Just spent some time in Tasmania, where the hot news item was whether Hobart , could attract the North Melbourne FC, to play two AFL Games at Bellerive Oval .

NMFC to Play AFL Footy in Hobart

"North versus South" screamed the Mercury newspaper Headline,  in downtown Hobart . A local was heard to remark " I can't believe those people in the North .They are so parochial not wanting Hobart to have footy . '

Such is the passion that AFL Footy ignites , its not even interstate rivalry but intercity rivalry , causing squabbling between the two as to who plays where and when .

NMFC, are to play in Hobart , Hawthorn , are to continue to play in Launceston . Will the locals see a team of 22 professional Footballers , pull on the new Tasmanian Football Team Jumpers, to take their place in the expanded national AFL Competition ?

Tasmania's own colours Football Jumper

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 ?

Games were once played at smaller inner suburban grounds .

Collingwood , played at Victoria Park , Carlton ,at Princes Park , and  South Melbourne at Lakeside Oval.  North Melbourne played at Arden St , and Fitzroy , at Brunswick St Oval .Windy Hill was home to Essendon and the Punt Rd Oval housed Richmond , with Hawthorn at home in Glenferrie Oval ( the " sardine can ") .

Fans often walked , rode a bike or caught the tram / train, short distances , to these matches in their football jumpers, jerseys , guernseys.

Big crowds and big money have made these grounds obsolete.

Victoria Park languishes but was recently used as a prop for a TV series .
Princes Park has been redeveloped as a training facility for the Blues and is also home to a merchandise shop and office .

The Fitzroy Oval hosts VAFA local football , with a team that plays in the traditional,Fitzroy strip.Windy Hill is Essendon's, admin , training and spiritual home , as is the Punt Rd Oval for the Tigers.

Arden St, is the training and admin base for the Kangaroos,  and Lakeside Oval is a reception centre and home to local soccer side . Glenferrie Oval, is open public space .

The AFL"S , 70's white elephant , Waverley Park , is now home to residential housing , the notorious carpark buried under townhouses.

Big stadiums like Etihad at the Docklands and Melbourne's iconic MCG are home to weekend AFL Clashes.

Fans go in their thousands wearing their football jumpers, jerseys , guernseys to watch their beloved teams play on the big stage.

Vintage Jumper worn to the " Sardine Can " matches

Melbourne Football Club ,(aka , the Demons ), are the oldest football club, playing in the current AFL competition .

Established in 1859 , they celebrated their 150 year anniversary, last year in 2009.

In 1859 ,two months after Melbourne , the Geelong Football Club, joined the competition .

Called the Victorian Football League, or VFL, it was based in Victoria .

Carlton joined the League in 1864 , North Melbourne in 1869 and Essendon , St Kilda and Hawthorn all joined in 1873.

Carlton Blues Original Vintage Jumper ?

These clubs have been kicking the Sherrin for a long time.

All, have pursued the ultimate trophy , of a Premiership ,with varying degrees of success.

All , have a proud history , of playing AFL football.

Fans , love their club , their support is tribal ,and will come to watch them play , win , lose , or draw.

Perhaps the only difference between the 1800's crowds, and today's, apart from numbers , is that modern fans, wear their  football jumpers, jerseys ,guernseys to the Game.

Melbourne Demons Jumper Celebrating 150 years anniversary

AFL team ,Carlton Blues soundly defeated St Kilda Saints on Monday Night wearing predominately white jumpers, jerseys, guernseys and white shorts .

The Saints played in their traditional tri colour jumper , jersey , guernsey and black shorts .

It provided a great viewing spectacle with one team in a dark colour, and one in a light colour.

The North Melbourne Kangaroos also played in predominantly white jumpers, jerseys, guernseys with light blue stripes at the weekend .

The white coloured jumper , jersey , guernsey is gaining in popularity .

It seems a sensible approach when opposing teams colours clash or are similiar.

White Saints

The AFL staged a staggered round of matches to accommodate the Easter holiday break .

In Round 3 of the  fixture the Saints , Bombers , Bulldogs , Cats , Lions , Power , Hawks and Crows all won their matches .

Collingwood , Carlton , Eagles , Tigers , Swans , Demons ,North  Melbourne  and the Dockers were all losers.

The Blues were beaten by only 4 points against a young determined Bombers side and the Cats, Saints and Bulldogs continued on their winning way with all three sides being undefeated at the close of play of round 3 .

St  Kilda are on top of the AFL ladder after defeating three interstate teams , the Swans, Crows and Eagles. They take on another interstate team in the Fremantle Dockers in round 4 at Etihad Stadium on saturday night the 18th of april.

an old style vintage football jumper with button up front