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Kangaroos Open MAAFL Campaign Against Columbus Jackaroos this Saturday
This Saturday, June 19, 2010 at 2:00 pm, the Kangaroos begin their campaign to capture the 2010 MAAFL Championship. The Rooboys have been bridesmaids the last several seasons, coming up just short in 2009 (with a close but no cigar match in Chicago deciding that season's champion), and in 2008 (a close but no cigar match in Minnesota keeping the Roos out of contention).
In fact, you have to go all the way back to 2002 to find the last Championship team: that year, the Rooboys went 16-2, dominating most opponents by 10+ goals, finished a best ever #2 national ranking, and only lost out at nationsals to eventual (and perennial) champions, the Denver Bulldogs.
But that is history and cannot be changed. What is important right now is the history that is yet to be written! The 2010 MAAFL Championship begins against the upstart Columbus Jackaroos.
NOTE: The Roos home game on June 19, 2010 against the Columbus Jackaroos has been relocated to an alternate ground! We will be using Rhodes Soccer Complex (in MetroCenter) for this match. Here is the LINK with the information (scroll down).
The Jackaroos were formed in late 2008 and while it was too late to schedule a game that season with the Jacks, they immediately joined the MAAFL Championship Ladder and started playing games in 2009. Columbus is a young team, not just chronologically, but player-wise. They recruit from Ohio State University and what they lack in talent and skill, they make up for in youthful fitness and enthusiasm.
Head Coach Scott "Scoota" Matheson, who still plays a fierce game, is the spiritual leader and mastermind. They have new on-field leaders this year, naming John Fisher, Evan "Game Day" Gardiner, and Chet Ridenour as 2010 tri-captains. And yes, that is the same Evan Gardiner who played for the Roos from 2003 to 2008, coming out of the Vanderbilt Footy program.
The Kangaroos are 1-1 against the Jackaroos, having lost the inaugural match in Columbus last year (pictured here), a true heart-breaker 7.5(47) to 6.9(45), and winning earlier this year in the John Harrell Cup in Louisville, a dominating 9.9(63) to 1.1(7) performance. This will be the first meeting of the two teams in Nashville.
But, Kangaroos be wary: The Jackaroos recently played Three-peat MAAFL Champions, Chicago United, and despite the massive resources, bench, and skills of the United, nearly, pulled off the upset; although leading at three-quarter time by two points, the Jackaroos could not finish and succumbed by three goals 10.6(66) to 7.4(46).
Forewarned is forearmed. The Kangaroos' leadership is well aware of the dangerous nature of the Jackaroos squad and will not be thinking the flogging in May will be repeated on Saturday. Head Coach Marty "Thommo" Thompson has been strategizing for two weeks with his generals, Captain Luke "Ooga Booga" Nemeth, Vice Captain Nick "Chopper" Parker, and Damian "What's" Serong "with that?"
This year's match has other significance as well, being played at the Rhodes Soccer Complex (formerly known as the MetroCenter Soccer Complex). The only other match in Roo history on that ground was a 2004 rainy day contest against the Cincinnati Dockers. The Roos won the day with a dominating 15.14(104) to 4.4(28) performance.
So don't miss out on seeing another chapter of Kangaroos history, as they take revengeful aim and look to notch their 102nd club victory and 59th home victory and first MAAFL Championship victory of 2010. And remember, when you go to the game this Saturday, June 19th, the game is still at 2:00 pm, but instead of Elmington, go to the Rhodes Soccer Complex!
