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

Its all over for another year .

The AFL Grand Final Replay, of 2010 , saw the Collingwood Magpies,  run out convincing winners , over the St Kilda Saints .

Magpies fans were jubiliant , Saints fans distraught .To quote Age journalist
Peter Temple " the Age of Wood is upon us . And may the football gods have mercy upon our souls ".

Hird and Essendon , Thompson and Geelong , continue to receive much media exposure . Not bad for two teams whose season was a failure . Geelong , being knocked out of the running early,  in their finals campaign , and Essendon  , languishing near the bottom of the ladder , for most of the season.

Football Jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , were worn by fans . Many will continue to be worn , others will be packed lovingly away .

The other Saints , NRL team , St George Illawarra Dragons , won their first premiership in 31 years , against the Sydney Roosters .One lot of Saints , red , white , and black colours, raised in victory , another lot lowered , in defeat.

Fans love their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , and will continue to wear them , whatever the season or occasion.

Are they poised to become the next , must have , fashion accessory ?

Two True Blue Roos Jumpers

On the eve , of the Grand Final Replay, Collingwood Magpies and St Kilda Saints , are preparing for another closely contested match .

The Saints , still considered the underdogs , will play with an unchanged line up from last week , with the exception of injured ruckman Michael Gardiner who is replaced by Ben Mc Evoy .

Collingwood, have dropped mercurial Leon Davis , and replaced him with Tyson Goldsack .

Collingwood Fans , turned out in their  thousands,  to again watch friday training, at Goschs Paddock .

A feeling of deju vu , for both clubs tomorrow,  as they again take to the big stage of the MCG , to try and win the 2010 premiership.

Much has been written in the press , and televised in the media , about last weeks Game . More will be written after tomorrows clash .

Side issues have muddied the waters , eg Hird to coach Essendon , Ablett will be a GC Sun 2011 , and Bomber Thompson set to leave the Cats.

This week the Saints have dared to dream . Collingwood are not appearing as invincible as last week . Even the Magpies have stopped swooping the canine population in the local park .

The victor will be decided on Saturday , 2nd October .

Fans , will be watching wearing their team colours jumper , jersey , guernsey.

Can Saints have an historic Win ?

The unbelievable has happened,  with the  Collingwood Magpies versus St Kilda Saints , Grand Final match  , last weekend , resulting in a draw .

A rematch will be played on October 2nd , at the MCG , at 2.10 pm .

It is only the third grand final replay, in VFL/AFL history.

Both teams played valiantly but were denied an outright win. It wasn't the easy match , with Collingwood dominating, that most predicted .The Saints proved they are a force to be reckoned with , and almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat .

Adding further drama to the day, was the flooding of both teams change rooms , with a sewerage leak from a broken pipe,  making the rooms inaccessible after the game .

Most spectators ,shocked and disbelieving at the final siren will be back next week , same time , same place , same combatants .

Fans will be there wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys ,hoping for a result in favour of their team .

VAFA Saints Colours JumperVAFA Saints Colours JumperRoosters Jersey

Whilst the AFL stands to gain a huge financial windfall , from the rematch, there will need to be some hasty rescheduling of other sporting events , eg the VRC ,Turnbull Stakes Day, at Flemington racecourse , on 2nd October will probably be moved, to Sunday the 3rd October.

Luckily ,the NRL Grand Final between the St George Illawarra Dragons , and the Sydney Roosters begins at 5.00pm. It won't clash with the AFL Grand Final , which should be over by then . However the two minor NRL finals ,NSW Cup Grand Final , and the Toyota Cup (NYC) Grand Final,  scheduled to play at 12.00 pm and 2.00 pm respectively, will be on at the same time .

Sydney Roosters jersey

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

Saturday Looms as a great contest , between the St Kilda Saints, and the Collingwood Magpies .

Record crowds,  have turned out to watch Collingwood train, at Goschs paddock , resulting in road closures .

There are well publicised pleas from ex-players , fans and family , for Steven Baker , St Kilda's tough defender to play .

Must be Grand Final Week .

Collingwood , the new glamour side of the AFL , are tipped to win .

St Kilda, will try and on their day are very, very good , and could just pull off the miracle many are hoping for .

Collingwood Town Hall , is festooned with 2 banners that are the first two verses part of the theme song , and read, "Good old Collingwood Forever , they know how to play the Game ".

In stark contrast , the St Kilda Town Hall,  is adorned with three small red , white and black panels , that are transparent by night light .

The quiet underachievers,  or flashy show ponies ? I know who my money is on .

AFL football fans will be out in their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys, cheering their team onto victory .

May the best team win !

The Underdogs

The Saints to wear the Clash Strip

St Kilda , in beating the Western Bulldogs , on Saturday night at the MCG , advanced to the Grand Final . They will play the Collingwood Magpies ,who were successful in their preliminary final match, on Friday , against the Geelong Cats .

Last night, the Bronlow Medal was awarded to Chris Judd , the Carlton Blues Captain .He is a second time winner , having last won it in 2004 , when playing for the West Coast Eagles.

Three questions were asked last night .

Is Gary Ablett moving to the Gold Coast Suns?

Will James Hird be the new coach of  the Essendon Bombers ?

Are the wedding preparations for the Twigley / Judd , Nuptials finished?

Judd was at West Coast in 2004

All remain unanswered and all parties complain off being asked the question too frequently ? Perhaps if they  answered , it would stop the speculation . In not answering are they using a clever marketing ploy to gain them even more media exposure ?

Melbourne is awash with Finals Fever ! Fans are dressed for the Game, in their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys ,and are adorning their homes , cars, family and pets with their teams colours .

Tickets to the match are sold out with all available seating being exhausted .

Many will watch the epic struggle between these two great clubs, both with a proud history . One has Finals success ,  one has a distinct lack of it .

Collingwood's Jumper

Will it finally be the turn of the underdog to win ? St Kilda has recent Grand Final experience  , Collingwood does not . Can one of the least successful clubs in the AFL Competition beat the strength of one of the most popular ?

The might of Collingwood ,stopped Geelong' s assault on the flag, last night at the MCG .

In an impressive display of AFL football , the Magpies overpowered the Geelong Cats  .

Geelong , seasoned veterans of two premierships , and successful finals campaigns in recent years, had no answers for the marauding Magpies .

Fans were out , in their football jumpers, jerseys , guernseys, to watch the Game . The Collingwood army, were present with their legion of fans , voicing the low rumble " collingwood ' , through much of the night .

The Saints , take on the Western Bulldogs, in the second preliminary final, tonight at the MCG. Another epic battle , is predicted between these two mighty clubs . Both teams share a spectacular lack of Finals success , and  are set for a feisty competition .

Its Magpies season . Even walking the dog at the local park ,prompted an unprovoked attack from a native magpie .Was he protecting his nest, or did he spot the Saints dog collar, and just decide to stamp his authority?

Time will tell who the ultimate victor is. Love em" or hate em ' , Collingwood to use that afl commentators , hackneyed cliche , are definitely " up and about" .

Magpie Army

The AFL , has scheduled both Preliminary Finals , for night-time @ 7.45pm Friday , and 7.20pm Saturday .

Collingwood for 2010 Premiers?

Collingwood , play Geelong , on Friday night at the MCG .

St Kilda , play the Western Bulldogs,  on Saturday night at the MCG.

Lots of things, about the 2010 Finals Series, seem familiar .

Collingwood, walk the walk and talk the talk,  but are they capable, of winning the Premiership ?

Geelong ,  the reigning Premiers are quietly confident , as they present for another Finals series , and are a good chance for the Flag.

Western Bulldogs , the battlers from the West , are playing an exciting brand  of football , with the luck of Julia Gillard on their side .

The Saints , sentimental favourites of many, are poised to re-write history, and win only their second premiership, in their illustrious history .

Some questions abound .

Have the Pies , peaked too early ?

Will Geelong win , yet again?

Can the Bulldogs , get across the line,  carrying a  number of injuries , to their key players?

Will the Saints , finally hit paydirt?

Whatever the outcome , of this frenetic round of preliminary finals , of two things, you can be certain .

A record numbers of fans , will be out cheering their teams to victory, wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

That Molly Meldrum ,has already painted his fence in the red , white and black of the Saints. Is he a jinx?
Sit back , relax and enjoy . We're in for a bumpy ride to watch AFL Football at its finest.

A crowd of almost 82,000 , went to the MCG last Saturday afternoon , to watch , the Collingwood versus St Kilda Game .

It was a massive crowd,  for a typical , home and away clash of the Season. Fans love Saturday Afternoon Footy. They go in their football jumpers, jerseys, guernseys , to enjoy the Game.

The AFL , could schedule more Games, for a Saturday afternoon in Melbourne ,at either of the stadiums .

Collingwood Magpies , who have the most financial members in the AFL ,possibly comprised up to 50,000 fans.

The rest , whether Saints fans,  or just lovers of AFL football, voted with their feet . Hopefully the AFL , will take notice .

Interstate Games are hard for fans to get to !