Roving Roo Reporter
August 3, 2024
The 2024 season is turning out to be a good one for the Nashville Kangaroos; here are the updates you need to be aware of as the boys head into the final two months and get ready for Nationals in Austin, Texas in October.
July 13 - Des Moines Roosters
The Roosters made their first formal trip the Music City to kick off the second half of the season for the Kangaroos, and they brought a big talented squad supplemented by a few Rome Redbacks. These teams have only collided in Regional and National tournaments up until this point with the Roos holding a 4-1 advantage in the five contests. But as all true sports fans know, past performance is no guarantee of future success.
With the game time moved up to avoid the devastating heat that has been blistering the southeast, the Roos were ready, while the Roosters were still bedazzled from hitting Broadway the night before, and the Roos led 3.2(20) to 0.0(0). The second quarter was more of the same from the Roos offense while the Roosters got on the board but trailed the Roos 7.4(46) to 1.1(7). The tide shifted in the third quarter and the teams each notched 2.1 with the Roos holding a commanding lead of 9.5(59) to 3.2.(20). Then the depth of the Rooboys squad kicked in, as is typical for the home team with these four quarter games, and the Roos closed out the day for the win, 13.6(84) to 4.4(28). Roos move to 8-2 on the season. Goal kickers on the day included: James Telfer 6, Ty Harden 2, Andrew Gleichert 2, Brendan Feely, Thomas Procter.
July 19 – Metro 3 Wallabies vs Redbacks
The second half of the Metro season got rolling the week after the Des Moines win. The Redbacks holding a 2-0 lead after crushing the under-manned Wallabies in both outings had fans wondering if it would be more of the same or if the Wallabies would pull themselves up by their bootstraps and make a game of it. The answer was not long in arriving as the Wallabies kicked four goals to 1 to open the match, four goals to one in the second quarter, and again in the third quarter, before easing up with only three goals in the fourth. Final tally for the evening Wallabies 15.5(95), Redbacks 3.7(25). With the win the Wallabies have sliced the lead to a single game heading into Round 4 which will take place Friday August 30th, 7 pm at Morgan Park. If the Wallabies can even the series it sets up a dramatic Grand Final match in September! Be sure to come to Morgan Park and witness it in person.
July 27 – Chicago Swans
The Kangaroos took their winning record on the road to the Windy City to close out July. The Swans and Roos have a history as long as the USAFL with the first match played in the Year 1 (1998). The Roos held a 17-15 advantage with the teams splitting their games earlier in the season (Roos winning in Nashville and Swans winning in the Regionals finals in Dayton, OH). History in this series has the home team winning 80% of the time (20 of 25 games with the others played on neutral ground). So, while the teams have been fierce rivals for 25 years, as a betting fan you would be better off going with the home team.
The game started off like the other games in July with one team sprinting out to a lead: the Swans got a massive boost from accurate kicking and led 6.1(37) to 1.2(8) at the first break. In the second quarter, the Roos got their feet under them and won the quarter, narrowing the game to 7.6(48) to 2.3(15). Unfortunately, only a single goal in the third to the Swans five left the Roos in a huge hole, trailing 12.9(81) to 3.3(21). But the Never Say Die Rooboys came out firing in the fourth quarter, kicking three goals in about four minutes. Unfortunately, a slightly errant kick broke the goal post and instead of a fourth consecutive goal, the Swans realized they were in danger of giving up the largest comeback in USAFL history. They switched on and kicked six to finish off the Roos 18.11(119) to 6.6.(42). This left the season series at 2-1 in favor of the Swans and the overall rivalry at 17-16 for the Roos. There is a decent chance they will meet at Nationals as both teams are likely to be competing in Division III. Goal Kickers for the Roos: Luke Chadwick 4, James Telfer, Panda (visiting from the San Francisco Iron Maidens!)
August 10 – New York Magpies
Kicking off August, the Rooboys head to New York City! They will be returning the visit from 2019 (originally set for 2020 except Covid got in the way). The Magpies are a perennial Division 1 squad loaded with Australians, so many that sometimes they have difficulty getting enough non-Aussies on the field. This is in contrast to the Roos who never have an issue with the 50-50 USAFL rule (designed to promote footy among Americans).
The teams first tangled in 1999 at the Nationals with the Magpies winning, and the Roos hosting in 2000 when they secured a narrow win. The following three years these teams along with the Boston Demons did a three-way tournament with each club hosting. The Roos lost all three times with the closest match at home in 2002 where another five seconds would have seen the Roos getting shot on goal but ended up losing 58-56. During the 2010s they met four more times with the Magpies taking all four games and holding an 8-1 all time lead over the Roos.
With a depleted squad going to NYC, the Roos will get some assistance from Philadelphia and possibly from DC. Nonetheless, it will be a chance for the boys who are going to see what they can do as well as learn where they can improve and then use that experience heading into Nationals.
August 24 – DC Eagles
The final home game of the year is also designated as the Alumni, Sponsor, Member Recognition game. The Rooboys teamed up with the Eagles at the 2023 Central Regional Tournament and together they took the Division 2 title. Both teams will be looking to prove which was more responsible for that crown when they clash at Elmington Park this Saturday. The Eagles started as a combined club with the Baltimore, whom the Roos played six times between 1999 and 2014, going 4-2 in that span. Then those two cities split into separate clubs and since then, the Roos have played Baltimore Dockers six times (going 2-4) but have yet to play the DC Eagles as a stand-alone club.
This game has also been designated as Alumni/Sponsor/Member Weekend and the Kangaroos invite everyone to come out for the celebration. Not only will they be recognizing sponsors, thanking members, and promoting the alumni who were part of the history of the Kangaroos, but the 2024 Hall of Fame class will be announced as well!!
August 30 – Metro 4 Wallabies vs Redbacks
August will close with the final Metro regular season game, where the Redbacks plan to expand on their 2-1 lead and lock in the regular season championship. The Wallabies have a different idea and look to even the season at two games apiece and build momentum into the Grand Final game (to be played on the Friday evening before the AFL Grand Final Party that late night. It will all the bragging rights on the line for the victors and an off season of grousing and planning revenge for the losers.
Well, that about wraps up the July summary and August preview. Be sure to get to Elmington and Morgan parks later this month to catch your Rooboys, Redbacks, and Wallabies in action as the 2024 season rolls on.
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