World Footy News

As we move towards the beginning of the 2009 USFooty season, USFootyNews.com will be previewing the top 10 teams in the USA as voted by the USFootyNews.com and WorldFootyNews.com pollsters.

Starting us off at number 10 are the Nashville Kangaroos. Nashville finished 2008 7-5 and out of the top 10 in the last USFootyNews.com poll, but still registering some votes. While they won all their home games, including a huge victory over 2008 MAAFL Champions Chicago United, they weren't able to get the road wins needed to win the MAAFL. At the Nationals in Colorado they went 1-2 with their only victory against the Las Vegas Gamblers.

Still, over the last few years the team has developed a core group of players with same great talent. At full-forward they picked up 2008 Goal Kicker of the Year, Chris Moerman who kicked 43 goals for the year. In the ruck they have USFootyNews.com All-Star, Damian Serong. While their mid-field can include Revos such as 2008 Nashville Best and Fairest, Dee Vsetecka, All-Star Full-Back, Luke Nemeth (pictured), and All-Star Forward Flanker, David Walker. With a few more players with skill, fitness and experience, the Nashville Kangaroos could be a force to be reckoned with in 2009.

To that end, Head Coach Marty Thompson, re-instituted a Nashville tradition of a "Recruitment Day", which was held last Saturday (March 7). According to Thompson, "It was a sensational day , it was 70 degrees and we had about ten new recruits showed up and they showed potential. We had a fitness work out, a skills clinic, a couple of solid drills finishing up with a practice match. It really was a top day as you could feel the footy fever in the air." Thompson was particularly impressed with 6'2'' Todd Haralson and the speedy Daniel Leipply.

Nashville has long hard road to slog if they want to be back at the top of the MAAFL. That road starts in Chicago on May 30, although their season begins in just a couple of weeks hosting Baton Rouge. According to Thompson, "Chicago is our top priority. To travel well and play well against our good old rivalry boys. We aren't traveling to the Windy City to lose and I think we are just about due to take one away from them on their own home dunghill. I think every team this year is going to be tough and shouldn’t be underestimated. The old cliché of one game at a time has more meaning than ever has this season. If you look at last year the ladder was close and even the new Ohio Valley amalgamation showed that they gave us good push on our own ground and I expect them to be better again this year and will upset a side or two. Minnesota at home is the one to win and I think Milwaukee will be the MAAFL decider at home in late August and you can expect that to be a huge clash. All in all I am more confident than I have been the last two years as a coach, to win the prestigious MAAFL flag."

Nashville's 2009 Schedule.

Nashville v. Bat.Rouge @ Nashville TN 28.03.09

Florida v. Nashville @ Nashville TN 18.04.09

Chicago v. Nashville @ Chicago IL 30.05.09

Ohio Valley v. Nashville @ TBA 20.06.09

Nashville v. Atlanta @ Nashville TN 11.07.09

Nashville v. Minnesota @ Nashville TN 25.07.09

Columbus v. Nashville @ Columbus OH 08.08.09

Nashville v. Milwaukee @ Nashville TN 29.08.09

Atlanta v. Nashville @ College Park, GA 12.09.09