Buying a gift for a sports fan sounds easy. You know his team, so you just buy something with their logo on it... right?

 

Not quite.

 

The secret to getting the gift right is working out how invested he is in his team.

 

Is he a relatively new supporter who watches the occasional game? Is he starting to proudly wear his team colours out and about? Or is he the kind of fan who already owns the latest jersey — and could probably tell you exactly what happened in a Grand Final 20 years ago?

 

Work out where he sits on the supporter scale, and finding the right gift becomes much easier.

 

Level 1: He's Just Getting Started — Scarf or Beanie

 

Every sports fan has to start somewhere.

 

If he's a beginner fan or has only recently started following his team, or has only been half invested, you don't necessarily need to jump straight into a jersey.

 

Start with a scarf or beanie.

 

They're easy to wear, instantly recognisable and perfect for heading to a game on a cold winter afternoon.

 

It's his first step towards proudly wearing his team's colours — without going all in just yet.

 

Level 2: He's Getting Invested — The Team Polo

 

He's watching more games. He knows the players. He's starting to care about where his team sits on the ladder.

 

It's time for a polo.

 

A team polo shirt takes his support beyond game day. It's something he can wear to the pub, a barbecue, lunch or another social occasion.

 

This is when he's starting to put his passion on the map.

 

He's no longer just watching the team.

 

He's letting everyone know they're his team.

 

Level 3: He's Ready to Jump In — The Jersey

 

Now we're getting serious.

 

When he's ready to fully embrace his team, there's really only one answer:

 

The jersey.

 

And you've got a couple of ways to go.

 

If he's still building his supporter wardrobe, a discounted jersey from a previous season can be a fantastic option. He gets an official team jersey without you having to spend as much.

 

Or maybe he's ready to jump straight into the latest jersey and wear exactly what his team is wearing this season.

 

Either way, once the jersey comes out on game day, he's officially invested.

 

Level 4: He Already Has the Jersey — Go Retro

 

So you check his wardrobe and discover he's already got the current jersey.

 

Great.

 

Now things get interesting.

 

Go Retro.

 

Retro jerseys make brilliant gifts for established supporters because they celebrate the history of the club rather than just the current season.

 

There are so many great Retro Jerseys to choose from, taking supporters back to different eras in their team's history — often some very successful ones!

 

It's a great conversation starter too. Chances are he'll remember the players, games and big moments associated with that particular jersey.

 

For a long-time supporter, that nostalgia can make a Retro Jersey an even better gift than the latest release.

 

Level 5: He's Got Everything — Think Beyond Jerseys

 

Current jersey? Tick.

 

Retro jersey? Tick.

 

Polo? Tick.

 

Scarf and beanie collection taking over the cupboard?

 

You're dealing with a serious fan.

 

This is where you can start looking beyond the obvious supporter gear.

 

A warm winter jacket is perfect for cold game days and something he'll get plenty of use out of during the footy season.

 

Training shorts are another great option. He can wear them around the house, to the gym, walking the dog or wherever else he wants to sneak a little more team gear into his day.

 

Training shirts, hoodies, track pants and other pieces from the wider team range can also be great choices for the supporter who already owns all the obvious stuff.

 

The Wild Card: Premium New Era Headwear

 

And finally, there's one gift category that's worth checking even for the fan who seems to own everything.

 

New Era headwear.

 

New Era regularly releases fantastic premium caps and headwear across a range of teams, with designs and styles that are constantly changing.

 

That's exactly what makes them such a good gift.

 

Even someone with a substantial collection of team merchandise is unlikely to own every New Era release — so there's a good chance you'll find something he hasn't already got.

 

Nailed it!

 

If you've gotten this far, it's likely you've completely nailed his gift this Father's Day. You're awarded with the Offspring of the Year Award - congrats!