With less than a month to the AFL NAB Cup,  fans are itching to drag on their  football jumper , jersey , guernsey and get along to support their teams . The ball bounces for the first games on 17 February .

vintage melb jumper

GWS will play NRL convert , Israel Folau, in the inaugral Sydney derby against the Swans , Round 1 , ANZ Stadium , Sydney.

Collingwood , with 3 new recruits on board , including a North Queenslander and an Irishman , climbed Cradle Mountain , in Tassies wilderness , under new coach Nathan Buckley's tough regime.

The Saints , capping off a difficult 2011 , have recorded a large financial loss for last season .

Richmond Tigers , have recruited a new , 2. 02 tall metre ruckman , and welcome Jack Riewoldt back , following four operations over the Summer .

vintage tigers jumper

Mark Neeld , new Demons Coach , will announce their leadership group ahead of the NAB Cup .

29 days to kick off and counting , for ardent AFL Fans everywhere , who can't wait for that first bounce of the Sherrin , and the wearing of the old familiar football jumper .

Is the AFL Football Jumper in hiding during the long , hot summer months ?

new Hawks

Yes and No . Diehard fans , have been spotted wearing the sleeveless model to the beach , pool , bbq or pub . Newer styles of football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys are made from lightweight , breathable , stringently engineered , and expertly designed synthetic fabrics . They  fit like a second skin , absorb sweat , and let the wearer breathe through the hottest , balmiest summer day .

The traditional , old style , vintage and retro woolen or acrylic knitted football jumpers , are usually retired for the summer . They are packed lovingly away by owners , to be proudly unfurled , when a nip is in the air , and the first bounce of the Sherrin , is promised for the 2012 fixture .

retro cricket jersey

footy

Traditional Blues

classic Saints

vintage Barwon Heads

Whatever style , shape , size , construction , or colour , your football jumper , jersey , guernsey is , it is a piece of easily recognisable footy memorabilia . Popular in the on , or off season , it still has the ability to turn heads and provide comfortable apparel .

modern Eagles

Judd has had surgery , Collingwood are training in Arizona , Saints forge new role for veterans , Gold Coast release a player , and the Cats enjoy a new training Ground . All headlines for the AFL in the so called off season .

Saints in 2012

carlton jumper

Do teams take a break and do AFL players ever rest ? It would appear not . Media exposure, and the unrelenting pursuit of Finals success, shorten the Christmas Holiday period .

The Football Jumper , Jersey , Guernsey, wants to be worn year round , taken travelling , and to become an integral part of the AFL footy fans life .

melbourne jumper

Adopt one this Christmas .

lions footy jumper for Christmas ?

Who says AFL Football has an off Season ?

The 2012 home and away fixture has been announced , along with the NAB Cup pre - season round of matches .

blues for Christmas ?

Coaches are moving around , or being appointed . St Kilda FC has announced former AFL Coach Dean Laidley , will join new appointee Scott Watters , as an assistant coach .

The second of the International Rules Games will be played on Friday night on the Gold Coast . Confident tourists , the Irish team , will take on the Australian compilation team , in their second game , hoping to continue their winning form .

The NAB Cup commences in February 2012 and continues into March 2012 promising fans much pre-season entertainment . Those fans lucky enough to score a new football jumper , jersey , guernsey for Christmas are delighted .

The 2011 Rugby World Cup Final , will be played  between New Zealand and France , on Sunday 23 rd October at 7.00pm , in NZ .

sherrin jumper

The Australian Team , the Wallabies , were soundly defeated by N Z team , the All Blacks in their semi final match .The Aussies played their last game of the Cup , to beat Wales , in the Third Place Play-Off.

NZ is a country where they love the sport of rugby union . The devotion of their fans to their national team , the All Blacks , makes the average AFL fan look half-hearted .

In the Grand Final , New Zealand takes on old foe , France . Having just returned from  France , I witnessed first hand how patriotically they supported their national team , whilst watching the 'Ugby World Cup.

Saints in 2012

Being an Aussie , and AFL zealot , I will support the Kiwis , in their quest for the greatest prize of their competition . Sports Fans everywhere , will be watching , wearing their codes jumpers , jerseys , guernseys . Many , will be hoping the All Blacks are victorious , a feat , which appears, to be less elusive , than the St Kilda Saints winning an AFL Premiership.

Wallabies win 3rd place

There is a lot to like about AFL Football at the moment . Two fantastic contests are promised for this weekend . The first preliminary Final , is to be played tonight , between the Magpies and Hawks

Judd in his baby blue jumper ?

. It should pack a capacity crowd into the MCG , to witness a fiercely fought game . Both these Melbourne based clubs have a proud history , and will fight for a place in the Grand Final . Its a feast of Friday night Footy , at its finest .

The Saturday afternoon Game at the MCG , sees the Cats , battle the Western invaders , the Eagles . Another skillful contest is expected , as both sides play an exciting mix of physical , contested footy , and both harbour a desperation to play off for the ultimate prize , a place in the Grand Final .

wce retro

Monday night will see a large group of AFL Footballers , WAGS , Coaches and  staff gather . All watch many AFL  players , who are judged by the umpires , to be the  best and fairest in the competition , compete for the Brownlow Medal . A media circus at Crown Casino , usually surrounds the event , with Carlton Captain , Chris Judd , widely tipped to win his third Brownlow medal . A feat only achieved by a handful of AFL players.

The action , both on and off the field promises much , and fans will be observing , wearing their  football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

One day is a  long time in the life of AFL Coaches .

Ross Lyon , ex - Saints Coach , appeared to be in negotiations with the St Kilda FC , to extend his remaining contract beyond 2012.

Mark Harvey , ex - Dockers Coach , had spent the same day in discussions with his coaching staff , detailing the inclusions and exclusions , from his Fremantle Dockers players list .

By nightfall , Harvey had been sacked as Dockers coach , Lyon had resigned from STKFC , and had been employed as the new Dockers coach .

Emotion aside , today's AFL footy is all about success , and clubs will pursue any avenue to win premierships .

Loyal Saints fans , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys,  have had a tough week , watching their team lose a finals match , and a coach .

The Marngrook Footy Show is a fun , laughter filled , sometimes irreverent look at AFL footy . Mainly indigenous ex players make up the panel , who discuss the game in a light hearted , but knowledgable vein . They have women presenters , informed guests , and feature entertaining Aussie musicians . Its a great watch , and leaves that other footy show for dead , in the entertainment stakes .

Marngrook footy show

Both the Eagles and the Blues have blue in their team colours . Who will wear blue jumpers on Saturday nights , twilight , AFL Semi Final Game , in WA ?

white carlton jumper

away wce jumper

The Blues travelling interstate , will surely favour their traditional style , navy blue with white logo football jumper , jersey , guernsey .

The host team , the West Coast Eagles , have a home style jumper of dark blue , yellow and white . Will they wear this ? or be forced to adopt a white style  , clash football jumper ?

The question arises , who will wear what coloured footy jumper on  saturday  night ?

wce home

Carlton blue jumper

AFL players , and fans can behave badly . AFL Coaches should not . Sorry , its a little word , say it , and move on Mick .

STKFC

Elsewhere , fans are girding their loins and donning their football jumpers  , whilst watching games , and asking the question ,  will we make it ? Watch the footy over the next few weeks , and enjoy some spectacular action,  as teams , desperate for a place in the Finals , play some truly inspirational footy .

Mick's old Jumper

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