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Kangaroos Win MAAFL Opener over Columbus in Searing Heat
The Columbus Jackaroos traveled in force to Mount Juliet, Tennessee for the Kangaroos' MAAFL season opener. No field in Nashville was big enough for this huge match, so the Roos' football management booked the grassy fields of the Glen Park Soccer Complex. The Kangaroos were keen to take revenge for their 2009 loss in Columbus, while the Jackaroos sought to bounce back from their recent loss in a heartbreaker against Chicago United.
The Glen Park field's greater dimensions than hallowed Elmington Park had Head Coach Marty "Thommo" Thompson ranting about a more open style of play. Quick clearances from center and opening up the forward line allowed full forward Damian "What's" Serong "with that?" plenty of room, resulting in three goals in the first quarter. Serong's second goal came as Columbus struggled to clear the ball after a Nashville behind, another a result of the Thompson's masterful game plan in the forward half. Ben Vaatstra marked the kick-out and delivered the resulting free kick straight into the hands of Serong.
The Jackaroos' only joy came from a Rob McFarland snap shot that bounced over both the Nashville full back and the Columbus full forward. At the end of the first quarter, Nashville led 3.2(20) to 1.0(6).
Columbus footy mastermind and recently voted 'best looking Jackaroos player Scott "Scoota" Matheson brought in changes to block the obvious Nashville goal channel. Nonetheless, Nashville quickly extended their lead. Handy forward pocket and Revolution regular Dee "Weeman" Vsetecka kicked a staggeringly long goal that rumbled and bumbled almost the same distance it went in the air, and was shepherded through by an uncharacteristically unselfish Serong. Matheson himself become the Jackaroos' primary scorer, first with a skillful snap shot over his shoulder, and then with a World Cup style soccer shot off the ground, bringing the Jackaroos back into striking distance, and causing much consternation both on and off the field to the Roos faithful.
Serong's fourth goal of the match was a piece of precision football. Center "Sugar" Kane Harrison gained the ball from the center tap and immediately delivered a kick to Serong on a long lead, taking just two possessions from the center of the ground. Tim Kleman later took advantage of the Columbus full back's continuing difficulty with finding a team mate, goaling from a free kick after the ball went out of bounds. Mischa Nemeth was unlucky to hit the post for a behind, as Nashville began to display inaccuracy that could prove costly. The first half ended with Nashville leading 6.7(43) to Columbus 3.2(20).
Serong showed he was still a danger at full forward, receiving a pass from half forward flank Cliff "Nugget" Cosnahan to score his fifth goal of the match. A string of behinds followed before a goal by Columbus's John Fisher reduced the lead to 25 points, again giving the Jackaroos hope that the game was still in reach. However, some great work by Captain Luke "Ooga Booga" Nemeth assisted Vaatstra to a scrambling goal to end the third quarter with the home team nervously leading 8.11(59) to 4.3(27).
There seemed to be little left in the Jackaroo tank in the last quarter. The Kangaroos kept the ball in their scoring half, firing repeatedly. Thompson could be heard from the sidelines, screaming at his forwards to "go through the motions" on their set shots, but inaccuracy at goal continued. Harrison could not be faulted for his behind from a long shot with an unlucky bounce, and Dave "Hungry" Walker hit the post in an exciting passage of play, but seven behinds in a quarter must give coach Marty Thompson something to think about. Amid the deluge of minor scores, new daddy Travis "Quig" Quigley was instrumental in Serong's sixth goal by taking an excellent mark and immediately playing on to deliver the ball into the forward line. It was a welcome sight to see Jeff "Peeps" Persson kicking his first goal since 2008, having recovered from knee surgery. Finally, an entertaining passage of play involved Vice Captain Nick "Chopper" Parker passing to Vaatstra, who passed to Vsetecka, who passed to goal sneak Gilberto "Chimi" Ortiz, who kicked the final goal of the match. Columbus had no opportunity to score in the last quarter as the game fizzled out to a 57 point Nashville win.
The win moves Nashville to 4-2 on the season and 1-0 on the Mid-American Australian Football League ladder. The all-time series with Columbus now favors the Roos 2-1.
The Nashville Kangaroos now have four weeks to prepare for their trip to Boston, but the Rutherford County Redbacks and the Wilson County Wallabies will be in action at the Rhodes Soccer Complex in Nashville on Thursday July 1 and Thursday July 8 for relatively cool evening games at 7 PM. The Roos resume their MAAFL Premiership pursuit with home games on August 14th agains Ohio Valley and what is expected to be the match of the year, August 28th against three-time defending champions, Chicago United.
Scores By Quarter
1st- Nashville 3.2(20) Columbus 1.0(6)
2nd- Nashville 6.7(43) Columbus 3.2(20)
3rd- Nashville 8.11(59) Columbus 4.3(27)
4th- Nashville 11.18(84) Columbus 4.3(27)
Goal kickers:
Nashville: Damian Serong 6, Dee Vsetecka, Tim Kleman, Ben Vaatstra, Jeff
Persson, Gilberto Ortiz
Columbus: Scott Matheson 2, Rob McFarland, John Fisher
Best on Ground:
Umpires- MAAFL: 3 votes- Kane Harrison (NAS), 2 votes- Rob Ward (CLB), 1
vote- Ben Vaatstra (NAS)
Nashville: Ben Vaatstra, Kane Harrison, Damian Serong, Nick Parker; Luke
Nemeth, Tim Kleman; Encouragement Award: Tim Kleman
Columbus: Rob McFarland, Rob Ward, Aron Tharp, Chet Ridenour, Alan
Gardner, Brandon Crowe
Umpires:
Field: Craig Warner, Grant White
Goal: Toby Persson, Alex Benjamin
Attendance: 75
Injuries: None
