Two closely contested games were played out on Easter Saturday . In a thrilling finish the Gold Coast Suns defeated Port Power in Adelaide . The Gold Coast Captain , Gary Ablett , played a pivotal part in their win and has perhaps , now , silenced criticism , for staying in Melbourne for 2 extra days after their last defeat.

Carlton were successful against Adelaide , snatching victory by one goal . The beleaguered coach of the Crows , Neil Craig , will be under increasing scrutiny , as his team has had a poor start to the Season .
The eveness of the teams in the competition are reflected in the close results of all matches played so far .
The Anzac Day blockbuster between Collingwood and Essendon , and the following days Geelong Vs Hawthorn match , promise much for eager footy fans .

Lions were beaten on Thursday

Can Collingwood Football Club produce a Hat-trick , and win three consecutive ,  AFL premiership flags ?

The winners of the 2010 Premiership , believe they can  , after winning the pre season 2011 NAB Cup .

Collingwood ,are confident they can dominate the AFL  Home and Away Competition, in 2011 , to win ' back to back flags '.

In an ironic twist of fate , Mick Malthouse , Coach at CFC , was crowned " King of Moomba" , by retiring " Queen " Molly Meldrum . Meldrum is a staunch Saints fan , the afl team , annihilated  by the Magpies , in  the historic 2010 Grand Final Replay .

Saints in 2011 ?

AFL fans, and others , could be facing a decade of Magpies Domination !

The AFL,  Grand Final Parade, is on today, the 24th September ,  in the Melbourne CBD.

Two football teams , St Kilda Saints , and Collingwood Magpies , players and coach , will wave to the expected crowd of 50,000 fans from the back of utes

It starts outside the Arts Centre at 12.00pm , proceeds down swanston st, into collins st , and up the hill to the old treasury building . Here , captains of both teams , shake hands, and the Premiership Cup is unveiled .

Melbourne weather , is finally producing a 20 degrees day ,the first since May.

Fans , watching , will be wearing their teams football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys.

Saints Supporter Gear

AFL Football is cut throat . Results are demanded , for a teams success , and coaches are sacrificed, if they are not forthcoming . Just ask Terry Wallace , Dean Laidley, and most recently Mark Williams.

AFL is a high powered, elite sport .The coach and his support staff are ultimately accountable for the teams success , and must justify the vast sums , spent on achieving this .

Supporters , often oblivious to behind the scenes wrangling , also demand a high level of achievement from their club . They go to the footy, wearing their football jumper , jersey , guernsey , believing their team can win.

Power axed Coach

Geelong are happy to "get it on "

The  AFL season started on Thursday night at the MCG with traditional rivals Carlton and Richmond playing in a much publicised opening game .

Richmond selected newly signed recovering drug addict Ben Cousins on their team along with their other superstars Nathan Brown and Matthew Richardson and up and comer Jack Riewoldt. The Tigers favoured an experienced line up with many experienced players taking on the younger less experienced Blues. The Blues selected four first gamers in keeping with an established team re-building youth policy by Blues Coach Brad Ratten. The Carlton youngsters  all acquitted themselves admirably  helping the Blues to an 83 point win over a lacklustre Richmond side. The Tigers woes were further compounded with a disappointing hamstring injury to Ben Cousins who was forced to leave the ground in the last quarter .It has been confirmed he will miss 3/4 games by embattled Tigers Coach Terry Wallace .

In a closely fought rematch of last  years Grand Final   the Cats were successful victors over  the Hawks by eight points . It proved an action packed contest with fans treated to a great Friday night spectacle at the MCG.  All the big names played hard including Lance Franklin and Luke Hodge for  the Hawks both of whom were reported .The Cats players managed to combine well to beat the Hawks on the night but have also sustained reports for players  Max Rooke reported for rough conduct and teammate Andrew Mackie booked for striking Brent Renouf.