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Football Team Presents 2008 Awards, part I
The Year End Celebration carries the tradition of the Kangaroos presenting Awards to honor players for their achievements on the field. With the Club now closing out its twelfth year, it has reached a level of maturity where club members reach major milestones that can only be achieved through long-term dedication to the club. This year, we had no less than a dozen awards to present. Football Head Coach Marty Thompson had the honor of presenting eight trophies to the football team, all of which are listed below. He also recognized four of his players who were selected to represent the US Revolution, the national team, in Australia this year, the most Rooboys ever selected and the most from any club in 2008. Co-Captains Luke Nemeth and Travis Quigley shared time at the mic to tell the assembled throngs what a difference Coach Thompson has made to the team both on and off the field. The final awards of the evening were then handed out to three club stalwarts who have dedicated a decade or more to making the Nashville Kangaroos the great club it is today. The new inductees received their plaques and had their names etched forever in the Hall of Fame.
If you missed this event, you missed out on a fantastic celebration of everything that is great about the Kangaroos. When the 2009 calendar is announced at the end of the month, be sure to put a hold on the date for this event next year. You won't want to miss out.
Leading Goal Kicker
Chris Moerman
Chris joined the Kangaroos in 2008 having just moved from Australia to
Chattanooga. He did a search for footy in the US, and lucky us, he found
our website. After convincing Chris that the drive to Nashville would be
worthwhile, we had our new full forward. It did not take long for Chris to
establish himself as he jumped out early in the year kicking a "bag" of
goals in nearly every game he played. By the end of the year, our opponents
knew they had to double or even triple team him if they wanted to have a
chance to win. Along the way, Chris kicked 45 goals to lead the MAAFL and
the entire USAFL in 2008 and won the first ever USFootyNews Goal Kicking
championship. His total is second only to Adam Carter's amazing 66 goals in
1999, and he had a career game against Baton Rouge when he notched 13 goals
to break Adam's single game record of 12.
Rookie of the Year
Blair Morris (pictured)
Blair joined the Kangaroos in February when he took the advice of one of
the founding members of the Kangaroos, Adam Carter. Adam clearly has a keen
eye for talent as Blair took to footy like a fish takes to water. From his
first day on the track he knew this was the game for him. It did not take
him any time at all to establish himself as he kicked a goal in his very
first game (joining a long list of Rooboys who have done so), his third
game, two in his fourth game, well you get the idea. He was named to our
best and fairest with a stellar performance in his fifth game (against
Florida), and only an injury kept him from finishing out the season in
spectacular fashion. We had ten new players take the field this season, and
without a doubt Blair is our standout for this year. We look forward to
having him with us for many years to come.
Best Utility Player
Luke Nemeth
This award goes to the player who takes on whatever role or roles the
coaching staff assigns to him for the game and then gets the job done. It
takes a special player to exhibit the kind of drive, stamina, and skill
necessary to be put into different situations, not just from game to game,
but even from quarter to quarter. This year, Luke found himself in a number
of unfamiliar roles as he was asked to fill in holes in our lineup in just
about every game. He did this so well in the MAAFL Championship games that
he won the MAAFL Best and Fairest for 2008. Luke joined the Kangaroos in
2003 and has been playing his heart out ever since. His talents were
recognized by the US Revolution coaching staff when he was named the
starting center in 2007. Luke has been the captain for the past four years
and this year he showed that he is truly a complete player.
Most Improved Player
Gilberto Ortiz
Gilberto joined the Kangaroos in 2005 because he worked for Luke and
Mischa Nemeth who brought him along to our games. As a superstar soccer
player Gilberto brought his fancy footwork skills to the game of Aussie
Football and has had to learn how to kick a ball that is not a sphere.
Every year he has gotten better, and this year he really developed his
footy brain. He has learned how to get in position with his speed, how to
use his foot skills to tap the footy to his advantage, and he has performed
well in multiple roles for the Roos this season, adding winger and on ball
to his natural position of a crumbing forward pocket. Gilberto played every
game for the Roos this season, and like fine tequila, is getting better
with every passing year.
Best Clubman
Alex Benjamin
This award is given by the team to someone who has shown selfless
dedication to the club and team, someone who is not necessarily a player,
but someone who bleeds Kangaroo, and who has worked hard to make the club
and team better. Alex has been goal umpiring for Kangaroos games for five
years, and has been to the US Nationals as a goal umpire for the past two
years. He worked his 50th game, at home in Elmington Park, when the Rooboys
set the tone for the season with a win over MAAFL Premiers, Chicago United.
Alex also has taken it upon himself to set up a web cast site on Justin.tv
and has been broadcasting our post game functions (and tonight's Year End
Celebration) all year, helping broaden our reach out to Roo fans around the
world. It is through efforts such as Alex's that the Kangaroos are able to
grow and get better every year. We are proud of our players on the field,
and we are equally proud of the "unsung heroes" off the field who help make
our club great.
Coach's Award
Nick Parker
This award goes to the player who does all the little things both on and
off the field. Nick joined the Kangaroos in 2007 and when he won the Rookie
of the Year award, we had to double check our math because it seemed like
he had been playing the game forever! This year Nick has not only grown as
a player, getting better as he continues to pile up games of experience, he
has stepped up as a leader of the team. He was named to the Leadership Team
by Coach Thompson in April. He has helped organize our away trips later in
the season when help was needed there. He helps raise corporate donations
for the club. And he was recently nominated for and awarded a position on
the Board for 2009. It is safe to say the Nick epitomizes what we look for
in a true clubman, and we look forward to many more years from him both on
and off the field.
US Revolution National Team Selections
Dee Vsetecka
Luke Nemeth
Dave Walker
Jeff Persson
Every three years, the AFL in Melbourne hosts an international amateur
tournament in which countries from around the world are invited to send
their best players to Australia to compete in the International Cup of
Australian Rules Football. In 2002 for the inaugural tournament, the Roos
had one player named to the squad, Lance Van Putten. In 2005 at the second
tournament, the Roos were represented by two players, Dee Vsetecka and Dave
Walker. This year, at the third tournament, the Roos again doubled their
contingency of players named to the national team, placing a club-high four
players on the squad. Dee Vsetecka and Dave Walker made their second
appearances in Australia and were joined by first timers Luke Nemeth and
Jeff Persson. In addition to having to be able to play the game at the
highest level, it takes an incredible amount of commitment in terms of time
and money to make the team: you have to go to three or four training camps
in addition to all the travel for the regular home and away schedule, and
then you have to take off for the three weeks of the tournament. But ask
any of the boys and they will tell you it is worth the sacrifice.
Congratulations to our four Nashville Kangaroos representatives on the US
Revolution national team. Good on ya, boys!
