crows

All Clubs are required to travel interstate at least five times . Collingwood , Hawthorn and Geelong , the top three finishers in 2011 have big games scheduled. The  AFL hopes these games can draw large crowds ,  will provide great entertainment , and  help to consolidate these teams ,  and footy's popularity .

Geelong unfurls its premiership flag in round 4 , and the Saints face Freo in their first game since the coach poaching saga  .The Blues play six games on Friday night , and North Melbourne  make the most interstate trips with Games scheduled in Hobart .

north

Queensland Clubs , the Lions and Suns , play the most games in the Saturday afternoon twilight timeslot , and the Cats and Magpies meet twice in GF replays in rounds 8 & 16 .

Big Games will continue with the  Magpies playing the Bombers on Anzac Day, Freo versus Carlton in the annual Len Hall Tribute Match , Demons tackling the Magpies on Queen's Birthday Monday, Essendon and Richmond clashing in the 'Dreamtime at the 'G' match in round eight, and St Kilda hosting Carlton on a Monday night match.

tigers

Interstate teams will continue to play each other in the two 'Derbies' between Fremantle and West Coast, two 'Showdowns' between Adelaide and Port Adelaide, two Brisbane Lions- Gold Coast 'Q-Clashes' and, for the first time, two all-Sydney clashes between the Giants and Swans.

carlton

The 2012 AFL fixture promises much.  Football fans will be along to watch , wearing their   football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys .

sherrin jumper

The Australian Team , the Wallabies , were soundly defeated by N Z team , the All Blacks in their semi final match .The Aussies played their last game of the Cup , to beat Wales , in the Third Place Play-Off.

NZ is a country where they love the sport of rugby union . The devotion of their fans to their national team , the All Blacks , makes the average AFL fan look half-hearted .

In the Grand Final , New Zealand takes on old foe , France . Having just returned from  France , I witnessed first hand how patriotically they supported their national team , whilst watching the 'Ugby World Cup.

Saints in 2012

Being an Aussie , and AFL zealot , I will support the Kiwis , in their quest for the greatest prize of their competition . Sports Fans everywhere , will be watching , wearing their codes jumpers , jerseys , guernseys . Many , will be hoping the All Blacks are victorious , a feat , which appears, to be less elusive , than the St Kilda Saints winning an AFL Premiership.

Wallabies win 3rd place

carlton not blue

Carlton , winning their first AFL final for 10 years , defeated the Bombers at the weekend . Jubilant , they are into round two of the AFL footy finals . WA and the Eagles beckon . The quietly confident Blues are so not Blue about that . Nor are fans who will be cheering their Blues on , wearing the ever changing style of the Carlton football , jumper , jersey , guernsey .  

demons win

Interstate battles , saw the Tigers win against the Crows , the Eagles just hold off the brave young Lions , and Collingwood thrash Freo in the West . Hawthorn , comfortably beat the Bulldogs , and Carlton had a rest. Melbourne , with ailing club legend , Jim Stynes, looking on , beat the Suns at the MCG .

Fans , wearing their footy jumpers , were treated to some first class entertainment , with more to come in the upcoming ,

Hawks 7 , Buddy 5

AFL Finals Series .

STKFC

Elsewhere , fans are girding their loins and donning their football jumpers  , whilst watching games , and asking the question ,  will we make it ? Watch the footy over the next few weeks , and enjoy some spectacular action,  as teams , desperate for a place in the Finals , play some truly inspirational footy .

Mick's old Jumper

Saints outclassed

The Crows were very good against Geelong in Adelaide , with the Cats scraping a narrow win by only 11 points . The Swans  in a shock 43 point loss to the  under-performing Tigers have placed their finals chances in jeopardy . This loss allows Fremantle and North Melbourne to keep their finals dream alive .

Carlton , Hawthorn , Collingwood , Geelong and the West Coast Eagles continue to win , broadening the gap  between the top five , and the next three contenders , for places in the eight .  The Lions won the  battle of the Queenslanders , and the Bombers ended the Bulldogs hopes of playing in the Finals  . St Kilda , couldn't make it seven wins in a row , and were simply outclassed by the silky skills of the Magpies .

wce = winners

Blues are winners

Its a  fierce  battle , between five teams , for the last three spots in the eight . Loyal fans , wearing their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , will be treated to some fine footy action in the three weeks of home and away matches , as the season draws to a close . 

Lost their Power ?

The Hawks and Kangaroos slogged it out in wet, freezing conditions in Tasmania, for a Hawks win , and the Eagles held off a fast finishing Tigers side, over in the West . Carlton easily beat Melbourne , and in a huge blowout , Collingwood mercilessly flogged the Power , in a bitterly cold and wet match , on Saturday night in Adelaide.

Blues keep winning

Players are talking trades , coaches are being head hunted , and fans are relishing every moment of the on field football action . As bemused , passive observers of the off field manoeuvrings, spectators are getting to matches , showing their support by wearing their teams football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys . All are hoping their team makes it to the Finals series.

Will Lions win their first Game for 2011 against Suns ?

Where are we at ?

Carlton thinking they are winners

Hawks posing as winners

Demons desperately wanting to be winners

Cats quietly winning

Collingwood still winning

Bulldogs almost winning

St Kilda not winning

Kangaroos winning some of the time
Essendon acting like winners

Brisbane wanting to win

Suns trying to win

Eagles winning in the West
Freo believing they can win
Swans winning in Sydney
Lions not winning at all
Tigers win / loss / draw
Power hoping they will win their next
Crows spending money to win

Will Greater West Sydney win in 2012 ?

When you wear your Football Jumper,  you feel , and look like a winner , despite your teams win , loss or draw.

St Kilda's dismal start to the season continued when they performed poorly against the youthful Bombers in show off red shorts , and Melbourne snatched defeat from the Brisbane Lions . Collingwood appear unstoppable in their relentless pursuit of the 2011 premiership flag . A record breaking crowd of 88, 000 + delirious fans revelled , in the unfurling of the 2010 premiers flag , pre match at the MCG.

All weekend , fans streamed into grounds in their football jumpers , jerseys , guernseys , to watch from the grandstands ,  listen via radio , or view the Match on TV  .

Nothing beats the fast action , or the adrenaline rush , when your team hits the front . Its not for the faint hearted , nor are the new style football jumpers / guernseys , which mould to fit the players body shape like a glove !

Animal print = lion hearted

VFL and Women

Neither respect nor change has been evident , at  the AFL , recently.

Inappropriate dealings with women , by AFL players ,  club  staff , and managers , have been exposed .

Is the AFL to continue to pay lip service to their much publicised , but seemingly not applied , " Respect and Responsibility program " ?

Less than 10,000 spectators watched the St Kilda Vs Geelong , NAB Cup Game at the weekend . A poor crowd , considering the success of both teams in recent years . Families and women appear to be  staying away from Games . Will this fall in attendance ,  make the AFL change , to respect women ?