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Football Team Prepares for Arch Rival Kookaburras
The football team has had another interesting year (aren't they all interesting?). How is this for an up and down year:
- A win against Baton Rouge in the season opener
- A loss in the return visit to Florida United
- Winning the inaugural John Harrell Cup in Louisville
- An excruciatingly close but no cigar loss to Chicago on the road
- A display of skill and stamina in winning against Ohio Valley
The Rooboys stand at 2-2 (the Louisville matches are not counted in the overall record due to the tournament's Metro-style format) and are 1-1 in the MAAFL. Fortunately, the remaining schedule has three home games and only two road games, before heading off to nationals. Unfortunately, they will need some help if they are going to have a crack at a MAAFL title. They need the Milwaukee Bombers to take out Chicago United, and then they need to beat both the newly formed Columbus Jackaroos and Milwaukee Bombers both in August, and do so by enough margin to win on percentage. A tall order indeed, but still possible. If they fall short, they will most likely end up in second place, which would still be their best performance since 2002.
But let's not forget the month of July. To get ready for the run at the MAAFL title in August, they have two home matches in July with the Atlanta Kookaburras on July 11th and then the first ever visit by the Minnesota Freeze on July 12th.
The Roos play the Kookas home and away again this year. in 2008, the match in Nashville was highlighted by both a dramatic fourth quarter rally by the Roos to win by 11 points and by Jeff "Peeps" Persson hitting the century mark. It was the third year in a row in which the Roos won a game in which one of their own played his 100th match, and the second time for a fourth quarter rally against Atlanta!).
There will be no century mark for the Roos in this contest, but if Evan "Colonel" Ling plays each game through the end of the home and away season, he will play his 100th match in September, against, yes, you guessed it, Atlanta! To witness that bit of history, you will need to make the trip to Georgia as the Roos will be on the road.
To say these teams know each other well is an understatement. Roos co-founder Mike Powers moved to Atlanta shortly after helping the Roos get started and promptly founded the Kookas team. With just a short 3 1/2 hour drive between these arch rivals, it is only natural they would square off for bragging rights in the South on a regular basis.
The game this weekend will be at Elmington Park on Saturday July 11th with the tip off set for 2 pm. It will be the 19th time these two teams have clashed, going all the way back to the 1999 Australian Festival. The Roos lead the all time series 14-4, winning 10 of 11 at home and a respectable 4-3 on the road (all the Australian Festival games count as home games which is why it is tipped slightly toward home games).
Be sure not to miss this classic collision. If history is any guide, it will take every once of energy for the winners to earn the right to sing their club song. You may want to get there early and grab the best seat you can (although you may only need the edge!)
