Its almost summer . The " Grannie " is over , and fans are either jubiliant or disappointed , by their AFL Team' s , 2011 , Seasons performance .

demons improved

carlton got close

The AFL trade period is on, new coaches have been appointed , and assistant coaches are being re - shuffled . The Rugby World Cup Finals continue in New Zealand , and the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival , has commenced. Cricket is on the not too distant horizon , as are the various  Yacht Races.

It begs the question , does the football jumper , jersey , guernsey , go on summer holidays ? For most fans the answer is no . It will be given an airing at other sporting fixtures , and is a popular piece of favourite apparel, seen gracing beaches , bbqs and other social functions during the " off season ".

baby lions jumper for summer

Saints have new Coach

A slightly bedraggled looking, Collingwood Magpies , footy jumper , was even spotted at yesterdays Caulfield Cup . Has it been doing the rounds since 1st October ? or was it pinched from the St Vinnies donation bag , outside the Malthouse Mansion ?

No Saints this year

Parts of Melbourne's  CBD will be closed for todays AFL Finals Parade . A cavalcade of Geelong and Collingwood players , will travel down city streets , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .The predicted cold , showery weather , will prevent some fans from attending the parade , and stop the players from walking the meet and greet .

Tigers for 2012 Parade ?

Further cold weather is forecast for Saturdays Grand Final with low temperatures ,  rain and hail expected . Those Fans , lucky enough to get seats , albeit out in the open at the MCG , will need to wear waterproof football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .
Can Collingwood go back to back ? Or will the Cats take the Cup home to Geelong ?

West Coast were soundly defeated by Geelong , at the MCG , in Saturday afternoons Preliminary Final . The meteoric climb from 2010 bottom of the AFL ladder , to fourth spot at the end of the 2011 season , seemed to take its toll on the tired Eagles .

geelong

wce eagles

That , and two trips interstate , plus two bruising finals matches , saw them unable to beat the  Cats . There were flashes of brilliance from the Eagles , with Natinui working the clearances doggedly, and Waters standing up well in defence , but the Cats overran the Eagles and posted a good victory .

swans

Blues

The Cats are into the AFL Grand Final against last years Premiers , the Magpies . Fans wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , were treated to two vastly different Preliminary Finals . Fittingly , the top finishing team is playing the second finishing team on the AFL ladder . Geelong have a history of beating Collingwood in both their matches this year . Both teams are now preparing for Saturday's match . May the best team win !

It was a weekend of great footy . Bottom side , Port Power , almost beat the top eight team , the Bombers , an emotional Swans side , defeated the Cats in Geelong , and the Saints thrashed the Kangaroos .

demons win

Interstate battles , saw the Tigers win against the Crows , the Eagles just hold off the brave young Lions , and Collingwood thrash Freo in the West . Hawthorn , comfortably beat the Bulldogs , and Carlton had a rest. Melbourne , with ailing club legend , Jim Stynes, looking on , beat the Suns at the MCG .

Fans , wearing their footy jumpers , were treated to some first class entertainment , with more to come in the upcoming ,

Hawks 7 , Buddy 5

AFL Finals Series .

AFL Weekend results were a mixed bag , with games providing fiercely contested battles , and  some surprise results .

Saints outclassed

The Crows were very good against Geelong in Adelaide , with the Cats scraping a narrow win by only 11 points . The Swans  in a shock 43 point loss to the  under-performing Tigers have placed their finals chances in jeopardy . This loss allows Fremantle and North Melbourne to keep their finals dream alive .

Carlton , Hawthorn , Collingwood , Geelong and the West Coast Eagles continue to win , broadening the gap  between the top five , and the next three contenders , for places in the eight .  The Lions won the  battle of the Queenslanders , and the Bombers ended the Bulldogs hopes of playing in the Finals  . St Kilda , couldn't make it seven wins in a row , and were simply outclassed by the silky skills of the Magpies .

wce = winners

Blues are winners

Its a  fierce  battle , between five teams , for the last three spots in the eight . Loyal fans , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , will be treated to some fine footy action in the three weeks of home and away matches , as the season draws to a close . 

Two AFL coaches have been sacked , injured players are being hastily rehabilitated,  and fans are being encouraged to buy three games season passes to see their teams in action , prior to the Finals .

Collingwood , are the favourites for flag 2012 , Cats ,  Hawks and Blues worthy challengers , with the  Saints making a late run . The WCE , in a miraculous recovery went from Wooden Spooners last year,  to serious contenders in Season 2011  . The Bulldogs , Bombers , Demons , Kangaroos , Swans and Dockers need to keep winning , and the Tigers , Suns , Lions  , Power and Crows appear to be out  of the Race.

Western Invaders

It is definitely the business  end of the Season as teams scramble for places in the Final Eight . Coaches are being held accountable for their teams poor performances , witness the exit of Dean Bailey , and Neil Craig before the Seasons end .

Lions good record in Finals

Footy Fans, thrilled by the recent action on the field , and  bemused by the off field manoeuvrings , are hopeful that their team can win a finals berth , and are  showing their support  by  wearing their teams football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys.

The Gold Coast Suns make their debut this weekend, playing Carlton on saturday night , at the Gabba . New team , flash footy jumpers , big name stars , a refurbished ground , and a match against a popular Victorian AFL team , offers great entertainment , for footy fans .

Carlton

A team not wanting to adopt a new footy jumper,  are the North Melbourne Kangaroos . They will wear their traditional striped home jumper , in the game against Collingwood Magpies, at the weekend .  As the home team, this is their  choice  , and they are opposing the Magpies , who refuse to adopt a clash strip . Confusion for all , or a clever marketing ploy ? Traditional jumpers , to be worn in a match , to be held at the traditional Saturday afternoon footy game time of 2.10pm.

old timer kangas jumper

Its Summer in the Southern Hemisphere , and the Christmas/ New Year festive season is approaching .

One of the headline stories on the  front page , of the Saturday Age newspaper ,screamed  " My Year of Pain ," exclusive interview with Ross Lyon . He is the St Kilda Football Team Coach . The Saints lost to the  Collingwood Magpies in the historic replay of the 2010 Grand Final . Readers were exhorted to read further.

It would appear ,  AFL   football is never out of the  news, no matter what else is going on,  or what time of year it is , in football mad  Melbourne .

The AFL would be delighted with such high level media exposure in the non - playing season . Footy starved fans will be relishing every headline grabbing statement .

In keeping with this spirit , many afl football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys will be wished for this festive season .Young and old fans , alike would love one in their Christmas stocking .

Young fan would love this signed retro Bombers Jumper

Just noticed on facebook  , that an avid afl football fan , had designed his own jumper . It was a Collingwood Magpies football jumper , jersey , guernsey, that had his name printed across the bottom , and the number 1 above it . Is he an obsessive footy fan , or just ,  " a  dedicated follower of fashion " ( 60 's Kinks song ) ? Its an interesting exploitation of the magpies brand . Or is it a clever marketing ploy , by Eddie and the gang , to wring even more bucks from the famous name ?

The mind boggles , at the possible combinations . If the fashion takes off ,  Santa could be very

Personalise this with your name and number

busy delivering personalised , afl football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , this Christmas !

Melb Ports old Swans Home

Last weekend , in the leafy confines , of Orrong Road  , Toorak , I spotted a huge , Collingwood Magpies team logo , painted on a front fence . Is it Eddie's McGuires pad , or just an ardent fan , still revelling in post Grand Final glory ?

Perhaps they got the idea , from Molly Meldrums annual painting of his Richmond fence , in Melbourne Storm , and St Kilda Saints colours ?

Also spotted yesterday , at a downtown Middle Park cafe , were Simon Crean, and Bill Kelty . They were joined by Brett Kirk , recently retired , AFL Sydney Swans player .

Wine , amidst BLT's , with icons of AFL footy plus Victorian Unionist and Federal pollies !

An eclectic mix , or a peculiarly Victorian formula for success?

It begs the question , is Captain Kirk , about to enter politics with the endorsement of the labor power brokers , in the Swans former heartland of Melbourne Ports ?

Footy and Labor , a heady mix !

It might be the off season for AFL Football , but its never completely out of our life .

Many fans are still wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , or like the owner of the fence , boldly enjoying victory.

Footy in Melb all year round