Sunday, September 4, 2011

AFL Football : Collingwood Magpies

The History of the Collingwood Magpies



The Collingwood Magpies had an incredible year last year, and it is due them to have a look at their history and consider how they got to be such a celebrated team.

What has led to their greatness? What are some of the key dates in their history? Who are some of the "greats" associated with this team?

 AFL Grand Finals Series 2011 : AFL Football - The History of the Collingwood Magpies


The premiership victory was certainly a great feat, and the Grand Final was such a neck-and-neck battle that it gave way to a Grand Final replay, in which the Magpies utterly trounced the Saint Kilda Saints.
Not having won a Grand Final for the past twenty years, the rejoicing amongst the Magpies' fans was massive - prior to the game, AFL merchandise coloured the streets as supporters of opposing teams proudly showed their allegiance. This gave way to the colours of black and white following the game with flags and scarves blowing from car windows, fences, and anywhere else available to fly their colours.

Looking back on Collingwood's first Premiership victory in 1902, it is significant to note that it was not only Collingwood's first premiership season, but it was also the first time for the Grand Finals to be played at the MCG. In a nail-biting event the very next year, the Pies won their back-to-back title under warm conditions, and against a strong opponent, pulling into the lead at the last moment with a mere two points. The question remains for 2011 - will they pull off another back-to-back?

Not only has Collingwood succeeded to obtain two back to back victories, they have had a four year consecutive run - 1927-1930. Though they have competed in an outstanding number of Their victories got smaller however, and by the time the Grand Final came around in 2010, their supporters were ready for a party - and boy did they ever party! After 20 years of silence, they were back at the top - and no one was able to miss it. AFL merchandise abounded wherever one looked, and it seemed as if all of Australia was having a party...Not that all of Australia are Colllingwood supporters, but they certainly have a large fan base.

In fact, not only does Collingwood have the largest fan base in AFL, but they also hold the title for the largest supporters of any Australian sport. In 1970, when Collingwood and Carlton battled it out for the Premiership title, a record crowd of 121,696 spectators watched. And in 2010, the year of the Magpie, they beat their previous membership record with a total of 57,617. Many supporters purchase AFL merchandise and proudly support the Magpies.

With 8 Brownlow Medal winners, beginning with Syd Coventry in 1927 and the latest being Nathan Buckley in 2003, Collingwood has many prestigious players. Nathan Buckley also set other records, including the most bests and fairests.

Nick Maxwell is the current captain of the Magpies, having begun in 2008, and led them to victory in the 2010 Grand Finals.

True to their motto, this last year, the Magpies truly have prospered!
Jackie Turner works for His Gifts, a shop promoting AFL Merchandise. Whether you're new to footy or are a one-eyed supporter, you'll find quality AFL Merchandise for your team of choice.

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Guide to AFL Football

Beginners Guide to AFL Football


The Australian Football League is arguably the most important sporting competition in Australia. What is now a national sport evolved from a mere domestic competition played in Victoria. Over the last quarter of a century the sporting event has transformed itself into a national league with teams based in five of the Australian states, although 10 of 17 clubs are still based in Victoria. The AFL, after Australian Rules football also known as Footy, has today become a powerful, wealthy and influential organisation in Australian sport.

The national sporting event enthusiastically watched by millions of its Australian fans witnesses 17 teams playing against each other in 24 rounds between March and September. The matches are followed by a series of finals matches which culminate in the two best teams playing off for the premiership in the AFL Grand Final, one of the largest domestic club championship events in the world.


 AFL Grand Finals Series 2011 : Beginners Guide to AFL Football

Australian football is governed by the AFL Commission which also runs the AFL competition and the rules are decided by the AFL's Laws of the Game Committee. The sport is also played at amateur level in several countries and in several variations.

The sport is played between 2 teams of 22 players on a ground that is often a modified cricket field. The games objective is simple. The players have to score points by passing the ball through the opponent's major goal posts. The team that has scored the most points at the end of play wins the game. If the scores are level on points at the end of play, then the game is a draw, extra time applies only during finals matches in some competitions. Interestingly during the play the players can position themselves anywhere on the field and use any part of their body to move the ball.

However there are interesting ball handling rules as well. The player has to be on the run once in possession of the ball and never get caught. He also has to stop intermittently bounce or touch the ball on the ground. Marks are yet another interesting feature of the game where players anywhere on the field that catch a ball from a kick that travels over a certain distance are awarded a free kick.

The main attributes of the game include frequent physical contests, aerial marking, fast movement of both the players and the ball and also high scoring. Australian Rules Football relies on tackling using full body to obstruct opponents however this doesn't allow dangerous physical contact such as interference when marking and deliberately slowing the play that are punished by free kicks, distance penalties or even suspension from future games.

Australian Rules football has swept the nation and continues to grow rapidly. In 2010, there were nine AFL clubs from Melbourne, one from Victoria's second largest city, Geelong, two teams from South Australia, two from Western Australia and one each from Sydney, New South Wales and Brisbane, Queensland. In 2011 a new team based on the Gold Coast, Queensland was added and in 2012 a team from Western Sydney will be added.

You can find out more about the AFL sport at our huge footy forum - BigFooty.com.

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Introduction : AFL Football

AFL Football



As a Canadian having moved to Australia, I quickly came across the sport of footy. I didn't realize just how seriously Aussies take their sport, however, until a short while later. When I finally came to this awareness, it was evident to me that nothing was to come in between Australians and their beloved sport.

 AFL Grand Finals Series 2011 : Introduction - AFL Football

Whether it be rugby, cricket, or footy, it seems that Aussies live and breath sports. What is it that makes Australians so passionate about their games? Having spent some time in this Southern continent, I have learnt a thing or two about these people and their sports. This article is an attempt to enlighten other immigrants of the importance of sports when it comes to culturally interacting with Australians.

The Australian Football League (AFL) grew out of a Victorian domestic club in 1982 with the South Melbourne Swans relocating, then becoming the Sydney Swans. Since that time the AFL has continued to expand and has become the national governing body of Aussie Rules Football. Melbourne has been named the sporting capital of the world, and no wonder, with its major role played in the formation of the AFL, along with its involvement in each of the other major sporting events. Melbourne sports (excuse the pun!) top quality sporting facilities and hosts major sporting events including the Australian Tennis Open, the AFL Grand Finals, and international cricket matches. Etihad Stadium, AAMI Park, and the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) are just some of the stadiums that make Victorians proud.

A national survey a few years back showed that 11 million Australians aged 15 and over participated at least once a week in physical exercise - including Aussie rules footy. Footy is not only a participation game, it is also a spectators game - being the most watched Australian sport - and it is well known that Aussies will frequently make a trip down to the MCG in the city for a Saturday afternoon footy match with a beer and meat pie in hand. Radios all around Melbourne tune into the current footy broadcast, and during Grand Final season conversation centres not around the weather, but around which team you predict will win. It goes without saying that every Victorian, if not every Australian, is expected to barrack for a particular team - and if you don't, you will soon be converted!

Holding true to the Australian stereotype that Aussies go for the underdog, many die-hard footy supporters choose to go for the teams with the poor prognosis - when they do finally win the Grand Final, there is much rejoicing.

Sports in general has been argued to have had a major impact on the culture of Australia. Whether it helps to promote various symbols and colours based on the flora and fauna of Australia, or whether it brings communities together in a bond of loyalty created by team atmosphere, or an excuse for fun and celebration, when asked to give a description of Australian culture, sports will naturally rank high on the list.

Since coming to Australia I have learnt a thing or two about Australians and their love for sport. When considering the impact of sport on culture, I tend to think that it works both ways - that culture has also had an impact on the sport. Cultural characteristics such as sticking up for ones' mate along with loyalty are in so many ways demonstrated excellently through sport.

So, if you're planning a trip to Australia, you may want to have a look at the AFL teams, decide who you'll barrack for, and come along to a footy game...just make sure to buy a meat pie while you're at it!

Jackie Turner works for His Gifts, a shop promoting AFL Merchandise. Whether you're new to footy or are a one-eyed supporter, you'll find quality AFL Merchandise for your team of choice.

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