The Draw has been announced for the 2012 Footy Season . GWS joins the competition , making it an 18 team fixture , with more interstate matches , and a bye period of rest breaks , for all teams.

crows

All Clubs are required to travel interstate at least five times . Collingwood , Hawthorn and Geelong , the top three finishers in 2011 have big games scheduled. The  AFL hopes these games can draw large crowds ,  will provide great entertainment , and  help to consolidate these teams ,  and footy's popularity .

Geelong unfurls its premiership flag in round 4 , and the Saints face Freo in their first game since the coach poaching saga  .The Blues play six games on Friday night , and North Melbourne  make the most interstate trips with Games scheduled in Hobart .

north

Queensland Clubs , the Lions and Suns , play the most games in the Saturday afternoon twilight timeslot , and the Cats and Magpies meet twice in GF replays in rounds 8 & 16 .

Big Games will continue with the  Magpies playing the Bombers on Anzac Day, Freo versus Carlton in the annual Len Hall Tribute Match , Demons tackling the Magpies on Queen's Birthday Monday, Essendon and Richmond clashing in the 'Dreamtime at the 'G' match in round eight, and St Kilda hosting Carlton on a Monday night match.

tigers

Interstate teams will continue to play each other in the two 'Derbies' between Fremantle and West Coast, two 'Showdowns' between Adelaide and Port Adelaide, two Brisbane Lions- Gold Coast 'Q-Clashes' and, for the first time, two all-Sydney clashes between the Giants and Swans.

carlton

The 2012 AFL fixture promises much.  Football fans will be along to watch , wearing their   football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

I glanced at the AGE Newspaper this morning , and read the headline " Nixon Flies In " . My first thought was , do they mean Richard Nixon ,  impeached , US President , or Christine Nixon , former Victorian Police Commisioner ? No , in football crazed Melbourne it referred to Ricky Nixon , AFL football player manager .

An appearance on commercial TV , by the person at the centre of the saga ,  concerning afl football players and managers behaviour , has kept a non newsworthy story alive .

Many supporters , women , men , young people and families are bored with it

Can we just get back to playing , and reporting on playing,  AFL Football?

Play footy ?

Must be Spring . The AFL Football Finals are on .

Last weekend was the start of the 2010 AFL Finals Series.

It was superlative entertainment , of the highest level .

This weekend promises further excitement, with the scheduled round of matches .

Quite apart from the physical , mental and verbal jousts , of the on field action, fans have been treated to sledging , between rival coaches , on and off the field.

Its raw , action packed , and emotive stuff that is not for the faint hearted . Many Saints fans can attest to this after last friday nights cliffhanger . Patrons were overheard being asked in a Balaclava coffee shop ( heart of St Kilda territory ) on Saturday morning " hows the ticker " ? The game was so close many sainters were in danger of having a heart attack before the final siren !

The old adage " Winners are grinners and losers can suit themselves " is most relevant .

Local fans , who have endured a long cold , wet Melbourne winter , floods , and election uncertainty , are poised to wrench every moment of enjoyment, from this final series.

Supporters everywhere , wearing their football jumpers, jersey's , guernsey's , say " bring it on " .

Are Collingwood Flag Favourites ?

Beat the Friday the 13th blues, by attending tonight's  blockbuster at the MCG ,between Essendon and Collingwood.

Traditional rivals , Esssendon is playing with nothing to lose , as it takes a tilt at the finals ,whilst Collingwood are in top spot , and look strong contenders ,to take out the 2010 premiership flag.

Four Saturday Games , two in Melbourne , at the MCG and Etihad Stadium ,and two interstate , one in WA , and one in SA ensure a wide coverage for fans .

The round concludes with three Sunday games , one at each of the Melbourne venues , and one in Brisbane .

All games of the 20 th round of matches , will provide fans attending or watching in their football jumpers ,jerseys, guernseys , with a feast of entertainment .

will Collingwood win ?

With only three rounds left of the AFL 2010 Season , teams are playing for a place in the Finals .

Will the Sharks make the NRL Finals?

The top four teams , are assured of a Finals match.

The four teams below them , will jostle for a spot on the league ladder . The victors will secure a Finals Game.

Stellar performances, from all teams will occur , over the next few weeks .

All will give superhuman efforts .Some teams will make it to the finals ,some will not .

Collingwood , are posturing as a serious Grand Final threat. Geelong,  are hoping to secure another flag , St Kilda,  are again struggling valiantly towards the ultimate prize .

The Doggies, and Dockers appear to be finals players, with the Hawks , Demons , Swans , Blues and Kangaroos , the five teams , set to battle it out for a finals berth .

Whatever happens , fans will be there , in their football jumpers, jerseys, guernseys , to cheer their team.

Get ready for some heroic, grinding AFL football action .

Will Collingwood win the Flag?

A crowd of almost 82,000 , went to the MCG last Saturday afternoon , to watch , the Collingwood versus St Kilda Game .

It was a massive crowd,  for a typical , home and away clash of the Season. Fans love Saturday Afternoon Footy. They go in their football jumpers, jerseys, guernseys , to enjoy the Game.

The AFL , could schedule more Games, for a Saturday afternoon in Melbourne ,at either of the stadiums .

Collingwood Magpies , who have the most financial members in the AFL ,possibly comprised up to 50,000 fans.

The rest , whether Saints fans,  or just lovers of AFL football, voted with their feet . Hopefully the AFL , will take notice .

Interstate Games are hard for fans to get to !

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 ?

AFL Football Teams , are assessing their chances of playing in the Finals at the end of the season.

There are four clear certainties on top of the AFL premiership ladder, who are assured of a place in the Finals .

Of the other 12 teams, there are some who have no chance of playing, due to poor form during the year . Some teams , who still have a chance to play, will wage a desperate battle to win all games, to ensure they get a place .

Fans , ever hopeful that their team will make it through to the finals ,are out to support them by attending Games in their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys.

Can Melbourne make it to the Finals?

Melbourne , the home of AFL football, is experiencing it's coldest winter for many years . A recent June day, was the coldest for two years , with temperatures only reaching 7 degrees Celsius, at midday.

Devoted fans, wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys, will still come out to watch their teams play, despite the extreme weather conditions .

The AFL, scheduled three of the last round of matches , to be played at Etihad Stadium . Its got a closable roof , bright lights , comfortable seats , and ensures fans are warm , dry , can see and are comfy on these cold ,wet , winter nights .

The MCG , despite having a much larger crowd capacity , and having recently undergone a costly renovation, is less comfortable .

Fans , and teams of the modern AFL game , require a certain standard of comfort .

Interestingly, the  Brisbane Lions lost,  to the  Carlton Blues , at Etihad Stadium, in Thursday night's Clash .

Can the Lions , hailing form sunny temperate Brisbane , blame their loss on the weather ?

Too cold for Lions ?

The split round of AFL matches,  for Round 13 , continues this weekend .

Saints and Cats , play tonight at the MCG , under lights , in front of a huge crowd.

Swans and Magpies,  play in Sydney , on Saturday night , at ANZ Stadium .

The Demons,  play the Crows , in Adelaide , on Sunday afternoon.

All games will be televised .

Port are having a rest

With only one Game to be played in Melbourne,  this weekend , many fans will be reduced , to wearing their football jumpers , jerseys, guernseys , whilst watching footy , on TV .

Disgruntled fans, will be keen to attend next weekend's,  full round of matches .

This split round , is it a rest for the AFL players , or a clever marketing move by the AFL hierarchy.?

Demons play in Clash Jumper