New Zealand Hawks , have won the 2011 Youth AFL Oceania Cup Grand Final, beating Nauru by 21 points in Suva, Fiji on Saturday. The best player was a New Zealander , Shem Tatupu. AFL stars, Nic Natinui and Israel Folau have been cheering the locals on .

Island footy

Hawks in NZ

Countries involved in the series include Tonga ,Vanuatu , Fiji , PNG , NZ and Nauru. The Aussies , the Flying Boomerangs , played an exhibition match against Oceania  , winning very convincingly .

Oceania and South Pacific will field teams in the 2012 NSW  State Trials and NAB AFL Under-16 Championships.

AFL Football , currently enjoying the break prior to the 2012 Competition, is making inroads into the Oceania / South Pacific region . Will we see Islanders of the calibre of Natinui , joining the AFL competition ?. Fans would welcome their inclusion , and enjoy the spectacle , whilst wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys   .

WCE 's Natinui's Jumper

Tell that to the army of Hawks fans this morning . All , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , spent last night riveted on the edge of their seats , watching the Finals match between the Hawks and Magpies . The Hawks ferocious onslaught , on Collingwood , continued relentlessly all night . They outplayed , out-tackled and out - manoeuvred the Pies , in front off a spellbound audience , of footy fans . It was a magical game that Hawthorn deserved to win . Such is the fickle nature of footy , that a late snap at goal by a reject from another club , Luke Ball , saw the Pies run out victors .

wce eagles new jumper

wce eagles second final

Emotions boiled over . Jeff Kennett didn't get to don the striped jacket , whilst Eddie and his boys jumped for joy . Hawks coach , Clarkson , punched the roof of the coaches box at ground level , whilst Mick , behind glass , squeezed out a reluctant tear . Collingwood, get to play in another Grand Final , whilst Hawthorn can only ponder what could've been .

The Magpies have been exposed ,  and however wins out of today's Preliminary Final , be it the Cats , or Eagles , will be more confident they can topple the Pies machine , and create their own Finals history .

The Melbourne Cup,  has been run and won , and its all over bar the shouting .

Traditionally , the Cup, attracts the more unusual attire, amongst punters and racegoers .

The Members area , Sponsors Marquees , and Fashions on the Field,  promote stylish , conservative race day apparel.

Some attendees , wishing to have fun , often dress outrageously , or in a themed mode of dress . With many racegoers , being Collingwood supporters , it begs the question , " Was the traditional black and white of race day , adopted by fans , wearing football jumpers ?"

Increasingly, the humble football jumper , jersey , guernsey , has made a foray into social events , why not the Races ?

Was a Retro Richmond Jumper worn to the Races ?

Picture this , a local suburban park , inner Melbourne ,  Saturday morning , 10.00 am .

Two ovals , two teams playing Cricket in their traditional white sporting gear.

A cluster of parents and supporters are looking on . Several , are wearing their AFL Football Jumpers , Jerseys , Guernseys.

It may be Spring in the Southern Hemisphere,  when the sporting code shifts away from AFL Football , to Cricket , but many a fans thoughts, never stray far from AFL footy  .

Many continue to wear their beloved jumper , jersey , guernsey, whatever the Season , or sport being played , and watched  .

Baby fans at Cricket wearing Footy Jumper

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

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 !

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 ?

Vintage football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , are highly sought by football fans,  and collectors alike.

Often, they belong to a team that no longer exists, or has been amalgamated ,into another team .

Vintage Hawthorn Football Jumper

Popular teams in this category , are the Brisbane Bears , and the Fitzroy Lions .Both were either forerunners to , or were amalgamated , into the current Brisbane Lions team.

Avid fans and collectors , will seek out and secure football jumpers,  from this era.

Many collected jumpers are encased under glass , in frames , others are worn with pride , to the game .

Fond memories , of a bygone , gentler era , are embedded deep into these nostalgic jumpers.

The period during which they were worn,  evokes poignant memories of a simpler , spectator sport . Remember that lair on the field , Warwick Capper , in his very short shorts playing for the Brissy Bears?

Paul Roos , Sydney Swans incumbent coach , Captained and performed heroic feats proudly attired in his Fitzroy Lions jumper .

Memories , individual , irreplacable , and timeless, tied up with the fans reverie and nostalgia for a bygone era. All foster a love for AFL football .

Vintage 1987 Brisbane Bears Football Jumper

AFL Football, is a passionate game .

Just ask the Players, Coaches , Support Staff and Fans .

It can unite and divide. Family loyalties ,can even be tested, and friendship bonds breached.

At the conclusion of the match , after a great physical and mental contest ,there is usually only one winner , unless , extraordinary circumstances , deliver a rare draw.

Sometimes passions ignite ,and friendly banter , can turn ugly and vicious , both on and off the field.

Witness , Friday night's fiery clash , between St Kilda defender Steven Baker,  and Geelong forward Steve Johnson. Baker , finished the night with stitches in a blackened and cut eye,  arguably delivered, by Johnson's elbow to it .

Both are competitive , hard players , both niggle each other, on and off the field . It is their accepted ,style of play.

Fans enjoy the spectacle , many , attended the game in absymal weather conditions, in their football jumpers, jerseys, guernseys.

Fans don't want to see, on field spats , carried on after the Game .

Leave it on the field , don't turn it into a media circus , following the Match .

Another annoying , even predatory feature of Friday's game, was the reaction of Geelong players , to the umpires decisions.

Significantly, the losing side's players , argued vociferously with every decision.

Its a very unattractive feature of the modern game, which intimidates umpires,  and draws their attention away , from the game being played. Surely , the umpires decision is sacrosanct, and the AFL tribunal , is there to uphold any breaches,  of fair play .

A loser should accept the ump's decision, and be gracious in defeat. It's an inspirational feature,  of our great game .

Don't make fans regret , wearing their jumper , jersey, guernsey .

Saints jumper , jersey , guernsey

The AFL competition,  are having a split round of matches this weekend .

Five games are being played, 2 interstate, and 3,  in Melbourne .

The other three games , will be played next weekend .

Its called a mid season break.

One angst ridden fan,  was heard to mutter, "  how will I go the whole weekend ,without watching the Saints "!  The're not even on TV.

A game was played , on friday night in Melbourne,  with another on saturday night , and one today .

Fans , will either go to the matches in their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , or watch the games on TV.

Many , will watch from the comfort of their lounge room , and many , will wear their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , even,  if not at the match.

Nic Naitanui ' s Jumper will play today