The Draw has been announced for the 2012 Footy Season . GWS joins the competition , making it an 18 team fixture , with more interstate matches , and a bye period of rest breaks , for all teams.

crows

All Clubs are required to travel interstate at least five times . Collingwood , Hawthorn and Geelong , the top three finishers in 2011 have big games scheduled. The  AFL hopes these games can draw large crowds ,  will provide great entertainment , and  help to consolidate these teams ,  and footy's popularity .

Geelong unfurls its premiership flag in round 4 , and the Saints face Freo in their first game since the coach poaching saga  .The Blues play six games on Friday night , and North Melbourne  make the most interstate trips with Games scheduled in Hobart .

north

Queensland Clubs , the Lions and Suns , play the most games in the Saturday afternoon twilight timeslot , and the Cats and Magpies meet twice in GF replays in rounds 8 & 16 .

Big Games will continue with the  Magpies playing the Bombers on Anzac Day, Freo versus Carlton in the annual Len Hall Tribute Match , Demons tackling the Magpies on Queen's Birthday Monday, Essendon and Richmond clashing in the 'Dreamtime at the 'G' match in round eight, and St Kilda hosting Carlton on a Monday night match.

tigers

Interstate teams will continue to play each other in the two 'Derbies' between Fremantle and West Coast, two 'Showdowns' between Adelaide and Port Adelaide, two Brisbane Lions- Gold Coast 'Q-Clashes' and, for the first time, two all-Sydney clashes between the Giants and Swans.

carlton

The 2012 AFL fixture promises much.  Football fans will be along to watch , wearing their   football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

With the first week of the AFL  Finals Series , being played out over the weekend, fans were treated to some competitive action .

CFC

carlton jumper

The Cats overpowered the Hawks on Friday night at the MCG in a thrilling final . Hawthorn star Buddy Franklin , suffered a possible season ending injury , much to the dismay of Hawks fans , and football lovers alike.

.2010 Premiers , Collingwood , beat last years wooden spooners ,the Eagles on Saturday afternoon at the MCG . The Saints , despite playing at their home ground of Etihad Stadium , were outplayed by the  Swans on Saturday night . Similiarily , over 90 , 000 footy fans , witnessed the  Blues thrash the Bombers by more than  10 goals , in blustery conditions , at the MCG on Sunday afternoon .

In the second week of the Finals , Hawthorn and the Swans play on Friday night  at the MCG . The Blues travel to WA , for Saturday night's clash against the Eagles . Both games promise much excitement , and fans will be watching , wearing their  football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

swans jumper

wce jumper

AFL Season 2011 rolls on with some interesting results , from the Weekends matches . St Kilda did enough to quell the Dockers , the Cats  thrashed the Suns at Geelong , and the Bombers scored a plucky win when Swans skipper Goodes, missed the winning goal , from the top of the goal square  . The Crows just edged out the Lions on the Gabba .

Lost their Power ?

The Hawks and Kangaroos slogged it out in wet, freezing conditions in Tasmania, for a Hawks win , and the Eagles held off a fast finishing Tigers side, over in the West . Carlton easily beat Melbourne , and in a huge blowout , Collingwood mercilessly flogged the Power , in a bitterly cold and wet match , on Saturday night in Adelaide.

Blues keep winning

Players are talking trades , coaches are being head hunted , and fans are relishing every moment of the on field football action . As bemused , passive observers of the off field manoeuvrings, spectators are getting to matches , showing their support by wearing their teams football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys . All are hoping their team makes it to the Finals series.

The 2011 AFL competition is providing on and off the field entertainment , as teams race to the 2011 Finals Series .

Round 20 sees Collingwood , making a rare trip away from their MCG home base , to play Port Power in Adelaide . St Kilda take on Freo in Melbourne , for Friday night footy , and Tassie is host to the Hawks and Kangaroos , in a prelude to the Kangas playing in Tasmania in2012.  In Geelong , Gary Ablett will face his old club , the Cats , with his new team the Gold Coast Suns , and in a battle of the underdogs , the Lions are home to the Crows .

Melbourne Demons , hoping for a win , to quell on , and off field dramas , are playing Carlton at the MCG , in a traditional Saturday afternoon game of footy . In the ongoing battle for top eight places , Essendon play the Swans  on Saturday night in Melbourne , and the luckless Tigers face the Eagles in Perth . The Doggies are having a much needed rest .

Young Saints want to keep Winning

Excitement is high , close results are predicted , and epic struggles are promised , as teams slug it out for the holy grail of AFL dreams , a place in the Finals . Fans will be along for the ride , cheering their teams to victory , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys, guernseys .

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 Saints , Cats , Hawks , Magpies , Suns , Blues , Tigers and Freo all had a good day at the office for round 5 of the AFL footy fixture . The Swans , Demons , and Eagles all had a rest .

Win this Eagles Jumper to wear to the footy

Many highlights and great entertainment was provided over the extended round of matches for the Easter / Anzac Day holiday break . A milestone was reached by the Suns , when they won their first AFL Game . Collingwood proved too strong for Essendon , and Geelong looked good against the Hawks .

The Saints posted their first win for season 2011 , as did the Tigers ,who proved more accurate in front of goals than the Kangaroos , with young spearhead , Jack Riewoldt booting five goals . The Bulldogs were unlucky in WA and lost only in the dying minutes of the game to the Dockers .

Fans enjoying the mighty spectacle of a holiday fixture of AFL Football , watched games wearing their beloved football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

" Respect " , (wikipedi encyclopedia) , is a positive feeling of esteem for a person ." Change " , (wikipedi encyclopedia) is the process of becoming different.

VFL and Women

Neither respect nor change has been evident , at  the AFL , recently.

Inappropriate dealings with women , by AFL players ,  club  staff , and managers , have been exposed .

Is the AFL to continue to pay lip service to their much publicised , but seemingly not applied , " Respect and Responsibility program " ?

Less than 10,000 spectators watched the St Kilda Vs Geelong , NAB Cup Game at the weekend . A poor crowd , considering the success of both teams in recent years . Families and women appear to be  staying away from Games . Will this fall in attendance ,  make the AFL change , to respect women ?

Its all over for another year .

The AFL Grand Final Replay, of 2010 , saw the Collingwood Magpies,  run out convincing winners , over the St Kilda Saints .

Magpies fans were jubiliant , Saints fans distraught .To quote Age journalist
Peter Temple " the Age of Wood is upon us . And may the football gods have mercy upon our souls ".

Hird and Essendon , Thompson and Geelong , continue to receive much media exposure . Not bad for two teams whose season was a failure . Geelong , being knocked out of the running early,  in their finals campaign , and Essendon  , languishing near the bottom of the ladder , for most of the season.

Football Jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , were worn by fans . Many will continue to be worn , others will be packed lovingly away .

The other Saints , NRL team , St George Illawarra Dragons , won their first premiership in 31 years , against the Sydney Roosters .One lot of Saints , red , white , and black colours, raised in victory , another lot lowered , in defeat.

Fans love their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , and will continue to wear them , whatever the season or occasion.

Are they poised to become the next , must have , fashion accessory ?

Two True Blue Roos Jumpers

On the eve , of the Grand Final Replay, Collingwood Magpies and St Kilda Saints , are preparing for another closely contested match .

The Saints , still considered the underdogs , will play with an unchanged line up from last week , with the exception of injured ruckman Michael Gardiner who is replaced by Ben Mc Evoy .

Collingwood, have dropped mercurial Leon Davis , and replaced him with Tyson Goldsack .

Collingwood Fans , turned out in their  thousands,  to again watch friday training, at Goschs Paddock .

A feeling of deju vu , for both clubs tomorrow,  as they again take to the big stage of the MCG , to try and win the 2010 premiership.

Much has been written in the press , and televised in the media , about last weeks Game . More will be written after tomorrows clash .

Side issues have muddied the waters , eg Hird to coach Essendon , Ablett will be a GC Sun 2011 , and Bomber Thompson set to leave the Cats.

This week the Saints have dared to dream . Collingwood are not appearing as invincible as last week . Even the Magpies have stopped swooping the canine population in the local park .

The victor will be decided on Saturday , 2nd October .

Fans , will be watching wearing their team colours jumper , jersey , guernsey.

Can Saints have an historic Win ?

The might of Collingwood ,stopped Geelong' s assault on the flag, last night at the MCG .

In an impressive display of AFL football , the Magpies overpowered the Geelong Cats  .

Geelong , seasoned veterans of two premierships , and successful finals campaigns in recent years, had no answers for the marauding Magpies .

Fans were out , in their football jumpers, jerseys , guernseys, to watch the Game . The Collingwood army, were present with their legion of fans , voicing the low rumble " collingwood ' , through much of the night .

The Saints , take on the Western Bulldogs, in the second preliminary final, tonight at the MCG. Another epic battle , is predicted between these two mighty clubs . Both teams share a spectacular lack of Finals success , and  are set for a feisty competition .

Its Magpies season . Even walking the dog at the local park ,prompted an unprovoked attack from a native magpie .Was he protecting his nest, or did he spot the Saints dog collar, and just decide to stamp his authority?

Time will tell who the ultimate victor is. Love em" or hate em ' , Collingwood to use that afl commentators , hackneyed cliche , are definitely " up and about" .

Magpie Army