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  .

The last round of Home and Away games,  for the 2010 AFL Football Season , are on this weekend .

Some teams will make a last valiant effort to gain a finals berth,  whilst others will shore up their position on the ladder.

Fans will be out , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , to watch their team play for the last time in 2010 , or to cheer them into the Finals.

It has been a tumultuous season .

Retirement of greats , troubled Ben Cousins , indigenous role model Andrew Mc Leod, and Bomber spearhead Matthew Lloyd.

Witness many controversial decisions,  ie : the disallowing of a winning goal in the Hawks / Saints clash, and the courtroom drama of Andrew Lovett .

Supporters have experienced highs , eg :Collingwoods emergence as flag favourites , and lows, eg : Jim Stynes public battle with cancer .

Its been a great season, and the finals of 2010 promise much .

Historically, its the last year of the current AFL competition, with 16 teams playing.

In 2011, it expands to a 17 team competition, as the AFL welcomes the Gold Coast Suns , and 2012 , ushers in the Greater Western Sydney team .

Whatever happens , fans will be along for the ride, wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys.

Will Cats get top spot back ?

Another scandal has erupted around Brendan Fevola . Media and TV reports have revealed he has admitted to having a gambling habit causing great financial loss.

This comes a few days after the Richmond Football Club were involved in a drunken fracas in Sydney . Several Richmond football players , including Ben Cousins ,have been suspended by their club for varying lengths of time.All were fined .

Whilst these exploits make good tabloid headlines are they detracting from the reputation of the game and its enjoyment by fans ?

Players wear their jumper, jersey , guernsey with pride . They play football for an AFL team and are paid well for their effort . Elite athletes who set an example for young people and encourage all to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, participate in a team sport and get regular exercise .

Does anybody really care how much wealth is squandered in gambling venues by AFL players .

How many stories can we entertain about mid season drinking binges?

Players wear their jumper , jersey , guernsey and play to the best of their ability .

All the other hype surrounding players behaviour can stay behind the scenes.

Let the viewing public enjoy the spectacle of the game .

tiger cub

devil in disguise?

Are the Blues finally coming out of the wilderness? find out 26 mar

20th march 2009

The AFL season kicks off next Thursday night the 26th of March with an opening block buster between traditional rivals Carlton and Richmond at the MCG at 7.40pm EST .

It promises to be a fantastic contest with two of the League's up and coming Flag contenders going head to head in what promises to be a fitting curtain raiser to the season .

All the big names will be playing including the new look Brendan Fevola sporting a shaven head playing for the Blues . The spearhead for the Blues has had a quiet summer concentrating on training and getting fit and will run on to the "G" in fine condition with the trademark curls well tamed like his temper hoping to provide the blues with a great start to the season.Have Carlton got what it takes to beat a rejuvenated Richmond in front of a huge home town crowd.?

The big news at Tigerland is the debut of Ben Cousins in his first AFL game since his well publicized battle with drug addiction . Can he give the fans and the Tigers their money's worth and will he provide a glimmer of hope to fans long starved of premiership success?

It should be a ripper of a curtain raiser to the AFL's 2009 Home and Away Season .