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 ?

With only three rounds left of the AFL 2010 Season , teams are playing for a place in the Finals .

Will the Sharks make the NRL Finals?

The top four teams , are assured of a Finals match.

The four teams below them , will jostle for a spot on the league ladder . The victors will secure a Finals Game.

Stellar performances, from all teams will occur , over the next few weeks .

All will give superhuman efforts .Some teams will make it to the finals ,some will not .

Collingwood , are posturing as a serious Grand Final threat. Geelong,  are hoping to secure another flag , St Kilda,  are again struggling valiantly towards the ultimate prize .

The Doggies, and Dockers appear to be finals players, with the Hawks , Demons , Swans , Blues and Kangaroos , the five teams , set to battle it out for a finals berth .

Whatever happens , fans will be there , in their football jumpers, jerseys, guernseys , to cheer their team.

Get ready for some heroic, grinding AFL football action .

Will Collingwood win the Flag?

There is nothing like a close AFL football Game, for spectator enjoyment.

Hawks Vintage Jumper

Last Friday night , the clash between St Kilda , and Hawthorn was such a Game .

Two evenly matched teams . The Hawks , lead by a point at the first break , the Saints by a point at half time , and at the 3rd , and last quarter nothing seperated them .The match ultimately resulting in a draw. Two points to each club.

Much has been written , and spoken about the Hawthorn disallowed goal in the final minutes , which most certainly cost the Hawks outright victory.

The bottom line is Hawthorn temporarily infringed, and then paid the price .

As a long time follower of AFL football, it ranks as one of the best games I have ever seen .

Two things stood out . St Kilda’s fighting spirit , and the Hawks great athleticism . All this , combined with the size and the roar of the crowd , and an adrenalin fuelled , action packed spectacle,  that thrilled fans to the very last ,  showcased friday night footy at its very best .

Neither club song was sung ,  but most fans went home with a song in their heart , knowing they had witnessed a truly great spectacle .

Saints clash Jumper

A crowd of almost 82,000 , went to the MCG last Saturday afternoon , to watch , the Collingwood versus St Kilda Game .

It was a massive crowd,  for a typical , home and away clash of the Season. Fans love Saturday Afternoon Footy. They go in their football jumpers, jerseys, guernseys , to enjoy the Game.

The AFL , could schedule more Games, for a Saturday afternoon in Melbourne ,at either of the stadiums .

Collingwood Magpies , who have the most financial members in the AFL ,possibly comprised up to 50,000 fans.

The rest , whether Saints fans,  or just lovers of AFL football, voted with their feet . Hopefully the AFL , will take notice .

Interstate Games are hard for fans to get to !

With an expanded AFL competition, and inclusion of interstate teams, a big venue, Saturday afternoon ,Football Game, in Melbourne , is rare.

Will Collingwood Win?

Such a blockbuster, is planned for this Saturday afternoon, at Melbourne ‘s MCG . The match promises much . Its scheduled at the traditional time slot of 2.10pm , and combined with the large seating capacity of the Ground , a bumper crowd of 75,000 fans , are expected .

Tenacious Collingwood, take on flag hopefuls , St Kilda . It promises riveting entertainment, and thousands of fans will be out in their team’s jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

Bring it on.

Will Saints Win ?

The Riewoldt playing phenomenom , has hit the Richmond Football Club.

Jack Riewoldt , younger cousin to St Kilda Superstar Nick , has re-ignited the Richmond Football Club’s playing style,  and given fans hopes of a bright future.

Following dismal form last year , and poor results earlier in the season the Tigers , have bounced into a winning style , all of the boot of this talented youngster.

The Saints, look foward to welcoming his Cousin Nick , back to the fold in round 15 of the AFL season .This follows ecovery from an horrific hamstring injury, sustained earlier in the year.

Tigers faithful , finally have something to smile about, and are grateful to Riewoldt, for putting the mojo back into their ailing club .

Loyal supporters ,wearing their football jumpers, jerseys , guernseys , have been thrilled , watching the riveting spectacle put on by these two talented players.

Two superlative players , related by blood and united by a love of footy .

Yes , in this case , lightning does strike twice !

Jack's baby Jumper

Most AFL football players,  enjoy a harmonious relationship,with the media.

Games are reported on , players injuries detailed, and the highs , and lows of a players career , all make good copy .

The supporters insatiable appetite, for all things related to their sport, is quenched on a daily basis, by these media reports.

Continual scrutiny , and reporting by the media, helps fuel interest , and provide accurate information .

Its hard to know when this coverage crosses the line , and becomes invasive for players and their families.

Fans , love to hear about their team, and it’s players. Dredging up past misdemeanours , and constantly giving it media coverage, may be detrimental to them , and place the game in a poor light.

Supporters love the game ,their club ,and its players .They will go to watch in their football jumpers, jerseys, guernseys ,when they can . Many enjoy the live televising and replay of afl clashes.

Other issues will be dealt with fairly by the appropriate authorities.

Fans just want to have fun .

St Kilda Player under media scrutiny

A cold ,wet, blustery , saturday morning,  in Melbourne.

A small inner city football oval , the Peanut Farm Reserve , Chaucer st , St Kilda . A ground steeped in history , it sits in the shadow of Luna Park , and the beach .

VFL Vintage Saints

Two teams of young men playing AFL Football. The Home side dressed in the famous red, white  and black,  traditional strip , of St Kilda Saints. Playing are  amateur side , St Kilda City ,versus a team dressed in the red , yellow and black, traditional indigenous strip .

Each is  playing footy , proudly wearing their team’s , football jumpers , jerseys , guerneys .

Thousands of young people , male and female ,all around the country, take to footy ovals on a wet , cold, saturday morning , to play the game they have grown up with.

Clearly, its a game they have also grown to love . Why else would they brave the artic weather conditions, mud slides, and an early rise on a winters saturday morning .? Its all part of the fun .

Supporters too , meet , greet ,cheer , have a yarn and a laugh , all barracking for their team in their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

Maybe they’ll witness a future Robert Harvey take a screamer , or maybe not .

Its just good fun at the footy .

St Kilda City

AFL Football, is a passionate game .

Just ask the Players, Coaches , Support Staff and Fans .

It can unite and divide. Family loyalties ,can even be tested, and friendship bonds breached.

At the conclusion of the match , after a great physical and mental contest ,there is usually only one winner , unless , extraordinary circumstances , deliver a rare draw.

Sometimes passions ignite ,and friendly banter , can turn ugly and vicious , both on and off the field.

Witness , Friday night’s fiery clash , between St Kilda defender Steven Baker,  and Geelong forward Steve Johnson. Baker , finished the night with stitches in a blackened and cut eye,  arguably delivered, by Johnson’s elbow to it .

Both are competitive , hard players , both niggle each other, on and off the field . It is their accepted ,style of play.

Fans enjoy the spectacle , many , attended the game in absymal weather conditions, in their football jumpers, jerseys, guernseys.

Fans don’t want to see, on field spats , carried on after the Game .

Leave it on the field , don’t turn it into a media circus , following the Match .

Another annoying , even predatory feature of Friday’s game, was the reaction of Geelong players , to the umpires decisions.

Significantly, the losing side’s players , argued vociferously with every decision.

Its a very unattractive feature of the modern game, which intimidates umpires,  and draws their attention away , from the game being played. Surely , the umpires decision is sacrosanct, and the AFL tribunal , is there to uphold any breaches,  of fair play .

A loser should accept the ump’s decision, and be gracious in defeat. It’s an inspirational feature,  of our great game .

Don’t make fans regret , wearing their jumper , jersey, guernsey .

Saints jumper , jersey , guernsey

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