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 .

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

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

Saints = 7 ?

Has Adam Goodes survived  kicking practice ?

Will the Magpies go off the boil ?

Carlton Mars Jumper

Are the Demons able to win one ?

Why do the Hawks play well in Tasmania ?

How do the Eagles do it ?

Can the Dockers travel ?

Who will win the wooden spoon , Power or Crows ?

Does Queensland sand in the footy shorts prevent the Suns and Lions winning?

Will  Judd make it three Brownlows in Season 2011 ?

Is a Final to be played at the Cattery ?

Vintage Lions

Swans in winning mood for 2011

Will all eyes be on the  Kangaroos over the next few weeks ?

Do the Richmond  Tigers disappoint fans this weekend ?

Can the Bulldogs give it one last yap ?

Fans , watching and hoping , are dusting off  their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , to wear to the AFL Finals Series .

NMFC to Play AFL Footy in Hobart

"North versus South" screamed the Mercury newspaper Headline,  in downtown Hobart . A local was heard to remark " I can't believe those people in the North .They are so parochial not wanting Hobart to have footy . '

Such is the passion that AFL Footy ignites , its not even interstate rivalry but intercity rivalry , causing squabbling between the two as to who plays where and when .

NMFC, are to play in Hobart , Hawthorn , are to continue to play in Launceston . Will the locals see a team of 22 professional Footballers , pull on the new Tasmanian Football Team Jumpers, to take their place in the expanded national AFL Competition ?

Tasmania's own colours Football Jumper

Blues Clash no more ?

Melbourne Demons , are yet to replicate their hot pink strip , of a few years ago, which they  wore as a Breast Cancer fundraiser , but it appears the skys the limit as to who adopts what strip when .

Nicky Winmar's Jumper ?

Collingwood , are sticking doggedly to their black and white though. Ironic really , as Nicky Winnar , great indigenous Sainter , lifted his footy jumper,  to show his black skin , in the last game the Magpies played against the Saints , at Victoria Park.

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

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Saints on SA soil

To replay  that old 1960's Kinks song , " he's a dedicated follower of fashion ", he's a dedicated follower of Football .

Interstate flights , a Hotel Room , and tickets to the AFL Game were purchased , and the football jumper , jersey , guernsey , was lovingly packed for its trip .

With the club song in his heart , and joyful anticipation at the prospect of watching a good nights footy , the journey began .

The adventure began to go pear shaped when upon arrival on SA soil , rain bucketed down for 3 hours , and the local $2 shop had sold out of emergency ponchos . Further anguish ensued upon arrival at the ground, when it was discovered the pre-booked seats for the match, were in the  middle of the Opposition Team Members Area .

A teenage daughters mate texted  , " what a dead set legend  '', probably for both attending the game , and sitting amongst the  toughest group of fans , on this  most parochial of grounds  !A hard night at the office followed,  for this loyal  fan , a staunch  supporter of arguably the most success starved ,  of AFL clubs .

The well travelled , football jumper , jersey , guernsey will arrive home , colours lowered on the night , but hopefully not too severely scarred , ready to battle on . Now if only I can get the stains out . Hopefully , they are beer stains  , and are not the byproduct of too much beer consumption , which is said to be sprayed on opposition  fans , at this Ground , if you can believe Eddie Mc Guire's Missus .

Ironic , that those left behind , spent Saturday afternoon shopping, and came home with a football jumper , jersey , guernsey , in the vanquished team's colours.