Oh when the Saints come marching in

Will it rain on the Cats parade

Its come down to the final two top sides of the 2009 afl season playing for the ultimate prize .Geelong are pumped and confident further buoyed by Gary Ablett Jnr’s brownlow medal win of Monday night .Businesses and homes in and around Geelong , the surrounding areas and country towns are proudly displaying their colours.Cars are flying local newspaper issue flags . St Kilda and surrounds by contrast is eerily quiet its team going about their business quietly and methodically . All are down playing the hype and sentiment of their 09 tilt at the flag .Many remember the debacle of the 97 campaign and for a team with a poor premiership and playing history they are stoically getting on with it .The St Kilda Town Hall has a flag out and 2 pubs are sporting wrap around red black and white tri colours .The Sacred Heart Windsor Op Shop has expanded its window display to include more Saints paraphernalia but the religious icons remain as silent witness to a modern day miracle if the Saints win . Come saturday evening the contest will be decided and whether its the cocky Cats or the sanguine Saints who prevail it promises to be an epic battle the like of which has not been witnessed at the G for a long time .

The winners of the pre season NAB Cup Championship were the Geelong Cats who had a convincing win over the Collingwood Magpies .
GFC or the Geelong Cats , as they are known on footy fixtures so as not to be confused with the acronym Global Financial Crisis provided fans with a pre season taste of real life footy action that the fans hope they will bring to the 09 season.
As winnners of the 07 premiership and runners up to the Hawks in 08’s GrandFinal Cats Fans everywhere are hopeful that this Grand Final win will be repeated in the 09 AFL Season .Can they shake of the pussy cat tag once and for all !

Docklands Football Ground has changed names again and is now known as Etihad Stadium . It has had various name changes in recent times including Colonial Stadium and Telstra Dome and now it is the UAE air carriers turn to weigh in with a piece of the sponsorship pie . Do players fly like a jet ? or are fans in for an armchair ride with new naming rights ?

AFL Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick has shown a distaste for certain aspects of the modern game of football. In a candid interview with Age sport journalist Caroline Wilson he stated a liking for the traditional style of kick ,mark , handball style of playing. When asked what he didn’t like about the modern game he replied handball but wouldn’t comment further .

New AFL Gold Coast Football Club Supporter Gear will be available shortly.

An official Sherrin Football autographed by AFL Adelaide Crows