Beat the Friday the 13th blues, by attending tonight's  blockbuster at the MCG ,between Essendon and Collingwood.

Traditional rivals , Esssendon is playing with nothing to lose , as it takes a tilt at the finals ,whilst Collingwood are in top spot , and look strong contenders ,to take out the 2010 premiership flag.

Four Saturday Games , two in Melbourne , at the MCG and Etihad Stadium ,and two interstate , one in WA , and one in SA ensure a wide coverage for fans .

The round concludes with three Sunday games , one at each of the Melbourne venues , and one in Brisbane .

All games of the 20 th round of matches , will provide fans attending or watching in their football jumpers ,jerseys, guernseys , with a feast of entertainment .

will Collingwood win ?

The AFL unveiled its new team , the Gold Coast Suns , on Thursday .They will commence playing , in the 2011 Season.

Their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , are mainly red and yellow .
It has a wave design and a large GC logo . The clash strip, following the trend of rival teams with similiar colours wearing white jumpers , is mainly white with a blue wave design.

Home and Away strips are similiar with more yellow on the Away jumpers, jerseys , guernseys .Home shorts are red , away are white , clash are white .

A club song has been written .

Much media coverage has surrounded the establishment of this new AFL team .
Sit back for the ride as a new Queensland team enters the AFL Competition .

The other Queensland Team

With an expanded AFL competition, and inclusion of interstate teams, a big venue, Saturday afternoon ,Football Game, in Melbourne , is rare.

Will Collingwood Win?

Such a blockbuster, is planned for this Saturday afternoon, at Melbourne 's MCG . The match promises much . Its scheduled at the traditional time slot of 2.10pm , and combined with the large seating capacity of the Ground , a bumper crowd of 75,000 fans , are expected .

Tenacious Collingwood, take on flag hopefuls , St Kilda . It promises riveting entertainment, and thousands of fans will be out in their team's jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

Bring it on.

Will Saints Win ?

The modern day , AFL,  football jumper, is vastly different to its predecessor.

Old style Football Jumper

Its multi-coloured,  dri - fit , polyester , and is usually sleeveless, with a round neck , that has sponsors, team logos, and a number printed on it .

Contrast to the older style , wool or acrylic knitted football jumper , often with long sleeves , button up front , v neck or collar and logos and number sewn on .

Many supporters like the newer style of jumpers, jerseys , guernseys.

Many prefer the older style of jumper.

Personal preference between the two.

Perhaps fans like the traditional style jumper, which is soaked in relevant memories , whilst the new kid on the block is yet to build any.

New , modern , Football Jumper

Currently, the Australian Socceroos, are competing in the FIFA World Cup Series 2010, in South Africa .

Australian Football Top

Competing teams , in this World Cup,  play with a round ball , and have a different set of rules , and objectives, to  AFL Football.
Many European , Asian , African , and Pacific nations eg: Australia and New Zealand , are playing  .

Some things , don't change with the different code , of Football .

Referees, will always make unfavourable decisions , against players eg witness Tim Cahill's , sending off the ground , in the second half of the match , Australia VS Germany , on Sunday night .

Fans everywhere, will always wear their team's,  football jumper , jersey , guernsey , to watch the match, and support their team .

Australian Soccer Jersey

Its a rare occurrence , in an AFL football match , when the result is a draw ,  between the two rival teams.

This is what resulted, from the Melbourne Demons and Collingwood Magpies Game, on Monday at the MCG.

Fans witnessed a titanic struggle , between the two sides . Last time they played , earlier in the year , the struggling Demons , beat the premiership contenders Collingwood .

Hoping to do it again , the young Demons , put up a good fight .

Fans , barracking, in their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys ,were thrilled ,on their public holiday Monday , to witness an exciting conflict .

Neither team , ultimately , was able to prevail over the other to eke out a victory . Tired players failed , to kick an elusive score, in the dying minutes of the game .

Fittingly, both teams were rewarded , with an even distribution of the premiership points , two each .

Collingwood's inaccurate kicking, and the young demons tenacious spirit ,resulted in a rare conclusion to the match , a draw, nothing separating either side .

Disappointed players , but excited fans , have indelible memories , of this historic game .

Melbourne Demons

Collingwood Magpies

The Australian Socceroos, were soundly defeated by Germany, 4 -0 in their opening round game , of the World Cup .

The Socceroos, minus Harry Kewell, who was selected on the bench, received a further blow when striker , Tim Cahill, was sent off, in the second half with a red card .

Sleepy fans , ( many got up at 4.30am EST to watch the game ),outplayed Socceroos team members , and befuddled coaches and managers alike, are dismayed .

Some poor decisions were made , in hindsight .

Not the least of which , was the style , of the Australian , team jumper , jersey , guernsey .

Fair enough , have the Australian Coat of Arms , but the footy jumper , jersey , guernsey , was a bit on the drab side .

Why, weren't they playing in a colourful, streamlined , beautifully crafted , piece of apparel , like the modern day , AFL football jumper ?

I blame their lack of success on the jumper !

An AFL Football Jumper

International rules football, is played between Australia, and Ireland ,each October .

It' s a team sport, made up of gaellic ,and afl football codes ,developed so players of both codes ,can play together.

It showcases the players skills ,and attracts fans at an international level .
Begun in 1967, it is now an important part ,of the AFL's development plans,
who use these games, to attract fans ,ultimately ,to afl football.

International rules football, does not have any dedicated clubs ,or leagues and is played only , in tournaments ,or once-off test matches.

When played in Melbourne ,football fans, come to watch the game ,in their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys.

Australia Jumper

There has been much discussion about the Queens Birthday Public Holiday, celebrated this Monday .

This is not her actual birthday , which falls in April .

Many question the relevance of supporting an archaic institution , of British Royalty , and celebrating its leaders birthday.

Republican and Humanitarian arguments aside ,footy fans are the big winners .

AFL Football matches are played , on every day of the long weekend .

Games are scheduled to begin on Friday night , continuing on Saturday and Sunday , and culminating with Monday's Game at the MCG.

Its a media , broadcasting , and footy fans feast.

Record attendances , are expected at all matches .Fans will be out in their football jumpers, jerseys , guernseys to watch their team play .

Most will be in a relaxed , party mood , knowing they have the Monday holiday to recover .

God save the Queen. ( the birthday holiday at least ! )

Crows play in Tassie

Today's Age Newspaper features an academic engineer researching the aerodynamics of sports balls including the Australian Rules Football .

He claims soccer balls are more reliable .

A comparison is made between the new World Cup Soccer Ball and the humble Australian Rules Football.

Simplistically, the soccer ball flies more accurately but not as far .

The Aussie Rules Footy travels further because of its " shell " shape.

The laces , bladder and stitching make the air flow around the AFL football asymmetrical giving it an unpredictable or erratic flight.

Ask any disappointed fan on game day or disgruntled full foward of any afl team about the Footy and its unreliable path .

Sherrin make the AFL's footballs

The AFL football has not changed its design in 40 years.

Fans and players alike will follow the Football whatever the shape or design of the ball.

Likewise they will wear their jumper , jersey, guernsey to the Game and will be loyal and vocal in their support.

Ross Faulkner Native Brand Vintage Football