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.

On the eve , of the Grand Final Replay, Collingwood Magpies and St Kilda Saints , are preparing for another closely contested match .

The Saints , still considered the underdogs , will play with an unchanged line up from last week , with the exception of injured ruckman Michael Gardiner who is replaced by Ben Mc Evoy .

Collingwood, have dropped mercurial Leon Davis , and replaced him with Tyson Goldsack .

Collingwood Fans , turned out in their  thousands,  to again watch friday training, at Goschs Paddock .

A feeling of deju vu , for both clubs tomorrow,  as they again take to the big stage of the MCG , to try and win the 2010 premiership.

Much has been written in the press , and televised in the media , about last weeks Game . More will be written after tomorrows clash .

Side issues have muddied the waters , eg Hird to coach Essendon , Ablett will be a GC Sun 2011 , and Bomber Thompson set to leave the Cats.

This week the Saints have dared to dream . Collingwood are not appearing as invincible as last week . Even the Magpies have stopped swooping the canine population in the local park .

The victor will be decided on Saturday , 2nd October .

Fans , will be watching wearing their team colours jumper , jersey , guernsey.

Can Saints have an historic Win ?

The AFL , has scheduled both Preliminary Finals , for night-time @ 7.45pm Friday , and 7.20pm Saturday .

Collingwood for 2010 Premiers?

Collingwood , play Geelong , on Friday night at the MCG .

St Kilda , play the Western Bulldogs,  on Saturday night at the MCG.

Lots of things, about the 2010 Finals Series, seem familiar .

Collingwood, walk the walk and talk the talk,  but are they capable, of winning the Premiership ?

Geelong ,  the reigning Premiers are quietly confident , as they present for another Finals series , and are a good chance for the Flag.

Western Bulldogs , the battlers from the West , are playing an exciting brand  of football , with the luck of Julia Gillard on their side .

The Saints , sentimental favourites of many, are poised to re-write history, and win only their second premiership, in their illustrious history .

Some questions abound .

Have the Pies , peaked too early ?

Will Geelong win , yet again?

Can the Bulldogs , get across the line,  carrying a  number of injuries , to their key players?

Will the Saints , finally hit paydirt?

Whatever the outcome , of this frenetic round of preliminary finals , of two things, you can be certain .

A record numbers of fans , will be out cheering their teams to victory, wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

That Molly Meldrum ,has already painted his fence in the red , white and black of the Saints. Is he a jinx?
Sit back , relax and enjoy . We're in for a bumpy ride to watch AFL Football at its finest.

The first AFL , Football Final , was held last night.

Appropriately , the curtain raiser, was a match between the two Grand Finalists , of last year . The two Victorian teams, St Kilda and Geelong , playing on a Friday night at the MCG in front of 63,000 parochial fans.

It was adrenalin fuelled , frenetically paced action from start to finish .

The rematch promised much , and the Game delivered . Blood flowed , umpires were maligned , fans roared , fowards missed set shots on goal, but the gritty Saints, ground out a heart stopping win .It was a brilliant spectacle.St Kilda ,avenging last years devastating loss, doggedly prevailed with a four point win, over the marauding Cats .

Fans , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , were at the MCG .What started as a mild , dry night ended in torrential rain , with conditions both on and off the ground , becoming slippery and rain soaked .

High profile Saints fan , Eric Bana , was willing his team to win but so were many of the Saints faithful .

Whilst there are still games to play , many Saints fans ,  left the game with a spring in their step , a smile on their face, and a bit of hope in their heart .

Collingwood , flag favourites , play the skillful Western Bulldogs today at the MCG with a huge crowd expected .

Magpies Vs Doggies today

Julia Gillard , their number one ticket holder will be watching .Is her struggle for power , to be likened to the Bulldogs epicurean struggle , for victory over the Magpies ?

Its fast , its fun , its exciting . Who will be the ultimate victor ?

Finals footy is here at last,  and last nights match was a spectacular forerunner , of whats to come .

Can the Saints relive their 1966 Premiership Dream ?

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 ?

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