COMMENT

AFL clubs demand it. They want it from their fans, they want it from their players, and their faceless unsung heroes from behind-the-scenes who have been with them for years.

But — as this year’s trade period has just told us with a rather large and nasty exclamation mark — AFL loyalty can become a flimsy, disposable word very quickly in the world of the league’s clubs.

Loyalty is the pitch to get the fans to sign memberships year after year after year ...

“Do it for the jumper” is the pitch for the players to be proud of their clubs and what they stand for ahead of the big game.

And players are also fed the line that there is something “special” about being a one-club player ... a club great, a “loyal” servant.

Of course, loyalty implies so much more, too. Loyal people

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