Kingsnakes to play in AZAFL

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Friday, February 15 2008 @ 01:50 pm ACDT
Contributed by: Troy Thompson
Views: 5,015

The 2008 footy season is starting to get underway across the US (particularly in the warmer parts). The Arizona AFL kicks off their league this Saturday 16th Feb at McQueen Park in Gilbert. The metro league is made up of three teams selected at last week’s preseason draft. The teams this year will be the Marshals captained by Darren Toohey, the Devils captained by Adam Smark and appearing for the first time and playing in the Arizona Hawks strips are the Kingsnakes, captained by Joe Swierupski. The season opener will be between the Marshals and the Devils.

The teams selected in last week’s draft are as follows;

Marshals

Darren Toohey (c), Troy Anderson, Eric "Moose" Nichols, Jason Ryan, Laki Kondylas, Neil Dilts, Rob Jellison, Lucas Hanover, Chris Reichel, Jon "Sweets" Martinez, Ryan Daudelin, Taylor Feiereisel, Matt Young

Devils

Adam Smark (c), Brad "Chops" Palumbo, Josh "Touph" Ashley, Doug McConnel, James Morley, Daniel Rogan, Jimmy Scanlan, Josh Richardson, Mark "Spidey" Stoeker, Brett Boyd, Jamaal Allmond, Denis Kelly, Brian Grzenia

Kingsnakes

Joe Swierupski (c), David "Donger" Pack, AJ Koernig, Jason Todd, Chad Martin, Dave Verwolf, Wyatt Glaze, John Scott, Mike Gallinoto, Ben Whitmer, Ronan Kelly, Al Padilla, John Broderick

The Metro League season will end with an Anzac Day Grand Final on April 26th. More details can be found at www.azafl.com

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Kingsnakes to play in AZAFL

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Friday, February 15 2008 @ 01:58 pm ACDT

It's a bit concerning that they are down to 3 teams. Back in 2004 we hailed the metro leagues as the way to go in the US, to develop a larger player base below the travelling city or state team. The AZAFL was a shining example, with 6 metro sides. So is this a downturn but a base remains to build on bigger than ever, or is this a long decline (obviously we hope not)?

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Kingsnakes to play in AZAFL

Authored by: Wayne Kraska
on Sunday, February 17 2008 @ 05:07 am ACDT

The reason they are not taking off further is clubs are still only using them to feed the main city team instead of developing them into full blown leagues of their own.

This is the same thing that has happened in Atlanta when I thought we should be going to 5-6 teams by now we have regressed to 3 this spring.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Kingsnakes to play in AZAFL

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Sunday, February 17 2008 @ 06:01 pm ACDT

Admittedly looking from afar and with all due respect to the great work across the US, it is a little hard to see how the game will progress to the next step of larger player and administrator bases and local leagues if the metro league concept doesn't grow.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Kingsnakes to play in AZAFL

Authored by: Wayne Kraska
on Tuesday, February 19 2008 @ 12:09 am ACDT

Well there is very little support for it to happen as well. It appears to me the USAFL feels threatened when there is talk of leagues actually running independently. I have seen this first hand with the MAAFL where the development of the league I think has been slowed to a crawl as some people behind the scenes see it might negate the actual need for the usafl at all.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Kingsnakes to play in AZAFL

Authored by: Neil Dilts
on Thursday, February 21 2008 @ 07:52 am ACDT

To clarify a bit as to why only three teams

#1 There were issues fielding 6 teams with player turnout. Some teams would have enough to play matches while others did not. Teams were folding causing forfeits. By reducing the number of teams, we ensured that numbers were viable for matches.

#2 We have gone from playing 9-a-side to a 12-a-side format. There have also been some changes to the size field. It has also been increased. Thinking behind this is it allows a smoother transition for newer players to understand how the tactics employed in metro should be used in a full 18-a-side game.

#3 The new style of the league has a draft where as in the past each team would be responsible for player recruitment. Teams would be uneven in skill level. ALL players are responsible for player recruitment and teams are more balanced because of the draft

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Ruckmen get no respect

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Ruckmen get no respect

Kingsnakes to play in AZAFL

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Thursday, February 21 2008 @ 04:17 pm ACDT

Thanks for the info Dilfy. So 6 teams to 3 teams isn't as bad as it sounds, because numbers per team are up from 9 to 12 (on field). But it still suggests shrinkage in total players rather than growth.

That's not to knock the people at the coal-face, we realise how hard it is, that's why it was exciting to see you get up to 6 teams a few years ago. Hopefully a metro league somewhere in the US will make the leap to a successful self-sustaining 10 team local league one day, be it 9-a-side, 12s or even full 18s.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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