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

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

Two closely contested games were played out on Easter Saturday . In a thrilling finish the Gold Coast Suns defeated Port Power in Adelaide . The Gold Coast Captain , Gary Ablett , played a pivotal part in their win and has perhaps , now , silenced criticism , for staying in Melbourne for 2 extra days after their last defeat.

Carlton were successful against Adelaide , snatching victory by one goal . The beleaguered coach of the Crows , Neil Craig , will be under increasing scrutiny , as his team has had a poor start to the Season .
The eveness of the teams in the competition are reflected in the close results of all matches played so far .
The Anzac Day blockbuster between Collingwood and Essendon , and the following days Geelong Vs Hawthorn match , promise much for eager footy fans .

Lions were beaten on Thursday

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 ?

With an expanded AFL competition, and inclusion of interstate teams, a big venue, Saturday afternoon ,Football Game, in Melbourne , is rare.

Will Collingwood Win?

Such a blockbuster, is planned for this Saturday afternoon, at Melbourne 's MCG . The match promises much . Its scheduled at the traditional time slot of 2.10pm , and combined with the large seating capacity of the Ground , a bumper crowd of 75,000 fans , are expected .

Tenacious Collingwood, take on flag hopefuls , St Kilda . It promises riveting entertainment, and thousands of fans will be out in their team's jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

Bring it on.

Will Saints Win ?

On a cold , wet , wintry night at the MCG , the Bulldogs were denied victory by the Hawks.

In a hotly contested Game , the Hawks , triumphed over the Dogs , by three points .

Even new PM,  Julia Gillard's support,  couldn't  help the Western Bulldogs to victory .

Perhaps they need to fly her in for every game , to give them a morale boosting presence.

The Western Bulldogs , gallant in defeat , couldn't halt the marauding Hawthorn Hawks , who have now won 7 matches in a row.

Fans turned out in their jumpers , jerseys , guernseys to watch the match .
It was AFL football at its best , as the two closely matched rivals , fought for ascendancy .

The Hawks , were lucky to prevail , and come out winners , at the match's conclusion.

Hawks 7 in a row

A crowd of 70,000 AFL fans, are tipped to attend the St Kilda Saints versus Geelong Cats , Game on Friday night , the 25 th June , at the MCG .

It is being touted as , the Grand Final Re- Match , and both teams are determined to win .

The Saints,  in their only Game,  for the home and away season , against the Cats, want to remove the memory of the Grand Final loss. They hope to restore some belief to fans , and achieve self pride.

The Cats , hopefuls for the 2010 flag , thus  making it back to back premierships,  will play hard , fast and skilled footy . They want to squash St Kilda's,  hopes for  a revenge victory .

Its tipped to be a ripper contest , with both teams hopefully playing superlative football .

Vocal supporters, will be there,  in their AFL,  jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

Who will win ?

Will it be the rejuvenated Saints , desperate for a victory ?

Can the battle seasoned Geelong Side , beat St Kilda again  ?

There can only be one winner ! Let the Games begin .

On second thought, a draw occurred recently , between the Demons and the Magpies.

Will this unthinkable result happen, between these two mighty teams ?

Can the Saints win ?

The AFL competition,  are having a split round of matches this weekend .

Five games are being played, 2 interstate, and 3,  in Melbourne .

The other three games , will be played next weekend .

Its called a mid season break.

One angst ridden fan,  was heard to mutter, "  how will I go the whole weekend ,without watching the Saints "!  The're not even on TV.

A game was played , on friday night in Melbourne,  with another on saturday night , and one today .

Fans , will either go to the matches in their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , or watch the games on TV.

Many , will watch from the comfort of their lounge room , and many , will wear their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , even,  if not at the match.

Nic Naitanui ' s Jumper will play today

The modern , AFL game, is fast , exciting , and thrilling.

Fans, watching their team , witness the lead changing many times ,in a closely contested match . Many seemingly , lost games , are retrieved by a teams doggedness , and their players superior athleticism .

Those , that can run the fastest, for the longest , are often the victors .

Last night,  it appeared the Hawks,  would walk away from the match , with a certain victory .

This conclusion discounted the fast finishing , young and fit,  Bombers squad, who almost snatched victory , from the Hawks in the closing minutes of the Game.

Fans , dressed in their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys were treated to a lively night's entertainment .

They were engrossed in the last quarter,  watching the Bombers fight back .

No certainties in the modern game , only that each week,  fans will go to watch footy matches .

They will do so wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

Hawks won