New Zealand Hawks , have won the 2011 Youth AFL Oceania Cup Grand Final, beating Nauru by 21 points in Suva, Fiji on Saturday. The best player was a New Zealander , Shem Tatupu. AFL stars, Nic Natinui and Israel Folau have been cheering the locals on .

Island footy

Hawks in NZ

Countries involved in the series include Tonga ,Vanuatu , Fiji , PNG , NZ and Nauru. The Aussies , the Flying Boomerangs , played an exhibition match against Oceania  , winning very convincingly .

Oceania and South Pacific will field teams in the 2012 NSW  State Trials and NAB AFL Under-16 Championships.

AFL Football , currently enjoying the break prior to the 2012 Competition, is making inroads into the Oceania / South Pacific region . Will we see Islanders of the calibre of Natinui , joining the AFL competition ?. Fans would welcome their inclusion , and enjoy the spectacle , whilst wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys   .

WCE 's Natinui's Jumper

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

Collingwood , riding a wave of popularity , can now add a Brownlow Medal  to their teams accomplishments this Season .

cfc caps

CFC premiers cap

Dane Swan , tattooed Collingwood midfielder , surprised most by winning the Brownlow Medal for AFL Season 2011.
A restrained Swan lamented he would prefer to win a Premiership medal, whilst modest Mick Malthouse claimed he had a talk to Swan several years ago , helping him to get his AFL Career  back on track .

The players were scrubbed , suited and booted , whilst the WAGS displayed the correct amount of cleavage , cling , bling and platinum .

winners cap

The final training session awaits , as does the Grand Final Parade . Collingwood , bolstered by Swans win , may start favourite for the Grand Final Match on Saturday but Geelong are a worthy opponent .Fans will be watching , cheering and wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys.

cfc caps

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 .

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

Carlton , winning their first AFL final for 10 years , defeated the Bombers at the weekend . Jubilant , they are into round two of the AFL footy finals . WA and the Eagles beckon . The quietly confident Blues are so not Blue about that . Nor are fans who will be cheering their Blues on , wearing the ever changing style of the Carlton football , jumper , jersey , guernsey .  

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

heritage saints

lollipop saints

In AFL Football , players and coaches come and go . Fans and teams enjoy good years and bad years . Its all part of following your team . The one thing that remains constant , is your teams colours .Whatever the style of football jumper , jersey , guernsey, fans remain loyal to their colours . Many will be wearing them , over the next few weeks , of the AFL 2011 Finals Series

.

Who remembers these St Kilda Saints Football Jumpers ? 

clash saints

vintage saints

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 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