The AFL publicity machine , has gone into overdrive , publishing articles on all of the above topics , in newspapers , TV and radio broadcasts .

Ben Cousins angst

Even the Melbourne Herald Sun , trotted out the tired old line on Ben Cousins , "I still think about drugs everyday  " , over the weekend .

VFL players being offered contracts with AFL Teams

It is almost  Summer , traditionally , the off season for football .

Rugby and cricket are in the news , with Australian teams playing in the UK , and at home in Australia .

The AFL , even in the off season , have managed to generate interest in footy .

A former Hawk , now a  new recruit to the Gold Coast Suns , has been employed , to write a column on his transition from a Hawk to a  Sun , and the difference in training regimes .

A list of the new young guns , the draft picks for 2011 , and the probable  team , they will be picked to play for  , has been published in the daily press .

Another article features VFL players who are to be offered AFL places . Finally an article on , Jack Riewoldt , of  the Richmond Tigers , and the Leagues 2010 leading goalkicker . His finger surgery , has been detailed , and it explains , it is to repair , a broken finger .

Footy fans , are keen to hear news of their teams , and readers are being treated to a feast of media exposure , compliments of a clever  marketing team at the AFL .

New recruits for the Demons

It would appear that ,  news of their teams , and football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , are never far from the footy fans thoughts  .

Its finally here .

AFL Finals Football . Ardent fans are going to the Football Finals ,this weekend, wearing their teams football jumpers, jerseys, guernseys .

Those Football Clubs in the Finals ,their Players ,staff , and officials adopt a very business like approach in willing their team over the line to receive the highest accolade , a premiership.

Its the culmination, of a years hard mental grind, and physical work .

Which team, can hold their nerve , and overcome all opposition to win ?

Only time will tell.

Fans , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys ,will be out to watch,  and cheer, hoping it is their team who wins.

AFL teams , not playing in the Finals , will just have to content themselves with the frock fest , of the Brownlow medal count !

All around the country on cold , weekend mornings , young kids are playing  AFL football, in local competitions and clinics  .

Parents ,often nursing hangovers , or lack of sleep , watch on, whilst their youngsters play .

Each kid is usually kitted out,  in their AFL,  football jumper , jersey , guernsey .

All 16 AFL teams are represented .

Obviously , parochial favouritism of local teams occurs , but generally each player has a liking , family history , or reason,  for supporting their team, and wearing the jumper .

Many , wear the number of a favourite player , on their back .

A kaleidoscope of colours , teams , allegiances in football jumpers, on a local scale .

AFL Football , is alive and well at grass roots level , as well as on the bigger stage.

Nic Natinui 's Number 9 for West Coast Eagles

Last night at Etihad Stadium , in Melbourne ,43,000 fans watched the dynamic Carlton Blues beat a lacklustre St Kilda Saints team.

In a bold marketing initiative ,the AFL has scheduled a Monday night game for the second year in a row.

It attracted an almost capacity crowd .

Fans were out in their jumpers , jerseys, guernseys.

Could this be the start of more Monday night Games ?

Two new AFL teams , Greater West Sydney and Gold Coast , are scheduled to join the competition in 2011.

The AFL has to find new ways to extend the fixture . A match played on a Monday night might be a viable option.

Betts and Blues

Saints need a goalkicker to replace Riewoldt

Both AFL teams , Adelaide Crows and Brisbane Lions have changed their mascot .

The Crows have adopted a new style crow . It is a stylised version of a crow and doesn't resemble the actual bird as much as the old mascot .

Brisbane Lions famously have departed from the old Fitzroy FC Lion mascot. They now use a Lion facsimile with a face printed on the Lion that looks out .

It bears little resemblance to the original Fitzroy Football Club Lion . This has angered and saddened many fans of the now defunct AFL Fitzroy FC.

Fans are generally not consulted about the mascot change .

Most accept the change and acknowledge that it is modern progress and still follow their beloved club.

Lots of fans like the old mascots .

It reminds them of clubs with a grand playing past and helps them relive memories of another era .

A slick , modern re-working of an old mascot cannot always claim the hearts and minds of fans .

Old style Crows Mascot

Old style Lions Mascot

Today is Anzac Day. A day when Australians as a Nation honour those
killed in War and those who survived.

Traditionally the AFL allow the two afl teams Collingwood and Essendon to play in the only match of the day at the MCG.

It must be asked is this fair and equitable to all the other teams in the competition and their fans?

These other teams and supporters have also lost family and loved ones to Australia's war efforts.

They also would like to attend a footy match on this day .

Ideally ,they would like to see their team play on Anzac Day.

Those two teams have enjoyed this preferential draw from the afl for a long time.

Why not West Coast ?

In the true Anzac spirit of the underdog prevailing against great adversity can other teams be given a chance to play?

A rotation amongst all the teams for match honours is fair and equitable .

All teams should get a chance to play on this one day a year.

Their fans should be able to choose to go and see them.

Will the match always remain between the afl' s two favoured sons or will the aussie way of all getting a fair go prevail?

Patriotic fans will don their teams jumper , jersey, guernsey and attend the sellout match just to be part of the spectacle and support footy .

Many would like to see a changing of the guard and have the match more fairly distributed between all clubs and their fans.

Why doesn't the AFL give it a go?

Protect the Baby Tigers