IMAGINE this. Your team has finished an underperforming season with a disappointing loss. You turn on the TV the next day, the day after your team faced its final humiliation, and there’s your favourite player dressed as a schoolgirl, a rock star, a sex offender, ready for a big day on the turps.

Doesn’t exactly scream “our season was a failure” does it?

By the last Saturday in September, the AFL silly season is in full swing, with only two teams still in the hunt for ultimate glory.

The pinnacle of end-of-season celebration is “Mad Monday” that has been made famous over the years.

It’s important for players to catch up at season’s end, over a few quiet drinks to reflect, unwind and debrief the season that was.

I love a beer with my mates as much as the next bloke, and for AFL players the off-season is the equivalent of Christmas drinks, because by the time December rolls around we are back to the strict regime of pre-season.

I do not understand, however, why players feel the need to wear these ridiculous costumes.

In 2008 the AFL threatened to cancel all Mad Monday celebrations when former Carlton player Brendan Fevola paraded around in a pink nightie with a sex toy wrapped around his waist.

For the record his team finished 11th.

Most AFL stakeholders cringe at the vision and I’m guessing the fans just feel ripped off.

While most Melbourne supporters were still bleeding from their team’s disappointing season, a couple of players decided to celebrate by dressing up as convicted paedophile Rolf Harris and what looked to be a young schoolgirl.

The action left coach Paul Roos ‘‘speechless’’ and having to apologise, unreservedly, on the club’s behalf.

Geelong has made Mad Monday their own and rightly so, as one of the greatest teams of all time with three Premierships and countless finals appearances in the last decade.

Matthew Scarlett and Cameron Ling must cringe when they witness rival teams dressing up to celebrate losing seasons.

Embarrassing Mad Monday celebrations are not code-centric.

The NRL’s Cronulla Sharks have done their battered reputation more harm after photos emerged of the players partying with topless waitresses at Mad Monday festivities.

Sharks supporters must feel like they’re being made a boob of after finishing dead last this season.

In contrast, Canberra Raiders’ coach Ricky Stewart banned all celebrations after his team finished in second-last place.

I overheard a young player at Port Adelaide throwing around suggestions as to what character he was planning on turning up as to Mad Monday.

Before he could get his second idea out Travis Boak snapped, “We will sort that out after we win a flag, mate”.

I didn’t think my admiration for my captain could get any greater, but it did with those few words.

Footballers across all codes do amazing community and charity work, most of which gets very little media attention.

It’s disappointing that days such as Mad Monday contribute to footballers getting a bad name.

Boys, do the code a favour and leave the dress-ups to the kids.