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

There are several TV programs talking about afl football.

Channel 10 screens ' Before the Game " which is on before they televise friday nights match .It is a panel with guest footballers , commentators and comedians.Very amusing , witty and good entertainment , it is generally a light hearted look at the footy.

The more infamous " The Footy Show " is on channel 9 on Thursday night .

It also has a panel made up of ex footballers , cricketers and afl commentators.

Featured are a panel of current afl players and media personnel.

Often controversial, it has won Logies in the past .Recently its popularity has waxed and waned with most footy fans still enjoying the thursday night spectacle.

Panelists support or play for an afl team They wear the football jumper of their chosen club invisibly but their is no doubt as to their clubs allegiance.

The audience participants wear their football jumpers, jerseys , guernseys.
Its a colourful spectacle as they boo , shout and roar when their teams football jumper appears .

Sam Newman's Old Jumper ?

AFL Clubs wear different jumpers to train in to those worn on match day .

These training jumpers , jerseys , guerseys have the club mascot , logo and sponsors printed on them.

The jumper is the popular sleeveless style made from close fitting polyester .

The training jumper jersey guernsey is usually only one colour from the teams strip . eg the Power have trained in all black guernseys or all teal ones .

The current training strip of the Brisbane Lions is all red .

It creates a distinctive looking jumper, jersey, guernsey and one that is hard to get .

These jumpers, jerseys, guernseys are rapidly becoming highly collectable items .

Fans wear them to the Game and supporters everywhere like to wear them and keep them .

They are unusual and are a talking point amongst fellow supporters and collectors.
.

Lions training jumper jersey guernsey

sponsors on back

Fans who have endured the long summer hiatus of football from their lives can take heart . The NAB Cup kicks of this Friday the 12th February for the opening of the AFL's pre - season competition .There are a succession of games to be played at venues around the country , in every state where AFL is played.

new jumper

old jumper

Footy starved fans can dig out their jumper , jersey , guernsey and other paraphernalia such as flag , cap etc possibly eschewing the scarf and beanie in 37 degrees heat . Its a time of celebration for footy fans everywhere , whether they are going to the Game or watching it on the TV the fans will be back in the old familiar jumper . Or perhaps not so familiar for Blues fans whose team this year is to be fuelled by lollies in their hunt for the Flag. Will they prove " a mars a day helps you work , rest and play ". All the teams photos for 2010 have been posted in the daily newspaper and it promises to be a blockbuster season. Get your football jumper , jersey , guernsey out of the cupboard , off the wall or down from storage now . Or better yet shout yourself a new one with all the new sponsors firmly in place . The scent of the turf and the bounce of the Sherrin is close

Football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys are rapidly becoming highly collectable . As fashions and styles change so does the humble footy jumper . Long gone are the woollen , knitted , long sleeve variety with button up front and club names sewn on front and numbers sewn on back . These jumpers branded a club and a team and whilst not high fashion made a club instantly recognisable and bonded the players to each other, their club and their code . Many a mum despaired as when faced with the mammoth task of washing team jumpers they battled the soiling , the wet winter weather , thickness of the wool and the near impossiblity of getting the jumper dry for match day . Today the modern slick polyester version is usually sleeveless has printed on everything ie numbers , logos , sponsors , names etc, is able to be washed and dried overnight and takes plenty of wear and tear . However the older style jumpers are enjoying a renaissance in their twilight years as collectors world wide hanker for the old school team jumper they played in, or their teams old strip . These jumpers often plastered in unfashionable sponsors logos for tobacco companies and breweries are highly prized . The items are much sort after and collectors and fans alike will pay a high price to secure a much coveted item such as an old Fitzroy Lions jumper . Will the new cartoon like logo of the Lions be as popular or collectable as the the Old Lions strip ? Only time will tell but every woolly jumper forever enshrined under glass has a story to tell which can only grow in stature as time goes by . Will they become the true legends of the game and gaze on in horror at the modern incarnations of this famed piece of sporting apparel ?

modern day west coast guernsey

old style footy jumper

What better time to buy your nearest and dearest a football jumper jersey guernsey than at Christmas . It is a most well recieved gift as footy followers of all codes everywhere appreciate loved ones acknowledging their support of a specific team . It may be your codes " off season " but the modern fashionable designs and styles of jumpers jerseys guernseys make this item much coveted and able to be worn anywhere , anytime as a valid fashion form .Shopping to purchase the desired team strip is usually hassle free as most sporting goods stores and reputable on line suppliers eg ebay have a vast range all competitively priced . Why not make someone you love happy with the much maligned Magpies jumper or the hard to source and irreplaceable vintage jumper of the ' old Fitzroy Lions " . Its a no brainer and makes Christmas shopping a relatively painless and stress free experience and you might be pleasantly surprised with the reaction to your thoughtful gift .

rare and collectable Saints jumper

St Kilda ran out winners over the  Sydney Swans  by 15 points in a game that saw the Swans goalless for 78 minutes of play. The Swans dominated the first quarter to lead by 27 points at the first quarter break.The Saints fought back through the superior ball skills of their midfield and beat the Swans at their own game by producing an impenetrable defence. The Saints provided a rousing opening round victory for success starved fans .

The Crows are flying high after treating their home town fans to a great game of footy at AAMI Stadium on Friday night. The Crows were out to revenge their loss to Collingwood last September on the same ground that starved them of Finals success. It was the Crows who scored the points when they ultimately outplayed the Magpies in a closely contested tussle that saw the victors win by only four points.

Michael Voss the new coach of the Brisbane Lions achieved success on his coaching debut when his team held on to beat the West Coast Eagles at the Gabba. The Lions defeated the Eagles by nine points   despite not kicking a goal in  the last quarter.  The Lions have not lost a season-opening match at the Gabba since 1998. Voss was happy to keep this record intact.

North Melbourne ably beat last years wooden spooners Melbourne Football Club by 34 points in a sunday afternoon game at the MCG . In a highly entertaining game which saw both sides display well honed football skills North Melbourne prevailed to win the game . Melbourne have improved and gave a good contest to the Kangaroos who are buoyed for their next game against the Western Bulldogs.

Power played an aggressive  hard tackling brand of football to run out comfortable winners over the young  Essendon Football Club. Playing at home in 31 degree heat the Power treated fans to an enthralling display. Essendon still undergoing major rebuilding of their team played a largely young side whose inexperience and skill level were to let them down on the night .Port ultimately won the game by 41 points providing all associated with the Power a boost in their times of financial difficulty.

The Bulldogs convincingly beat the Dockers in Subiaco at the weekend  by 63 points. The Doggies kicked their seaon off to a great start with a resounding win over the hapless Dockers who look set to endure another year of under achieving and unsatisfactory results.