The four AFL teams , that finished in the top four spots on the AFL ladder,  are challenging , in Preliminary Finals  . The winners of the two matches , will play off in the 2011 Grand Final . 2010 Premiers , Collingwood , who finished on top of the ladder , play third finisher Hawthorn . Second placed team , Geelong , play fourth place getter , the West Coast Eagles .

geelong flag

carlton

At the weekend , the Hawks overpowered the Swans to progress to the next final . In a thriller in WA , the Eagles were lucky to defeat a fast finishing Carlton side .

wce footy jumper

Great footy action, is promised by both Preliminary Finals matches , and all teams will be striving to win a place in the Grand Final . Footy Fans , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , will be willing their team to win .

Friday nights second semi final , at the MCG , between the Swans and Hawks , treated fans to some great footy action .The ' Buddy magic ' show had come to town and the 55,000 fans , in attendance , many wearing their football jumpers, jerseys , guernseys ,enjoyed the spectacle . The Swans were defeated by the rampaging Hawks , much to the delight of the parochial crowd .

blues traditional jumper

eagles home jumper

In WA,  Ross Lyon , STKFC 's defecting coach, faced the WA media . His departure  has launched a facebook and twitter furore from  saints fans ,  including Molly Meldrum , who says he brought boring footy to the club .

Elsewhere in WA , the Blues trained in their baby blue football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys . Does this mean they will tackle the Eagles tonight in the non traditional , baby blue coloured football jumper ?

With the first week of the AFL  Finals Series , being played out over the weekend, fans were treated to some competitive action .

CFC

carlton jumper

The Cats overpowered the Hawks on Friday night at the MCG in a thrilling final . Hawthorn star Buddy Franklin , suffered a possible season ending injury , much to the dismay of Hawks fans , and football lovers alike.

.2010 Premiers , Collingwood , beat last years wooden spooners ,the Eagles on Saturday afternoon at the MCG . The Saints , despite playing at their home ground of Etihad Stadium , were outplayed by the  Swans on Saturday night . Similiarily , over 90 , 000 footy fans , witnessed the  Blues thrash the Bombers by more than  10 goals , in blustery conditions , at the MCG on Sunday afternoon .

In the second week of the Finals , Hawthorn and the Swans play on Friday night  at the MCG . The Blues travel to WA , for Saturday night's clash against the Eagles . Both games promise much excitement , and fans will be watching , wearing their  football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

swans jumper

wce jumper

This weekend is the last round of the 2011 AFL Home and Away Season .

Saints + win

white carlton jumper

The top eight teams are decided , now all that remains is for the various placings, in the eight , to be finalised .

Can Collingwood continue their unbeaten record , or will Geelong , reeling from last weekends surprise defeat , cause an upset victory at friday night footy ? Hawthorn , currently third on the ladder , is poised to steal second spot if they defeat the Suns , or they could be tipped down to fourth spot if they lose and the Eagles win .

Tigers in 2012 ?

wce to fly ?

Carlton and Essendon, will hold fifth and eighth spot respectively , as Essendon have a bye this week and Carlton will retain fifth spot , win, lose , or draw. St Kilda and Sydney have tough games , with the Saints playing the Blues , and the Swans playing the Lions . Their spots in the eight could be reversed , but both are up for a hard finals campaign .

The rest of the teams in the competition will play their last game for the year , with a mixture of pride and regret , and will look foward to a holiday break , followed by a frantic trading period , then training for a 2012 campaign .

Its a bittersweet weekend for many fans , and all will be watching , to cheer their teams to victory , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

Swans in finals

Vintage Demons

Three AFL coaches have been sacked in the last month , and there are only three rounds of games , to play in the AFL, 2011 footy season .

swans

Blues

Friday night footy at the MCG saw the Hawks hold off a fast finishing Blues side .It was a low scoring , fiercely contested tussle between two top four teams .This weekend sees the Saints , Bombers , Bulldogs , Lions , Freo and Crows travel interstate whilst the Magpies , Gold Coast , Power , Eagles , Swans and Kangaroos host visitors at home . Geelong score a rest and in a battle of co-tenants at the MCG , Melbourne play Richmond on Sunday afternoon at the MCG .

Much jostling for the top eight spots , particularly 5th , 6th , 7th, and 8th spots , will play out over the weekend . Off field media posturing is also occurring ,whilst sledging is rife , between opposition club coaches and players . Conjecture as to who will coach which team , and who will play off in the finals is also receiving much media attention .Faithful fans will get to matches , expecting great entertainment  , wearing their teams , footy jumpers , jerseys , guernseys.

Its 3 to go and counting .

wce

AFL players , and fans can behave badly . AFL Coaches should not . Sorry , its a little word , say it , and move on Mick .

STKFC

Elsewhere , fans are girding their loins and donning their football jumpers  , whilst watching games , and asking the question ,  will we make it ? Watch the footy over the next few weeks , and enjoy some spectacular action,  as teams , desperate for a place in the Finals , play some truly inspirational footy .

Mick's old Jumper

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 . 

What are the odds on the  Saints making it 7 in a row ?

Saints = 7 ?

Has Adam Goodes survived  kicking practice ?

Will the Magpies go off the boil ?

Carlton Mars Jumper

Are the Demons able to win one ?

Why do the Hawks play well in Tasmania ?

How do the Eagles do it ?

Can the Dockers travel ?

Who will win the wooden spoon , Power or Crows ?

Does Queensland sand in the footy shorts prevent the Suns and Lions winning?

Will  Judd make it three Brownlows in Season 2011 ?

Is a Final to be played at the Cattery ?

Vintage Lions

Swans in winning mood for 2011

Will all eyes be on the  Kangaroos over the next few weeks ?

Do the Richmond  Tigers disappoint fans this weekend ?

Can the Bulldogs give it one last yap ?

Fans , watching and hoping , are dusting off  their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , to wear to the AFL Finals Series .

AFL Season 2011 rolls on with some interesting results , from the Weekends matches . St Kilda did enough to quell the Dockers , the Cats  thrashed the Suns at Geelong , and the Bombers scored a plucky win when Swans skipper Goodes, missed the winning goal , from the top of the goal square  . The Crows just edged out the Lions on the Gabba .

Lost their Power ?

The Hawks and Kangaroos slogged it out in wet, freezing conditions in Tasmania, for a Hawks win , and the Eagles held off a fast finishing Tigers side, over in the West . Carlton easily beat Melbourne , and in a huge blowout , Collingwood mercilessly flogged the Power , in a bitterly cold and wet match , on Saturday night in Adelaide.

Blues keep winning

Players are talking trades , coaches are being head hunted , and fans are relishing every moment of the on field football action . As bemused , passive observers of the off field manoeuvrings, spectators are getting to matches , showing their support by wearing their teams football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys . All are hoping their team makes it to the Finals series.

The 2011 AFL competition is providing on and off the field entertainment , as teams race to the 2011 Finals Series .

Round 20 sees Collingwood , making a rare trip away from their MCG home base , to play Port Power in Adelaide . St Kilda take on Freo in Melbourne , for Friday night footy , and Tassie is host to the Hawks and Kangaroos , in a prelude to the Kangas playing in Tasmania in2012.  In Geelong , Gary Ablett will face his old club , the Cats , with his new team the Gold Coast Suns , and in a battle of the underdogs , the Lions are home to the Crows .

Melbourne Demons , hoping for a win , to quell on , and off field dramas , are playing Carlton at the MCG , in a traditional Saturday afternoon game of footy . In the ongoing battle for top eight places , Essendon play the Swans  on Saturday night in Melbourne , and the luckless Tigers face the Eagles in Perth . The Doggies are having a much needed rest .

Young Saints want to keep Winning

Excitement is high , close results are predicted , and epic struggles are promised , as teams slug it out for the holy grail of AFL dreams , a place in the Finals . Fans will be along for the ride , cheering their teams to victory , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys, guernseys .