Custom AFL Training Shorts for Club Squads: 2026 Guide

Club committees ordering training kit for the 2026 season need shorts that survive twice-weekly training, match the guernsey colours, and fit a squad that ranges from colts to seniors — this guide breaks down what actually matters when you're buying custom AFL training shorts for club squads.

TL;DR

Custom AFL training shorts for club squads need three things right: a fabric weight that handles Australian training conditions, a fit that doesn't ride up during a marking contest, and a print method that matches your senior guernsey without fading by round 10. For most clubs ordering 20-plus sets, a mid-weight sublimated short (roughly 160-180gsm polyester) is the safe Buy, while thin screen-printed blanks are a Skip for anyone training year-round. Read the custom AFL shorts guide for club and school teams before you lock in sizing.

Why this matters

A senior AFL squad in 2026 trains through two full pre-seasons of grass, gravel and wet ovals before the shorts even see a match day. Cheap shorts split at the seam within a season; the wrong fit slows recovery drills because players are constantly adjusting them mid-set. Get the spec wrong across a 30-player squad and you're reordering by July, which costs the club more than getting it right the first time.

Club committees also underestimate sizing spread. A single senior list can run from a 26-inch junior colt to a 40-inch ruckman, and if your supplier's size chart tops out at XL, half your forward line is stuck in shorts that don't fit properly.

Who this is for

This guide is written for club committee members, kit managers, and coaches sourcing training shorts for an entire squad — not a single player buying one pair off the shelf. If you're ordering 15 to 60 sets, matching club colours, and need consistent sizing across age groups, the criteria below apply directly. Start with the custom AFL shorts guide for club and school teams if you haven't briefed a bulk order before.

What to look for in custom AFL training shorts for club squads

Fabric weight for training volume

A squad training twice a week for a full 2026 season puts more wash-and-wear cycles on shorts than any single-game guernsey. Lighter fabrics under 140gsm break down fast under repeated washing and stretching drills. Mid-weight polyester in the 160-180gsm range holds shape through a full pre-season without going thin at the seat.

Fit that matches the training drill, not just the match

Match-day guernsey shorts are often cut tighter for a sprint-friendly silhouette, but training shorts need a looser leg opening for lateral movement, tackling bags, and repeat-effort drills. A mid-thigh length with a wider leg opening reduces chafing across a 90-minute session far better than a race-fit cut.

Print method that survives contact

Sublimation dyes the fabric itself, so the colour doesn't crack or peel when a player slides on gravel or grass. Screen printing sits on top of the fabric and is the first thing to fade or crack after 10-15 wash cycles. For club colours that need to match the senior guernsey across a full season, sublimation is the only print method that holds up.

Sizing range across the whole squad

A colts squad and a senior squad on the same order need a size chart that runs from junior small through to adult 3XL, sometimes 4XL for ruckmen and key defenders. Suppliers who only offer S-XL force clubs to split orders across two vendors, which creates colour-matching problems down the line.

Elastic waistband and drawcord durability

A waistband that loosens after a season of washing is a recurring complaint from club kit managers. Double-stitched elastic with a drawcord backup means players aren't hitching shorts up mid-drill, and it's one of the cheapest features to check before ordering.

Order logistics for a full squad

Bulk ordering 20-60 sets needs a clear process: name and number placement (if required), a size collection method that doesn't rely on guesswork, and confirmation of turnaround before the first training session of the season. Clubs that skip this step end up training in mismatched kit for the first month.

Top picks by training scenario

The senior squad standard — sublimated mid-weight short Built in the 160-180gsm range with a mid-thigh cut, this is the shape most senior AFL squads land on for training kit in 2026. It holds club colours through a full sublimation print, handles 20-plus wash cycles without fading, and fits a squad spanning 15 sizes without splitting the order. Buy for any senior or reserves squad training twice weekly.

The colts and junior pick — lighter mesh-panel short Junior squads training in warmer months benefit from a lighter mesh panel at the back for airflow, paired with the same sublimated front panel for colour consistency with the senior kit. It's a lighter build than the senior standard but still holds shape through a full junior season. Buy for under-16s and under-18s squads.

The wet-weather training short — heavier full-sub build For clubs training through a wet Victorian or Tasmanian winter, a heavier full-sublimation build resists waterlogging and mud staining better than a lighter mesh cut. It's slower to dry between sessions but holds its shape after repeated soaking. Consider if your ground is prone to standing water; Skip if your club trains mostly on synthetic surfaces.

The budget blank with club-colour trim A plain short with a screen-printed club crest and trim colour cuts the per-unit cost for larger squads, but the print starts showing wear by mid-season and the fabric doesn't hold shape as long as a full-sub build. Consider only for one-off carnival kit that won't see repeat training use; Skip for a full-season order.

Browse the wider Fecustom custom sports uniform catalogue if you're also sourcing training tops or guernseys to match the same colourway.

What to avoid

• Off-the-shelf blanks with no sizing chart — clubs that skip a proper size collection process end up with 8-10 mismatched sets after the order lands, and reordering mid-season is slower than getting sizing right upfront.
• Screen-printed club logos on training shorts — the print cracks under repeated washing far faster than sublimation, and by round 10 the crest looks faded next to a fresh senior guernsey.
• Single-supplier orders with no sample check — always confirm fabric weight and stitching quality on a sample set before committing to 30-plus units; a colour or fit mismatch across a full squad order is expensive to fix. The AFL guernsey guide for school sports carnivals covers the same sampling logic for guernsey orders.

Verdict comparison

Style	Fabric weight	Best for	Verdict
Sublimated mid-weight	160-180gsm	Senior squads, twice-weekly training	Buy
Mesh-panel junior	Lighter, mesh back panel	Colts and junior squads	Buy
Heavy full-sub	Heavier weight	Wet-weather training grounds	Consider
Screen-printed blank	Standard weight, surface print	One-off carnival kit only	Skip for full season

FAQ

What's the best fabric for custom AFL training shorts? Mid-weight sublimated polyester in the 160-180gsm range is the standard for senior AFL club squads in 2026 because it holds club colours through repeated washing and handles contact training without thinning out.

Is sublimation better than screen printing for club shorts? Yes, for anything used in repeated training sessions. Sublimation dyes the fibre itself so colours don't crack or peel, while screen printing sits on the surface and fades within 10-15 wash cycles.

How many sizes should a club order for a full squad? Most senior AFL squads span at least 10-15 sizes once colts, reserves, and seniors are combined, so confirm your supplier's size chart runs from junior small to adult 3XL or 4XL before ordering.

Should training shorts match the match-day guernsey colours exactly? Most clubs match training shorts to the primary club colour rather than the full match-day pattern, keeping training kit distinct from match kit while still looking uniform on the track.

Do club training shorts need pockets? Most AFL training shorts skip pockets entirely since they add bulk during contact drills, though some clubs add a small zip pocket for training-only sessions where players carry a phone or key.

How long do custom training shorts last for a full season? A properly sublimated mid-weight short typically holds shape and colour through a full pre-season and season of twice-weekly training, while lighter screen-printed blanks start showing wear well before finals.

Can one order cover both training shorts and match guernseys? Yes, most clubs bundle training shorts with guernsey orders to lock in consistent colour matching, and it's worth reviewing the guide to designing a custom AFL guernsey before finalising either.

What's the biggest mistake clubs make ordering training shorts in bulk? Skipping a sample check before the full squad order goes in — a fabric weight or fit issue caught on one sample set is a five-minute fix, but caught after 30 units arrive it's a season-long problem.

One last thing

The clubs that reorder the least aren't the ones who found the cheapest per-unit price — they're the ones who ran a sample set through one full week of training before committing to the squad-wide order. That single step catches fit and fabric issues that no size chart or spec sheet will show you.

Related guides

• Best custom AFL guernseys for amateur clubs
• How to design a custom AFL guernsey for your club