Two AFL coaches have been sacked , injured players are being hastily rehabilitated,  and fans are being encouraged to buy three games season passes to see their teams in action , prior to the Finals .

Collingwood , are the favourites for flag 2012 , Cats ,  Hawks and Blues worthy challengers , with the  Saints making a late run . The WCE , in a miraculous recovery went from Wooden Spooners last year,  to serious contenders in Season 2011  . The Bulldogs , Bombers , Demons , Kangaroos , Swans and Dockers need to keep winning , and the Tigers , Suns , Lions  , Power and Crows appear to be out  of the Race.

Western Invaders

It is definitely the business  end of the Season as teams scramble for places in the Final Eight . Coaches are being held accountable for their teams poor performances , witness the exit of Dean Bailey , and Neil Craig before the Seasons end .

Lions good record in Finals

Footy Fans, thrilled by the recent action on the field , and  bemused by the off field manoeuvrings , are hopeful that their team can win a finals berth , and are  showing their support  by  wearing their teams football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys.

Saints back in winning form

Some interesting results came from the weekend round of AFL matches . Several teams had wins following a string of losses , most notably the Bombers , Crows and Lions. A surprising outcome was the Bombers victory, over the previously undefeated Cats . Carlton thrashed the Tigers , and Collingwood defeated the Hawks , in front of a massive 84,000 crowd at the MCG .

Carlton poised to cause an upset in the Finals

The top four teams of the ladder seem set , the next four less so . Several teams are just outside the top eight , and need to keep winning , in order to secure a place in the Finals .

At this crucial point of the Season , fans supported their teams , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , and enjoyed the spectacle of watching good  footy played .

Some questions remain .

Will the Players request for greater revenue from TV coverage rights , make a dent in Andrew Demetriou's offshore fish and chip fund ?

Can the Magpies win another Flag ?.

When will the media stop reporting on Eddie McGuire's every  spoken word, and action?

Can CFC make it 16?

The AFL labelled last weekend's footy matches , the Indigenous Round , to honour past and present , indigenous footy players.

Traditional Tigers Jumper

The Richmond Tigers, wore jumpers with a local indigenous artists painting , replacing the yellow of their traditional sash strip . It was  a bold move that paid off  as this new style jumper , jersey , guernsey ,  proved a match winner for them in their game against the Bombers .

Geelong, managed a two point win over a fast finishing Carlton Blues side , in a fitting tribute to  Club Legend , Bob Davis , who passed away , earlier in the week .

Carlton

Last weekend saw mixed results , for all afl football teams . Collingwood , continued its winning streak , the Saints eked out a draw against Richmond , but lost Lenny Hayes , for the rest of the season to injury . The Gold Coast Suns , playing their first AFL game , were thrashed by the Blues , and West Coast upset the Power at home to win . Geelong scraped home against Freo , whilst a strong Sydney team beat the revitalised Bombers . Hawthorn and the Bulldogs beat their opponents , the Demons and the Lions respectively .

Fans supported their team , by wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys ,

Baby Magpies

to watch the Game .

Who can stop Collingwood ?How many games will the Suns lose ? When will the Bombers win again ?

All questions to be answered at the next round of matches . Its fun , its exciting , its AFL football , and fans wearing their football jumpers are along for the ride .!

Kangas to bounce back

The King of Sledge ?

On air radio sledging , by media man Eddie McGuire , with GWS coach , Kevin Sheedy , caused a furore this week . McGuire's comment " the land of the falafel " was used to describe GWS . It incited Sheedy , fellow commentators , and AFL fans .

The media savvy president , of the popular Collingwood Magpies , has achieved much publicity , even though the AFL Season , hasn't started yet !

Love him or hate him , Mc Guire , is a brilliant operator , who is able to gain exposure for the Game , and get publicity for his Club , with his clever media manipulating tactics.

Are the AFL are paying him a fee , for his skills ?

The NAB Cup , the AFL's pre season competition , begins tonight .

The 2011 Competition , begins on 24 March through to October 1 2011 . Its new format includes 17 clubs , and 24 rounds of matches . The Grand Final , traditionally played on the last Saturday in September has moved . It will be played on the first saturday of October , to accommodate new team , Gold Coast Suns , into the competition .

Sheedy's kids jumper

Vintage AFL Football Jumpers are a piece of living history . They are a knitted piece of nostalgia , reminding fans of  their first football jumper or their first footy game , played at their clubs old home ground , largely no longer in use .

Sure the newer , slicker models are ergonomically designed , and are rated as a superior product , but nothing beats the scratchy wool / acrylic feel , of the old model . The style of the jumper and the sponsors logos date it . They place it back in time , when footy was for saturday afternoon entertainment , and you could walk to your local ground , and buy a ticket at the gate . You stood if it was a big crowd , often atop the  slab of beer cans , that had been carried into the ground by your mates .

Vintage Football jumpers evoke a wave of nostalgia , and are still looking good . Generally they are smaller in size than the current models  but they are much bigger in reputation.

old style hawks

Footy' s Back

The NAB Cup kicks off its 2011 season, in Adelaide , on Friday February 11 .

Its a new format , with three teams playing three games , on the one night .

More Games will be played, around the country , over the remainder of the weekend , and the following weekend .

Finals footy ,will be played amongst the successful teams , with the ultimate victor taking out , the coveted,  NAB Cup .

2 for the price of 1 in tiger cubs

Tickets are reasonably priced .Those fans who are under 18 years of age , who register their details online , are given free entry .

Proceeds are going towards helping community football clubs, affected by the floods.

Dust off your  football jumper , jersey , guernsey,  and wear it to the Game , or buy a new one .

Tickets , for the NAB Cup ,  are on sale from the 31st January 2011.

Carlton Blues

AFL Football is cut throat . Results are demanded , for a teams success , and coaches are sacrificed, if they are not forthcoming . Just ask Terry Wallace , Dean Laidley, and most recently Mark Williams.

AFL is a high powered, elite sport .The coach and his support staff are ultimately accountable for the teams success , and must justify the vast sums , spent on achieving this .

Supporters , often oblivious to behind the scenes wrangling , also demand a high level of achievement from their club . They go to the footy, wearing their football jumper , jersey , guernsey , believing their team can win.

Power axed Coach

The Riewoldt playing phenomenom , has hit the Richmond Football Club.

Jack Riewoldt , younger cousin to St Kilda Superstar Nick , has re-ignited the Richmond Football Club's playing style,  and given fans hopes of a bright future.

Following dismal form last year , and poor results earlier in the season the Tigers , have bounced into a winning style , all of the boot of this talented youngster.

The Saints, look foward to welcoming his Cousin Nick , back to the fold in round 15 of the AFL season .This follows ecovery from an horrific hamstring injury, sustained earlier in the year.

Tigers faithful , finally have something to smile about, and are grateful to Riewoldt, for putting the mojo back into their ailing club .

Loyal supporters ,wearing their football jumpers, jerseys , guernseys , have been thrilled , watching the riveting spectacle put on by these two talented players.

Two superlative players , related by blood and united by a love of footy .

Yes , in this case , lightning does strike twice !

Jack's baby Jumper

Nothing like it , Sunday afternoon in Melbourne , hundreds of fans surging down city streets , towards the  Football Stadium.

Most , are dressed in their teams colours , including football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys.

Cheerful expectation builds as the Ground gets closer.

All walks of life are represented . A feral , hippie young woman, sporting patchwork pants and dreadlocks with her Saints jumper on top. Family groups with flags , and kids with their favourite players number on the back of their jumper.

Groups of Gen Y's in their jumpers , beanies or scarfs . There are also the senior fans with hand knitted scarfs , thermos 's and grey rinse perms , who have loved this game , and their team,  and come to the footy , throughout their long life .

All love the footy .

The atmosphere , the camaraderie , the building excitement , the roar of the crowd, the physical highs and lows of the players , even the smell of the turf .

AFL Football is a great spectator sport , and nothing rivals a closely contested Game,  for fans enjoyment.

Melbourne is Football