Footy news includes , ex Saint Xavier Clarke taking on a role as indigenous players advisor to the AFL , and Adem Yze , ex Demon , becoming an assistant coach at Hawthorn .

 

The Federal Government has given $15 million dollars to upgrade the Blundstone arena , in Hobart, where the Kangaroos , will play 3 matches in season 2012 .

Ben Cousins , troubled former AFL player , is again having health problems, seemingly associated with his drug abuse . Mick Malthouse , ex- Magpies coach, states he was warned Cousins may relapse in season 2009 , prior to Cousins recruitment to the Richmond Tigers .

Geelong forward James Podsiadly will probably miss the NAB Cup following shoulder surgery , in the off season , but hopes to be back at the start of the 2012 AFL Season . Similiarily Chris Judd, Carlton Captain , has has shoulder surgery and is now back in full training .

The NAB Cup starts on 17 February , with football fans keen to watch their teams compete , whilst wearing,

their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys.

Shaun Higgins , a rising Bulldog star , rolled his ankle on Etihad stadium's surface on Sunday afternoon .

AFL team the Western Bulldogs , one of five tenants of the ground will lodge their third complaint with the Stadium management. They believe Higgins was injured  because of the soft surface of the Ground .
The AFL Players' Association is investigating the circumstances of Higgins' injury.

A Collingwood player from Sunday,s Game , Dale Thomas ,described the surface as tacky and shifting in spots.
The Bulldogs will send an official written complaint for the AFL.

Ultimately, the Dogs are seeking action as well as an explanation.

Nick Riewoldt , Saints skipper , hurt himself earlier in the year amid claims of an unstable surface at Etihad Stadium

Fans want to wear their jumper , jersey , guernsey to the Game and see their team and its stars play well.

What action will be taken ?

Collingwood Magpies play St Kilda Saints on Friday night at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.

It should be a very good game that promises a close result given the form of both teams in recent matches.

Collingwood always wear the black and white colours in their jumper, jersey , guernsey. They don't have a clash or away strip that is largely white unlike many other afl clubs .

St Kilda who wear red black and white do play in a white clash strip of their jumper , jersey , guernsey.Will they unveil a new one for season 2010?

Do the Saints play in their traditional Home Strip as it is their Home Game ?
If they do will it cause confusion
for players, fans and commentators between the red , black and white and the black and white .

It poses the question will the Saints lower their colours to the Magpies ?

Wait to see at tomorrow night's clash.

Footy on Friday in Melbourne with the NAB Cup Final at Etihad Stadium between the Dogs and Power . It promises to be a thriller . Power have unveiled a new strip for their guernsey , jersey , jumper of season 2010 . Its distinctive colours shouldn't clash with the traditional Doggies tri colours of red blue and white.
The other finals clash between the Saints and Dockers will see the Saints wearing their NAB cup night colours as worn previously.Will the Dockers play in the white style guernsey jumper jersey often worn by them for the away night games? Those under 18 get in free as part of the AFL's push to attract young fans. Many young fans will attend in their team colours jumper , jersey , guernsey .
A change of venue has occurred for the scheduled Lions / Cats match. Its been moved to Visy Park in Melbourne after torrential rain and ongoing bad weather has rendered the original venue on the Gold Coast unusable . Queensland , rain one day even more rain the next. Victoria's new slogan , sunny one day even sunnier the next .
Ironic that at a time when the AFL is promoting respectful relationships Fevola is again in the headlines for appearing to disrespect women. Will he be stripped of his Lions jumper , jersey , guernsey? That other wayward son Barry Hall has fitted well into his Doggies jumper , jersey , guernsey and is playing good footy .

The NAB Cup continues with successful teams playing off.
Saturday sees Melbourne based team , the much loved but spectacularly unsuccessful St Kilda Saints play the Sydney based, exciting Sydney Swans.Both teams have red and white in their team colours . The Saints have black too but it still raises the question will one team play in the white strip favoured of previous years when a clash in clubs colours is evident ?

If they do it will avoid confusion between players , fans and TV viewers alike . This white jumper , jersey , guernsey is destined to become a highly collectable item . Those from previous years clashes are widely sought by all  .

Is a new white strip to be worn ? Fans will just have to wait and see.

The New Lion mascot was unveiled at Manuka Oval, Canberra today as the Brisbane Lions and the Western Bulldogs played their first round game for the NAB Cup.
It appears to have the same body as the old Lion mascot but the head is a full frontal depiction outlined in brown / maroon . Star recruit Fevola and the rest of the team were resplendent in their new kit .The Lions despite the new mascot on their jumpers were beaten by the tenacious Western Bulldogs who played in their traditional colours of red , white and blue with old style Bulldogs mascot .
Perhaps it is seen as poetic justice by all the old die hard Fitzroy fans particularly those who remember the Fitzroy Lions glory days that a new Lion a successful team does not make.

[caption id="attachment_236" align="alignright" width="199" caption="Lions colours"][/caption][caption id="attachment_239" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Footscray Bulldogs"][/caption]

Fans who have endured the long summer hiatus of football from their lives can take heart . The NAB Cup kicks of this Friday the 12th February for the opening of the AFL's pre - season competition .There are a succession of games to be played at venues around the country , in every state where AFL is played.

Footy starved fans can dig out their jumper , jersey , guernsey and other paraphernalia such as flag , cap etc possibly eschewing the scarf and beanie in 37 degrees heat . Its a time of celebration for footy fans everywhere , whether they are going to the Game or watching it on the TV the fans will be back in the old familiar jumper . Or perhaps not so familiar for Blues fans whose team this year is to be fuelled by lollies in their hunt for the Flag. Will they prove " a mars a day helps you work , rest and play ". All the teams photos for 2010 have been posted in the daily newspaper and it promises to be a blockbuster season. Get your football jumper , jersey , guernsey out of the cupboard , off the wall or down from storage now . Or better yet shout yourself a new one with all the new sponsors firmly in place . The scent of the turf and the bounce of the Sherrin is close