Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital Welcomes Kangaroos
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submitted by: Roving Roo Reporter(Nashville, TN)
On Friday February 26 the Nashville Kangaroos Football Team got together and made a rather special road trip, even though the footy season has not started yet. This road trip, while not a long one (it is actually just down the street from our home ground), is arguably one of the most important they will make this year. Nashville is home to some of the finest medical facilities in the nation and as such, patients from all over the country come to receive the very best care. The youngest of the patients are at the Monroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Nine of the Rooboys showed up to see the kids. Being an Australian Cultural Group, they brought a number of Australian themed handouts, including coloring book pages of Australian animals, a Word Seek of Australian animals, an Australian-English dictionary, USFooty playing cards, a whole basketful of mini-footies, and plenty of signed copies of the 2009 Nashville Kangaroos team photo.
Then, the kids and their parents, came to the Children's Stage to meet the Kangaroos.
Some of them were shy (quite understandable), others curious. But when they got their footy and started to play with the Rooboys, the smiles and laughter came flooding out. For the next 90 minutes everyone had fun, especially the kids. And after all, that is what it all about.
"We began planning this day three years ago," said President Jeff Persson, "and today it finally happened. This may be the most important event of our year. We want to do this every year."
Here is what the boys had to say:
"Simply fantastic" - co-captain Damian Serong
"This is so cool" - Dave Ackley
"I wouldn't miss this for anything" - Travis Quigley
"What a great chance to give to the community" - Mike Guinsburg
"We should do this again for sure" - Cliff Cosnahan
"This totally makes my weekend" - Nick Parker
"This is so much fun" - Todd Haralson
"We brought the spirit of Australia here today" - Neil Cumming
Many heartfelt thanks go to those who made today possible:
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Stephanie Van Dyke, Director - Volunteer Services, and her assistant Angela for coordinating our visit and allowing us to bring some joy and a little bit of Australian culture to some very special children
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Nick Parker, Board Member and Rover, for organizing the Kangaroos' visit
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The Rooboys for donating their time - Damo, Nizza, Tonka, Quig, Goon, Ackers, Chopper, Nugget, and Peeps
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Denis Ryan, USFooty AusKick Coordinator, of the Baltimore-Washington Eagles for support and guidance
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Amie Kennedy, Administrator USFooty for support
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USFooty for donating the footies
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Barry Bryan of Tubb Printing Company in Mt. Juliet, TN for donating the team photos
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3/2/2010 - League Administrator
2010 USAFL NATIONALS
The USAFL announces the 14th Annual National Championships to be held in Louisville Kentucky over the weekend of October 9th-10th, 2010.
It is a fitting tribute to Louisville to see the return of usfooty to the city that hosted the VERY FIRST game in the USA in September of 1996. To compliment this, starting in 1997, the first three National Championships were held in the city of their opponent in that game, their mid west neighbor, Cincinnati. In a tribute to the first decade of the usfooty nationals, the championships returned to Louisville in 2007 and with the huge success of those championships, the enthusiasm of the local community and the subsequent irrigation of the fields, it is fitting that the USAFL Nationals return once again to Louisville, Kentucky.
The growth of Australian Rules Football in the USA since that game has been truly amazing. The first Nationals in 1997 saw five teams compete on one field over two days of exciting footy, and plenty of socializing. This year will see over 30 men’s teams and looking forward to seeing 8 or more women’s teams compete at Louisville Soccer Park, minutes from downtown Louisville and world renowned locations such as Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby and the Louisville Slugger Museum and factory.
The entire USAFL board, National Championships Organizing Committee and the Louisville Kings Football Club take great pride in announcing the location for this years National Championships and putting on a world class event.
Details on hotels, weekend events and highlights will all be announced shortly. The USFooty Board promises this will be one of, if not the best, Nationas ever. Check out www.usfooty.com for all details and updates.
2/16/2010 - League Administrator
Australian Football tourney coming to Louisville
The Courier-Journal • February 12, 2010
The largest Australian Rules football tournament in the world, the U.S. Australian Football League (USAFL) 2010 National Tournament, will be held in Louisville at Champions Park on River Road Oct. 9-10.
“We are thrilled to return to the birthplace of Aussie Rules football in the U.S.,” said Richard Mann, USAFL president and tournament director. He said the “first ever game of Aussie Rules football played in the U.S. took place in Louisville in 1996. The city and the Louisville Sports Commission have been great partners in helping to bring the 2010 national tournament to Louisville.”
Louisville's own Australian Rules Football team, the Louisville Kings, will help host the event, which is expected to attract up to 40 USAFL teams. More than 1,000 players, coaches and league officials will be in Louisville for the tournament.
Champions Park includes a series of sports fields along River Road, including Eva Bandman Park, the old River Road Country Club and the Louisville Soccer Park. http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100212/NEWS01/2120360/Australian+football+tourney+coming+to+Louisville
2/15/2010 - League Administrator
Magpies Sign Californian MAGPIES SIGN CALIFORNIAN BIG MAN
Wednesday, 10 February, 2010
The Western Magpies have thrown their recruiting net across the Pacific to sign 24-year-old Bryan Dragus from Los Angeles, California.
On the strength of his first training session for the club on Monday night, having arrived in the country last Saturday, the Magpies have confirmed the 198cm / 98kg American, who has played just eight games of football in his life, will be included on the club’s 2010 QAFL Senior List.
Magpies Club Development Manager Anthony McDonald explains that Dragus was identified by former Sherwood player Leigh Barnes, who is involved the Golden Gate Roos where Dragus played last season.
Former Magpies president Matt Vowles also saw Dragus play for the Roos while on holidays in the US last year and came back spruiking about his raw talent and ability to club officials.
Dragus made contact with McDonald and, after showed a determination to come to Australia and earn a spot on the Magpies list, was helped by the club to organise a 12-month visitation and work visa, plus accommodation and employment in Brisbane.
McDonald says that although Dragus has had limited actual football experience spread between his club competition in the US and at the US National AFL Championships, his sporting background lends itself to a successful transition to AFL.
“At San Dimas High School he played American Football, basketball and baseball, and represented in track & field over 200m and 400m. He gained his best accolades in football as a punter and wide receiver,” said McDonald.
“He then attended California State University where he had no formal involvement in sport but actively participated in the basketball program.”
In 2008 a friend who hailed from Melbourne and played with Roos encouraged Dragus to try his hand at AFL. Initially he chose to gave it a miss, but he joined the club in 2009.
In just his first season he won the club best and fairest and gained an invitation train with the US national team, the Revolution.
Said Dragus: “I am both excited and nervous about trying to make a contribution at an Australian club and am enjoying being in Brisbane.
“My goal is to learn and develop as much as I can, to play in the QAFL, to make the US national team for the next International Cup and to enjoy the Australian culture.”
Magpies coach Paul Grentell said: “It was definitely an experiment getting Bryan over but from what he demonstrated at his first training session it may very well come off. He has very good hands, is good below his knees for a big fella, is a competitor and had no problem getting through the first session aerobically. And he is quite quick for his size.
“His handball skills are good, and although he needs to work on his kicking he has the basics and we think he can contribute strongly to our structure and set up.”
Dragus will play his first game for the Magpies as part of an U21 team playing the Western Taipans in the annual Russell Green Memorial match on Saturday at 4pm at Chelmer.
2/11/2010 - League Administrator
Revolution Prepare for 2010
The international presence of Australian Rules Football continues to grow with the announcement of a World XVIII and Oceania team participating in the NAB AFL U/16 Championship in June of this year.
Hawthorn also recently announced that it will sponsor the New Zealand national teams and AFL clubs are starting to utlize the International Rookie option to test international players.
In more specific American Revolution news players continue to travel downunder to gain invaluable experience in the various leagues throughout the country. At the moment there are 7 players working through pre-seasons with clubs in Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria.
Back in the U.S. available Revolution players will be meeting in Austin, Texas, for a 2 day training camp. The camp is scheduled for the weekend of February 27 & 28 and any players interested in attending are welcome.
With the 2011 International Cup only 18 months away this is one of the last opportunities for players to signal their intention to try out for the Revolution squad. The Revolution are scheduled to play Canada in Toronto on the 31st of July and the coaching staff are aiming to take the best available squad.
In Austin players will be put through rigorous testing to determine their capabilities and will also be taken through a comprehensive overview of the game to ensure their knowledge and understanding continues to develop.
If you would like to nominate yourself, or another player, to attend the camp or if you would like to find out more please contact BJ Gambaro at revomanager@usfooty.com
Matt Bishop
American Revolution Coach
2/8/2010 - Matt Bishop
Australian Football: An Introduction to Umpiring Please find the "Australian Football: An Introduction to Umpiring, International Version" attached. This was put together by the AFL with the help of: Brian Dunkin, Greg Everett, Paul O'Keeffe, Chris Ballman (Q-Ball), Seth McElvaney and others from around the globe. The "Game Day: 8 Point Plan" on page 12 and "Best Practices" on page 13 are especially good. If you know some guys who are thinking about taking up umpiring, especially
players who are close to "hanging up the boots" as it were, pass this on to them.
1/28/2010 - Seth McElvaney
Revolution & Freedom Update
Revolution training camp is scheduled for February 26-28 in Austin, Texas.
The international match for the Freedom and Revolution teams vs. Canada will be in Toronto, Canada July 31- August 2.
The date in August is a blackout date for the league, please do not schedule any inter club games for the weekend of July 31-August 2.
1/4/2010 - League Administrator
2009 Nationals Merchandise Clearance
2009 Nationals Merchandise final Clearance! Limited sizes and quantities left so hurry. There are also great deals on footballs as well as USFooty gear!
http://www.usfooty.com/usfootystore/
12/30/2009 - League Administrator
2010 AFL Fixtures Announced
2010 FIXTURE HIGHLIGHTS
Round 1 - March 25-28 |
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Richmond v Carlton, MCG - Thursday, March 25
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| Easter, Round 2 - April 1-5 |
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Brisbane Lions v Carlton, Gabba - Thursday, April 1 |
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Hawthorn v Geelong Cats, MCG - Monday, April 5
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ANZAC Day, Round 5
Sunday, April 25 |
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Collingwood v Essendon, MCG (afternoon) |
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Hawthorn v North Melbourne, Aurora Stadium (twilight) |
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Fremantle v Richmond, Subiaco (night) |
| Monday public holiday, April 26 |
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Carlton v Geelong Cats, MCG
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| Monday night football, Round 7 |
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St Kilda v Carlton, Etihad Stadium - May 10
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| Dreamtime at the 'G, Round 9 |
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Essendon v Richmond, MCG - Saturday, May 22
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| Split round, Round 13 - Grand Final replay |
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St Kilda v Geelong Cats, MCG - Friday, June 25
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2010 Toyota AFL Finals Series starts Friday, September 3
2010 Toyota AFL Grand Final - Saturday, September 25
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For more information go to http://www.afl.com.au/fixture/tabid/10586/default.aspx
11/3/2009 - League Administrator
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