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Kangaroos Open 2009 with Dominating Performance at Home
After a long cold winter, it was great to see the first signs of spring and for the second time in Kangaroos history, a game in March as the Kangaroos faithful ventured out to the home ground of Elmington Park for the 2009 season opener against the Baton Rouge Tigers. The weather conditions were a little threatening in the morning, but the afternoon turned out a beautiful for footy.
The Kangaroos jumped right out of the gate as Chris "Bagman" Moerman took a mark within the first minute and scored a straight on from 40 yards out, an ominous sign of things to come. The first quarter was total domination for the Kangaroos as the veterans scored at will: Moerman, Dee Vsetecka, and Dave Walker each scored majors. The marks were definitely one-sided as the Kangaroos out-marked them by a 11-1 margin. At the end of the first period, it was the Kangaroos leading 7.5(47) to 0.0(0).
The second quarter began with the first points of the game from Baton Rouge, courtesy of Matt Boyd's 35 yard goal from straight away after a 50-yard penalty. Nashville matched that goal with Moerman tallying twice and returning big man Neil Cumming and new co-captaim Damian "What's" Serong "with that" each finding the range, before Baton Rouge's Aaron Larose found open space and put trough another score. For the quarter, the Kangaroos out-marked the Tigers 10-3, bringing the half to 21-4 in favor of the Roos while outscoring 4.4(28) to 2.1(13) to lead at halftime 11.9(75) to 2.1(13).
The third quarter started like the 2nd did, with a Baton Rouge goal by Jeff Persson, who was substituting for Baton Rouge along with several of the other Roos. That was countered with the first goal of the season from Damien Serong. Baton Rouge countered that goal just seconds later with from Jeffrey "Peppers" Phillips notching his first goal of the day. Chris Moerman turned in his bid for goal of the day with an over-the-shoulder mark and kick from 20 yards out at a wicked angle. Baton Rouge concluded the scoring in the 3rd quarter with a goal by Neil Cumming (who may be the first player to ever score for both teams as he graciously did his tour of duty in the second half with the Tigers). The marks once again told the story as the crisp handballing and marking made the advantage 8-3 for the quarter and 29-9 over all. The quarter scoring was Kangaroos 4.3(27) to Baton Rouge 2.1(13) and the lead at three-quarters time 15.12(102) to 5.2(32).
The fourth quarter started with a blitzkrieg: the first goal of the season by Nick Parker, Vsetecka's second, plus Gilberto "Chimi" Ortiz's first goal had the Tigers reeling. Phillips steadied as Baton Rouge with his second of the match and then a final goal for Baton Rouge by Matt Consterdine. Serong notched his second before the scoring concluded as it started, fittingly, by who else, Chris Moerman, bagging lucky #13 to tie his club record. The fourth quarter marks were dominated 8-3 by Nashville and for the game they outmarked Baton Rouge 37-12. The fourth quarter scoring was 6.5(41) to 3.1(19) ans the Kangaroos won handily 21.17(143) to 7.3(45). With the win, the Kangaroos have won eight straight at home, dating all the way back to the infamous Lake Elmington match against St. Louis in June 2007.
After the game, the teams gathered for the Post-Game Celebration at newest club sponsor, Dan McGuiness Irish Pub for great food and beverages and the coaches announcing of the game's best and fairest as well as a few first gamers doing their "Rookie Shots" as part of their initiation into the world of footy. The Post-Game celebration was recorded live by Alex Benjamin on the Justin.tv's webchannel for the Kangaroos (go to the Justin.tv website: http://www.justin.tv/nashvillekangaroos and search for 2009-03-28 Kangaroos Post-Game Celebration).
The Kangaroos travel down to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to play Florida United on April 18th, returning the favor of last year's first ever clash between these two teams, followed by the return of the Thunder Over Louisville Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky on April 25th. The next home game is May 16th as the the Dallas Magpies visit the friendly confines of Elmington Park to take on the Kangaroos for the first time in five years.
Score by Quarter:
First: 7.5(47) to 0.0(0)
Second: 11.9(75) to 2.1(13)
Third: 15.12(102) to 5.2(32)
Final: 21.17(143) to 7.3(45)
Best on Ground
Baton Rouge: Matt Boyd, Aaron Rose, Matt Constantine
Nashville: Chris Moerman, Nick Parker, Dave Walker, Mischa Nemeth, Damian
Serong, (sixth-tie) Jeff Persson, Justin Davis, Daniell Leipply. Coach's
Encouragement Award: Daniel Leipply
Goal Kickers
Baton Rouge: Matt Constantine, Jeffrey Phillips (2), Joe Roy, Neil
Cumming, Jeff Persson
Nashville: Chris Moerman (13), Damian Serong, Dee Vsetecka (2), Neil
Cumming, Gilberto Ortiz, Nick Parker, Dave Walker
Umpires
Field: Craig Warner, Grant White
Goal: Alex Benjamin, Kirby Pate
Injuries
None
Attendance
250
