World Footy News

Football in the US is for the most part a game of distance. To play an away game requires at best a road trip and in many cases an air trip. So any time a new team comes along it usually means less travel and more games for their nearest neighbors. Many teams in the US will only play a handful of games each year (outside of tournament weekends) and desperately need more teams and less distance to travel for the game to prosper.

Each year there are stirrings of new teams coming on line, some never make it much further than this (the Mobile team rumored last year come to mind) and some struggle on for a long time but eventually put things together. Columbus in Ohio has struggled to get things happening for a couple of years and looked to almost be getting to a playing stage in 2006.

This didn’t amount to anything in ‘06 or ‘07, but a team has emerged in 2008, and what’s more they have their first competitive game on the board. Their next challenge is will be to stick around unlike some other teams that have raised their head briefly and disappered again soon after. Hundreds of emails, a city canvassed by fliers, Craigslist posts, Myspace bulletins, Facebook notes, rugby website announcements, countless phone calls, pleas to athletic friends, searches for local Australians, help requested from Nationals, six weeks of training, and dozens of post-practice beers have led to one dream becoming a reality; the Columbus Australian Rules Football Club.

From meager beginnings the team has come a long way in a short time. Two Cincinnati Dockers players began kicking around in Columbus, which led to recruiting interested friends and four guys at their first practice. Practice attendance has jumped regularly to 10-15 players, which has allowed them to have weekly scrimmages.

Their near neighbour Cincinnati who are a USAFL stalwart welcoming the second team in the state and returning the favor to those from Columbus who have traveled to play for the Dockers agreed to be their first opponent. On July 19th the club played their first game in Cincinnati and pulled off a stunning upset. The club being so young that they do not have a team moniker or club jumper (feel free to send them your suggestions) and played in plain white (mostly Cincinnati jumpers turned inside out). They defeated their experienced hosts by 20 points which in itself is remarkable in USFooty to win away, but in their first game – even more so.

At any rate, Cincinnati will be glad to have another team relatively nearby even if it looks like it will be a highly competitive one. The full match report from the Columbus club can be seen below. Their next match will be against the Cincinnati/Louisville combine this coming weekend in Louisville as Columbus make their way past one hit wonders to hopefully a regular part of the US footy scene. That may be some time away yet but they are off to a good start.

The club is seeking local Australians who might assist in supporting, participating or coaching the club, and they are still recruiting athletic players. Ohio State students John Fisher and Rob Ward are trying to establish a club team with the university that will hopefully become a separate team one day. Their website, www.columbusfooty.com, should be up and online soon as another recruitment tool. They are looking for sponsorship to help them become the first team ever to form and attend USAFL Nationals, this October in Colorado, in the same year. Training is Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. at Beekman Fields, off of Lane & Kenny roads and for any further information please contact email Chet Ridenour at columbusfooty {at} gmail.com.

Thanks to Chet and John Fisher for information supplied in this article.

Full match report follows thanks to Chet Ridenour

July 19th, 2008, leaving Columbus together as a team, they carpooled down to Cincinnati for their first ever match. Seventeen guys: from ex-soccer, rugby, football players, to ex-Cinci & Nashville players, to an Irishman with a funny accent, all made the trip. It was billed as Youth vs. Age. Enthusiasm vs. Experience. Rookies vs. Veterans.

Cincinnati was going to put the ‘upstarts’ in their place. Columbus was out to prove that they deserved to be out there on the field, and they did. At noon, with the temperature already in the 90’s, the teams took the field for the pre-game pageantry. From the opening quarter, it was apparent that Cincinnati had underestimated their opponents. Led by half-forward and rookie Rob Ward’s kicks for goals, Columbus jumped out to a surprising early lead. It was a lead they would never relinquish. In the center, athletic newbies Chris Sparks and Phil Sisia helped control the ball, handpassing with precision and tracking down balls before booting it up to their forwards, like 6’6”, 250 lbs big man Adam Peterson. Player-coaches Matt Reiss and Evan Gardiner, along with solid play from the other backs, anchored a defense that would allow only one goal through the first three quarters.

Demonstrating skill beyond their experience, umpire and Australian Daryl Hams would remark, “You’d be hard-pressed to tell which team were the veterans by the way Columbus moved up the field together. With improved skill y’all will be a force to be reckoned with by any team in the league.” But their inexperience would show through as they were often caught in a panic against hard-charging defenders. Improper disposals, running too far with the ball, and other rookie mistakes resulted in many free kicks being awarded to the other team. In fact, Columbus’ player-coach-captain Chet Ridenour was the most penalized player on his team after numerous rule infractions.

Being their first contest, players rotated positions to get a full-taste of the game. Stronger forwards dropped back to defense, as defenders tried their luck on offense. Cincinnati never quit though, and fought hard throughout the game, scoring 25 of their 36 points in the 4th quarter in a too-little-too-late comeback bid. The “Upstarts” would prevail 56-36 for their first ever win.

Cincinnati’s coach had nothing but encouraging remarks for the young squad. “Columbus came down with a young, full, fit squad, which was very impressive. They did things that established clubs don't do on a field let alone a new club. I think there could be a couple Revo's (US National Team players) coming from Columbus in the future if they keep this up. We look forward to our rematch, Aug. 2 in Louisville,” said Kyle Strenski.

After the game, the teams shook hands as new brothers in this Australian Rules Football fraternity. They posed for their first team picture, both teams helped cleanup, and they headed to a local bar to grab a traditional post-game drink. Columbus would head home to celebrate at Byrne’s Pub in Grandview later that night and toast to the first of many future victories.

Final Scores Cincinatti 5 6 (36) def by Columbus 8 8 (56).