Vintage football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , are highly sought by football fans,  and collectors alike.

Often, they belong to a team that no longer exists, or has been amalgamated ,into another team .

Vintage Hawthorn Football Jumper

Popular teams in this category , are the Brisbane Bears , and the Fitzroy Lions .Both were either forerunners to , or were amalgamated , into the current Brisbane Lions team.

Avid fans and collectors , will seek out and secure football jumpers,  from this era.

Many collected jumpers are encased under glass , in frames , others are worn with pride , to the game .

Fond memories , of a bygone , gentler era , are embedded deep into these nostalgic jumpers.

The period during which they were worn,  evokes poignant memories of a simpler , spectator sport . Remember that lair on the field , Warwick Capper , in his very short shorts playing for the Brissy Bears?

Paul Roos , Sydney Swans incumbent coach , Captained and performed heroic feats proudly attired in his Fitzroy Lions jumper .

Memories , individual , irreplacable , and timeless, tied up with the fans reverie and nostalgia for a bygone era. All foster a love for AFL football .

Vintage 1987 Brisbane Bears Football Jumper

Nothing like it , Sunday afternoon in Melbourne , hundreds of fans surging down city streets , towards the  Football Stadium.

Most , are dressed in their teams colours , including football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys.

Cheerful expectation builds as the Ground gets closer.

All walks of life are represented . A feral , hippie young woman, sporting patchwork pants and dreadlocks with her Saints jumper on top. Family groups with flags , and kids with their favourite players number on the back of their jumper.

Groups of Gen Y's in their jumpers , beanies or scarfs . There are also the senior fans with hand knitted scarfs , thermos 's and grey rinse perms , who have loved this game , and their team,  and come to the footy , throughout their long life .

All love the footy .

The atmosphere , the camaraderie , the building excitement , the roar of the crowd, the physical highs and lows of the players , even the smell of the turf .

AFL Football is a great spectator sport , and nothing rivals a closely contested Game,  for fans enjoyment.

Melbourne is Football

Sidney Nolan ,the famous Australian painter has an iconic painting called the " Footballer " (1946) on display at the Ian Potter Centre of the NGV .

Painted whilst Nolan lived in St Kilda it is believed to be of 1940s St Kilda legend Keith Miller .

Nolan, who died in 1992 , is no longer able to confirm of deny this.

The attendance by Nolan at the footy and his choice of subject matter prove that footy appeals to many even the artistic intelligentsia .

Nolan's work is globally respected and highly valued . His Kelly series of paintings are legendary .

AFL football as depicted in this 1940's piece proves it was a popular spectator sport even then .

Have a look at this great painting and see the early aussie rules player in his striped jumper , jersey , guernsey .

Today' s Saints Jumper