Its all happening in the so called , " off season " , of the AFL footy competition .
The Irish thrashed the Aussie team , in the two match International Rules series, held in Melbourne and Brisbane recently . Displaying superlative ball skills , and fine agility the Irishmen outplayed , outkicked and outmarked ,the hapless Aussies , who looked like a bunch of amateurs compared to the skillful Irish team

boags sherrin footy

Saints

Fans wearing their footy jumpers , jerseys , guernseys ,watched on in horror as the Aussies lost to the better team of the series .

Saints on Beach

Sherrin The Aussie brand besmirched by the Irish

Coaches and footy teams are talking uo their latest recruits whilst GWS , the AFL's new Sydney team , prepare for a draft pick coup on the 24 November .

The Saints are back on St Kilda Beach . Hundreds of loyal fans turned out , in their Saints football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , with new coach , Scott Watters , captain Nick Rieweoldt and defender Sam Gilbert to film ' saints on the beach ' . A new cocktail , you ask , no , its the Saints latest publicity stunt , to secure membership for 2012,  and promote the team . It is the earliest many bleary eyed fans have got out of bed , and ventured to St Kilda Beach , since their night clubbing days at Bojangles in the 70's , at the same location . On hand, looking resplendent , in their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys, the beach was awash with the red , white and black.

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 .

Carlton , winning their first AFL final for 10 years , defeated the Bombers at the weekend . Jubilant , they are into round two of the AFL footy finals . WA and the Eagles beckon . The quietly confident Blues are so not Blue about that . Nor are fans who will be cheering their Blues on , wearing the ever changing style of the Carlton football , jumper , jersey , guernsey .  

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 . 

The annual Legends Game , was played last Tuesday night at Etihad Stadium . The Big V , who were gamely captained by ' Kouta ' , retired Carlton superstar , and shambolically coached by Sam Newman , ex - Geelong Ruckman , snatched victory from the jaws of defeat .

The Vics train on this

25,000 fans , were treated to a night of on and off field entertainment , when the greats pulled on the boots , and thundered onto Etihad Stadium.

Rocca, kicked the Sherrin out of the Ground , Martyn's defence was watertight, and Straunchie scrounged the packs .The AllStars , who are the show pony's of the competition , razzled , dazzled , and tried to steal the game with goal sneak Fitzy's , kick after the siren .

The mighty Vics remained staunch , and proved again , when push comes to shove they've still got what it takes . Sure , bigger size footy jumpers were worn,  and the footy shorts waistbands have expanded , plus there is an explosion of bald heads on the ground , but Victoria proved why it's still the birthplace , and spiritual home of AFL Footy.

It was a win all round , as fans wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , enjoyed the spectacle , and gave funds to the EJ Whitten Foundation, who support people with cancer. Ted, wouldv'e been thrilled as the Vics , managed to "Stick it up 'em".

Vics have still got it

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.

Geelong Cats, rebounding from defeat , at the hands of the Saints, put an end to the Purple Haze , on Friday night. The westerners , ( Freo ) riding into town, fell at the hands of the easterners, at the shrine of AFL football , the MCG , in front of many imported fans .

Similiarily , the dogged Swans,  were ground down by the relentless Doggies, on saturday night at the " G .

Retro Footscray

Julia , and 40,000 barking doggies fans,  cheered their battle scarred warriors to victory .

Both the interstaters , were seen off by the Vics with a sniff of victory for  a local Flag , they have set tilt at the Holy Grail of the AFL , the 2010 Premiership Cup .

66' revisited for Saints ?

The big Cats take on the might of the Magpies,  on Friday night .

In a sense of deja vu " , the Saints battle it out with the Bulldogs , on Saturday night , at the MCG.

Both Games, promise much .

The AFL,  is delighted with this Finals Series,  which has provided much for fans , all wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys,  willing their team to victory.

Geelong and Collingwood , worthy combatants in a do or die Final .

St Kilda and Western Bulldogs ( aka Footscray ), both teams plaqued with a lack of Finals success , are sentimental favourites in many hearts .

Who will succeed? There won't be a man left standing , nor a dry eye in the house,  on the conclusion of both games.

May the best teams win !

Can Collingwood win the ultimate prize ?

Must be Spring . The AFL Football Finals are on .

Last weekend was the start of the 2010 AFL Finals Series.

It was superlative entertainment , of the highest level .

This weekend promises further excitement, with the scheduled round of matches .

Quite apart from the physical , mental and verbal jousts , of the on field action, fans have been treated to sledging , between rival coaches , on and off the field.

Its raw , action packed , and emotive stuff that is not for the faint hearted . Many Saints fans can attest to this after last friday nights cliffhanger . Patrons were overheard being asked in a Balaclava coffee shop ( heart of St Kilda territory ) on Saturday morning " hows the ticker " ? The game was so close many sainters were in danger of having a heart attack before the final siren !

The old adage " Winners are grinners and losers can suit themselves " is most relevant .

Local fans , who have endured a long cold , wet Melbourne winter , floods , and election uncertainty , are poised to wrench every moment of enjoyment, from this final series.

Supporters everywhere , wearing their football jumpers, jersey's , guernsey's , say " bring it on " .

Are Collingwood Flag Favourites ?

The first AFL , Football Final , was held last night.

Appropriately , the curtain raiser, was a match between the two Grand Finalists , of last year . The two Victorian teams, St Kilda and Geelong , playing on a Friday night at the MCG in front of 63,000 parochial fans.

It was adrenalin fuelled , frenetically paced action from start to finish .

The rematch promised much , and the Game delivered . Blood flowed , umpires were maligned , fans roared , fowards missed set shots on goal, but the gritty Saints, ground out a heart stopping win .It was a brilliant spectacle.St Kilda ,avenging last years devastating loss, doggedly prevailed with a four point win, over the marauding Cats .

Fans , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , were at the MCG .What started as a mild , dry night ended in torrential rain , with conditions both on and off the ground , becoming slippery and rain soaked .

High profile Saints fan , Eric Bana , was willing his team to win but so were many of the Saints faithful .

Whilst there are still games to play , many Saints fans ,  left the game with a spring in their step , a smile on their face, and a bit of hope in their heart .

Collingwood , flag favourites , play the skillful Western Bulldogs today at the MCG with a huge crowd expected .

Magpies Vs Doggies today

Julia Gillard , their number one ticket holder will be watching .Is her struggle for power , to be likened to the Bulldogs epicurean struggle , for victory over the Magpies ?

Its fast , its fun , its exciting . Who will be the ultimate victor ?

Finals footy is here at last,  and last nights match was a spectacular forerunner , of whats to come .

Can the Saints relive their 1966 Premiership Dream ?