The NAB Challenge ,  the prelude to the AFL Home and away Season , starts on Wednesday , February 11 , 2014 .

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It is a consecutive series of games , played by all 18 AFL teams , over 18 days . Each team plays two games at night at grounds all around the country .

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These games are followed , by a round of practice matches of all teams , in March 2014 .

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As summer draws to a close footy starved fans are sure to go along to both the NAB Challenge and Practice Matches to support their teams , whilst wearing their AFL Football jumpers ,Jerseys , Guernseys .

Gasp ! shock , horror ,alright I admit it I was away for the month of September and missed the entire 2012 AFL Football Finals Series .

As a self confessed lover of footy , and regular attendee at Finals matches , it did feel a little strange ,   like I was disembodied from the whole spectacle .

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I went to the Grand Final , in a grimy , overcrowded pub in Shepherds Bush , London , with an eclectic mix of Aussies , Poms and Kiwis . All were celebrating the match with beer , pies and footy jumpers . Sporadic cheers , rippled through the crowd , especially when Sydney got a goal , and audible sighs , were unleashed when Buddy missed .  Many AFL Football Jumpers , Jerseys , Guernseys were visible amongst the 4.30 am party mood crowd .

Having been to  a GF in recent tiems at the MCG it is hard to replicate the crowd , noise , adrenalin and pure enjoyment of watching the spectacle . Many die hard fans tried in Shepherds Bush, with beer the lubricant and a love of the Game as a common bond . Stumbling out into  the freezing Shepherds bush morning and staggering towards the tube , it all felt a little surreal .

What I did do though was go to an EPL between Westham  and Sunderland .  A beautiful sunny day , very helpful staff  and a sea  of  excitable  fans saw us tube across town to take our  Seats were third row from the back in the packed Bobby Moore . Upon arrival the Hammers were signing " I'm forever blowing bubbles " adding to the electric atmosphere . Sunderland goaled early which resulted in their fans singing and heckling during the entire match  . Supporting Westham was like following my AFL team St Kilda  , as they had all the play and attack but kept peppering the goals and missing. Chants of the ref is a wanker , and " you welsh x#? #" expletive deleted were common .

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Finally Westham  broke through for a goal in the last half with only ten minutes of play left . The stands erupted as " bubbles " was roared across the stands and many stood , gesturing  and shouting " who are ya "  to the rival fans .  Millions of bubbles , released from machines heralded the end of the Game . Jubilant fans of both teams made an orderly exit to the Tube , under Bobby supervision , with the mood on the train being enhanced by fat hammers fans , drinking , burping , farting and singing their way home .A brilliant day out had by  all. The Poms love a footy match and can put on a spectacle .

The Tigers played an exhilirating style of football last weekend , to soundly defeat the Hawks .  Tigers fans loyalty was rewarded when their beloved team posted a  victory . Jack Riewoldt kicked 6 goals in an impressive display .The Saints fans were similiarily rewarded on Saturday night , at the Dome , when they witnessed their team defeat the Swans . Their spiritual leader , an indefatigable Lenny Hayes ,  celebrating his 250th Game ,was chaired from the ground  .

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Melbourne's poor playing form continues as they have yet to win a match this season, and were thrashed by the Blues.

The West Australian Derby ,

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saw the high flying Eagles beat the dowdy Dockers .Collingwood maintained their impressive away games winning streak by downing the Crows in Adelaide . They have won 14 out of their last 15 interstate matches

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Fans , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys attended the games and enjoyed the thrilling spectacle that is AFL Football.

Breaking news this week in the AFL .

Fremantle want to recruit out of contract Collingwood ruckman , Travis Cloke . Whilst Lyon , Fremantle's coach , denies interest in Cloke , Freo appear keen to secure his services  .

St Kilda player , Stephen Milne , has again attracted unwanted publicity , surrounding 2004 rape allegations , after kicking 500 goals in the AFL.

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Setting themselves a seemingly impossible task , Melbourne Demons , remain positive about season 2012 , hoping to achieve their first win of the year, against the Cats , this weekend .

The NMFC coach , who questioned a goal umpires decision not to pay a goal to Roos player Goldstein , has apologised and thus avoided a fine .

Social media twitter , has been used by angry fans , to abuse Essendon Bombers players and officials. Lonergan , a Bombers player , attracted the ire of fans after popular Carlton player Carrazzo , was injured in a tackle in last weekend's game .

The AFL football , the whole reason for the games existence is to be investigated . Every aspect of it's construction , performance , endurance etc is to be examined , via a GPS device being inserted into it . Is nothing sacred and what will this scrutiny of the humble Sherrin reveal ?

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AFL footy has it all .

Internal club squabbles and wrangling , sackings , droppings , re-instatements and apologies . And that' s just the off field action .

On field saw some ripper tussles between classy rivals . The Cats scraped a win over the Hawks , Freo and Port got close to Sydney , and the Bombers respectively . New kids GCFC and GWS , were soundly beaten by old combatants the Saints and Kangas. Carlton and Collingwood put on impressive displays to beat the Lions and Tigers . The Doggies were defeated by the Crows . A beleagured Melbourne FC

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, mirroring their off field turmoil , were annihilated by the powerful Eagles.

Round 3 promises much . Scheduled , is  a friday night blockbuster between old foes , Carlton and Collingwood . Co-tenants of the MCG , the Demons and Tigers play on Saturday , each hoping for their first win of the Season .

Interstate duels , reports , close finishes , and fast paced action provide fans with superlative entertainment . Fans wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , are loving the action , thrill and spectacle that is AFL footy .