Collingwood's domination continued on Friday night , when they thrashed Richmond , cold weather specialists Hawthorn, beat the warm blooded Eagles in Tasmania , and Carlton and Essendon , drew in an epic struggle , on Saturday afternoon at the MCG . Geelong beat Sydney on NSW turf , and Port won the battle of the two SA teams , beating the Crows. Melbourne overpowered the Suns in Brisbane , and Freo defeated a luckless, North Melbourne Football Club . The Saints , needing a rest , had a bye, as did the Brisbane Lions, and Western Bulldogs .

buckleys baby jumper

The first game of the Easter round is on Thursday , when the StKFC play the Lions , in Qld .Both , want their first win of the 2011 Season.No Good Friday Games , but many will be played around Australia, over Easter .Two blockbusters , are planned for the MCG . The first being the Anzac Day, Magpies Vs Bombers clash, and Easter Tuesday's Game , Hawthorn Vs Geelong .

Six clubs , have played in drawn games so far this season . A record number , underlining how closely the teams are matched . Many fans , will be attending matches over the Easter holiday , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys.

Wayne Careys jumper

Last weekend saw mixed results , for all afl football teams . Collingwood , continued its winning streak , the Saints eked out a draw against Richmond , but lost Lenny Hayes , for the rest of the season to injury . The Gold Coast Suns , playing their first AFL game , were thrashed by the Blues , and West Coast upset the Power at home to win . Geelong scraped home against Freo , whilst a strong Sydney team beat the revitalised Bombers . Hawthorn and the Bulldogs beat their opponents , the Demons and the Lions respectively .

Fans supported their team , by wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys ,

Baby Magpies

to watch the Game .

Who can stop Collingwood ?How many games will the Suns lose ? When will the Bombers win again ?

All questions to be answered at the next round of matches . Its fun , its exciting , its AFL football , and fans wearing their football jumpers are along for the ride .!

Kangas to bounce back

The Gold Coast Suns make their debut this weekend, playing Carlton on saturday night , at the Gabba . New team , flash footy jumpers , big name stars , a refurbished ground , and a match against a popular Victorian AFL team , offers great entertainment , for footy fans .

Carlton

A team not wanting to adopt a new footy jumper,  are the North Melbourne Kangaroos . They will wear their traditional striped home jumper , in the game against Collingwood Magpies, at the weekend .  As the home team, this is their  choice  , and they are opposing the Magpies , who refuse to adopt a clash strip . Confusion for all , or a clever marketing ploy ? Traditional jumpers , to be worn in a match , to be held at the traditional Saturday afternoon footy game time of 2.10pm.

old timer kangas jumper

The AFL 2011 Home and Away Season starts on Thursday at the MCG . The two sides expected to be the most improved in 2011 , Carlton and Richmond , play in a Thursday night match .

Footy starved fans will be watching wearing their teams oolours football jumpers , jerseys ,guernseys .

Vintage

Off field footy news has involved much scandal over the Summer break .

Who will Fevola play for ?

Can the Saints  play in another  Grand Final .?

Is Richmonds Riewoldt going to kick 100 + goals

Three flags for the  Magpies ?

Can the Gold Coast Suns perform ?

Will Essendon fly with Hirdy and Bomber on board ?

Can the Bulldogs win the flag ?

How many members can North Melbourne attract ?

Games played every night of the week for Carlton ?

During the Off season the afl was received a lot of media attention . Much  has been written about the AFL , its players and managers . Not all has been favourable .Can the AFL provide the family entertainment , fans are looking for.?

Thursday night is a good start with a blockbuster epic of a game promised at the MCG .

Season 2011 promises much . Are you along for the ride ?

Can Collingwood Football Club produce a Hat-trick , and win three consecutive ,  AFL premiership flags ?

The winners of the 2010 Premiership , believe they can  , after winning the pre season 2011 NAB Cup .

Collingwood ,are confident they can dominate the AFL  Home and Away Competition, in 2011 , to win ' back to back flags '.

In an ironic twist of fate , Mick Malthouse , Coach at CFC , was crowned " King of Moomba" , by retiring " Queen " Molly Meldrum . Meldrum is a staunch Saints fan , the afl team , annihilated  by the Magpies , in  the historic 2010 Grand Final Replay .

Saints in 2011 ?

AFL fans, and others , could be facing a decade of Magpies Domination !

Its Summer in the Southern Hemisphere , and the Christmas/ New Year festive season is approaching .

One of the headline stories on the  front page , of the Saturday Age newspaper ,screamed  " My Year of Pain ," exclusive interview with Ross Lyon . He is the St Kilda Football Team Coach . The Saints lost to the  Collingwood Magpies in the historic replay of the 2010 Grand Final . Readers were exhorted to read further.

It would appear ,  AFL   football is never out of the  news, no matter what else is going on,  or what time of year it is , in football mad  Melbourne .

The AFL would be delighted with such high level media exposure in the non - playing season . Footy starved fans will be relishing every headline grabbing statement .

In keeping with this spirit , many afl football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys will be wished for this festive season .Young and old fans , alike would love one in their Christmas stocking .

Young fan would love this signed retro Bombers Jumper

Just noticed on facebook  , that an avid afl football fan , had designed his own jumper . It was a Collingwood Magpies football jumper , jersey , guernsey, that had his name printed across the bottom , and the number 1 above it . Is he an obsessive footy fan , or just ,  " a  dedicated follower of fashion " ( 60 's Kinks song ) ? Its an interesting exploitation of the magpies brand . Or is it a clever marketing ploy , by Eddie and the gang , to wring even more bucks from the famous name ?

The mind boggles , at the possible combinations . If the fashion takes off ,  Santa could be very

Personalise this with your name and number

busy delivering personalised , afl football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , this Christmas !

Melb Ports old Swans Home

Last weekend , in the leafy confines , of Orrong Road  , Toorak , I spotted a huge , Collingwood Magpies team logo , painted on a front fence . Is it Eddie's McGuires pad , or just an ardent fan , still revelling in post Grand Final glory ?

Perhaps they got the idea , from Molly Meldrums annual painting of his Richmond fence , in Melbourne Storm , and St Kilda Saints colours ?

Also spotted yesterday , at a downtown Middle Park cafe , were Simon Crean, and Bill Kelty . They were joined by Brett Kirk , recently retired , AFL Sydney Swans player .

Wine , amidst BLT's , with icons of AFL footy plus Victorian Unionist and Federal pollies !

An eclectic mix , or a peculiarly Victorian formula for success?

It begs the question , is Captain Kirk , about to enter politics with the endorsement of the labor power brokers , in the Swans former heartland of Melbourne Ports ?

Footy and Labor , a heady mix !

It might be the off season for AFL Football , but its never completely out of our life .

Many fans are still wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , or like the owner of the fence , boldly enjoying victory.

Footy in Melb all year round

A Football Jumper is not just for Christmas . It can be worn anywhere , anytime , in AFL obsessed Melbourne Town .

In fact , anywhere AFL football is played , a football jumper , jersey , guernsey, is considered a must have item , in the wardrobe .

Vintage Richmond Jumper

Summer , is fast approaching , as is Christmas . What better gift idea , than a new , or vintage football jumper , jersey , guernsey , tucked into the Christmas stocking .

Why I wouldn't be surprised,  if Santa , makes his rounds this year, wearing a Collingwood, football jumper , jersey , guernsey . They have so many fans , particularly after their recent success , I think Santa , may be a closet Magpies fan . Shh! don't tell the elves though , or he could have a revolt at the North Pole .

Make sure you buy the real thing . There is no comparison between an authentic , licensed with sponsors , just like the players wear, footy jumper, to a cheap imitation knock off . Recipients of the jumper , will know the difference , and to quote that old advertisement , for arnotts biscuits " there is no substitute for quality ".

Rare Red Lions Jumper

Spotted a Collingwood Football Jumper , at my local PCYC Gym , Friday , 7.00am .Yes , a bit early to be sporting the sartorial elegance of the Magpies colours,  but hey if you've got it,  flaunt it . Muscled torso , young pecs , devil may care attitude , all topped of by the premiership winning , teams colours .The wearer seemed oblivious , to the envious stares , or were they annoyed looks , as he was wearing it,  at St Kilda PCYC , a stronghold of Saints fans !

The AFL , announced on Thursday,  the fixture for the 2011 Season , of Home and Away Matches . Most clubs , seem content  with the draw . The AFL , are trying innovative approaches,  with spreading more football over week night games ,

another Qld team joins the Competition

and taking afl , to more interstate venues . The new team Gold Coast Suns,  play their inaugural home game,  against Carlton ,  on Saturday night 2 April . 2011.

The 2011 season , runs from 24 March 2011 ,  to  1  October 2011.

The NAB Cup , precedes the Home and Away Season,  with matches scheduled,  for February 2011.