2019
It’s a natural fit in terms of ~corporate synergy~ for the Western Bulldogs, whose home ground is Marvel Stadium, and whose most famous fan is Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth.
But it’s like the marketing department looked at the positive reaction to Hemsworth in a Dogs jumper, loved that, and thought, “What if we did the exact opposite?”
— Matt Thompson (@MattThompson) March 12, 2019
Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting the #AFL guernsey for the average man, "The Homer" pic.twitter.com/vWPMO0xXC9
— Matt Tarrant (@MattTarrant) March 12, 2019
Seriously, bloody awful jumper! We’re going to cop so much ? from all other supporters on how ? it is, how we’ve obviously sold out etc.,
I’ve been really looking forward to Rd 1 now I feel like hiding under a rock until it’s over. Thanks ?— janice matthey (@jaysie1967) March 12, 2019
— jljreo (@BloodMonkey23) March 12, 2019
oh my god this sucks
— wayne carey retire bitch (@poemsaredumb) March 12, 2019
It’s the best-worst marketing tie-in jersey since the Hawks’ Power Rangers themed jersey in 2015-2016:
I think the hawks really did had the best ? pic.twitter.com/HIbDvYvLZX
— Jaymz (@hell4u02) March 12, 2019
It’s not like superhero jumpers are inherently a bad idea! Look at the Captain Marvel training jerseys worn by the Bulldogs’ AFLW team:
This is two epic games of footy ? This is the Marvel Double Header ?This Saturday March 9 #AFLWPiesNorth & #AFLWDogsDees will take the BIG STAGE at Marvel Stadium! It's set to be an action packed day on and off the field. Don't miss a minute ?https://t.co/SyE5olAvLu #AFLW pic.twitter.com/iduYdpOgED
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) March 5, 2019
Those are RAD. Higher, further, faster, way way better. (Just like their respective first movies, am I right?)
And the AFLW and Captain Marvel are both pioneering new additions to a male-dominated arena – so it feels a little less like a blatant corporate tie-in, even though that’s exactly what it is.
And the design just works better, whereas the Thor one looks like a Kmart doona cover your well-meaning auntie buys you for Christmas even though you’re 22.
Anyway, it’s going to be especially embarrassing when the AFL’s real superhero, Lance Franklin, kicks six goals against the Bulldogs in Round 1, and every headline reads: ‘Dogs Thor after being hammered by Swans’.
