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.

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 ?

Will Lions fall at Etihad ?

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 .

barry's old jumper

Saints white or not

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 ?

hawks white one

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.

Oh when the Saints come marching in

Will it rain on the Cats parade

Its come down to the final two top sides of the 2009 afl season playing for the ultimate prize .Geelong are pumped and confident further buoyed by Gary Ablett Jnr's brownlow medal win of Monday night .Businesses and homes in and around Geelong , the surrounding areas and country towns are proudly displaying their colours.Cars are flying local newspaper issue flags . St Kilda and surrounds by contrast is eerily quiet its team going about their business quietly and methodically . All are down playing the hype and sentiment of their 09 tilt at the flag .Many remember the debacle of the 97 campaign and for a team with a poor premiership and playing history they are stoically getting on with it .The St Kilda Town Hall has a flag out and 2 pubs are sporting wrap around red black and white tri colours .The Sacred Heart Windsor Op Shop has expanded its window display to include more Saints paraphernalia but the religious icons remain as silent witness to a modern day miracle if the Saints win . Come saturday evening the contest will be decided and whether its the cocky Cats or the sanguine Saints who prevail it promises to be an epic battle the like of which has not been witnessed at the G for a long time .