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Kangaroos Finash 1-2 After Close Loss to Division 2 Champions Seattle
The weather continued to be cold, damp, windy, and anything like the week preceeding the tournament, but the Roos soldiered on anyway, as did the nearly 40 other teams in five divisions. In a game with a breeze coming straight across the field at maybe 30 miles an hour, and rather reminiscent of MAAFL Champion Chicago and its city nickname of the Windy City, the Kangaroos took on the top seed in Division 2, the Seattle Grizzlies.
It was a tight battle from start to finish, with the Roos just trailing the entire way. Mere seconds before the half-time siren, Chris Moerman narrowly missed a snap shot that would have put the Roos within a goal, but instead they trailed 2.1.13 to 0.2.2. In the second half neither team could penetrate the defense for more than a couple of shots at goal. The Grizzlies were able to put the only goal of the half on the scoreboard and solidiy their place in the Division 2 Grand Final, 3.3.21 0.2.2.
The Roos played five quarters of top notch football this weekend, losing narrowly to last year's Division 2 champion Minnesota and eventual 2008 Division 2 champion Seattle, and edging last year's Division 3 champion Las Vegas. Coach Marty Thompson made no bones about it in the post-game huddle either, making sure that the boys realized that they just took on the best of the best and while coming up short on the scoreboard, they did so with predominantly non-Australian players, and that bodes well for the future.
The Rooboys finish the season at 7-5, same as 2007, but against considerably tougher competition. From the sidelines, one would have to agree with Coach Thompson's assessment: the MAAFL and the rest of the USAFL better be on their guard if they play the Roos, as every one of these Rooboys is expected back next season.
That's it for now. See everyone back in Nashville for the AGM, Year End Awards Dinner, and Silent Auction on November 1.
