Those fans who follow their teams ('footy fans') are indeed fanatical. There are currently 18 teams in the top level competition, the Australian Football League (called the 'AFL'). The oldest team in the AFL competition is Melbourne (also known as 'the Demons'), which formed in 1858. It is the oldest football team in the world. The team with the largest following today is Collingwood (also known as 'the Magpies'), which has 72,600 paid up members. Collingwood fans are very fanatical indeed, and it is probably true to say that Collingwood is the team which all other football fans 'love to hate'. I follow a team called Essendon (also known as 'the Bombers'), and our two biggest rivals are Carlton (also known as 'the Blues') and, of course, Collingwood.

So what's it like to attend a big game of Australian Rules Football? Well, it's exciting, loud, fun and passionate. And it's played fast and furious. Top level players run approximately 14 kilometres during a game, further than in any other game. Footy Fans arrive early, usually with a colourful club scarf, beanie and perhaps a club jumper.

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