World Footy News

The USAFL has announced seedings for the 2010 USAFL tournament to be played this weekend in Louisville, Kentucky. Division 1 of the tournament is split into two groups and Chris Adams from US Footy News reviews the seasons of the teams competing in that division to give us the form of each going in.

The number one seed in Group A is the Denver Bulldogs. Denver finished the season with a record of 5-0. While they had some good wins on the road, particularly the recent tournament against Boston. Their only win against a ranked team came against Chicago United at home. That said, Denver is a 7-time National Championship winner and always brings their A-game to Nationals. In 2009 they dominated the ruck with former AFL Fremantle Docker Brendon Feddema, they were also assisted by the great work off half-back by the Championship game MVP Dom Kennedy.

The number two seed in Group A is the Orange County Bombers. The Bombers are playing some great football, finishing the 2010 season with a 5-0 record including defeating Golden Gate at home and sweeping San Diego in their home and home series. The Bombers have some excellent talls such as Revo ruckman Tyler Mounce and big forwards Chris Stewart and Andy Treanor. With good smalls and a skilled run and carry game, the Bombers will be hard to stop if the weekend stays dry.

The number three seed in the “Group of Death” Group A is the Baltimore Washington Eagles. The Eagles dropped off from their form in 2009, finishing 4-2. The Eagles’ losses came to New York Magpies in Philadelphia and the unranked North Carolina Tigers on the road. The Eagles were able to redeem themselves with two point win over the Magpies at home. The Eagles came into the new season without two of their standout on ballers, Head Coach Aaron Tyndall and Shane Frearson, both of home retired and big forward Rich Strayer who is out with a career ending injury to his ankle. There is also the question of which Eagles team will show up to play at Nationals. On the Saturday of the 2009 tournament they lost both games including one to mudder Seattle and one to Orange County who put on a clinic. However, OC’s brand of football was probably topped by the clinic the Eagles put on against New York on the Sunday.

Group A is rounded out by fourth Seed, the unranked Boston Demons. Boston finished the season 2-7 with losses to Denver, a sweep by New York, a loss to Baltimore Washington Eagles and a loss to Nashville Kangaroos at home. In the 2009 Division 1 Championship, Boston finished (0-2-1) with a draw against 2008 Champs the Vancouver Cougars.

The number one seed in Group B is the New York Magpies. New York finished with a record of 9-2. Their only losses for the season came on the road with a loss Dallas Magpies in Dallas and Baltimore Washington in Baltimore. However, their only win against a ranked opponent was the win against the Baltimore Washington Eagles. Any team taking on New York at Nationals will have to account for the big red head, Andy Brennan. Brennan is joint winner of the 2010 Coopers MVP and finished 4th in the 2010 Coopers Goal Kicking award.

The number two seed in Group B is the Golden Gate Roos. Golden Gate finished their 2010 season with a record of 1-1, with a loss to OC Bombers on the road and a win over the unranked San Diego Lions at home. In 2009 Golden Gate finished 2-1 after being thrashed by 2010 Champs, Denver and one point win over Boston.

The number three seed in Group B is the 6th ranked Seattle Grizzlies. Seattle was the surprise packet in 2009, moving up from 4th seed to get into the National Championship game and a very tight tussle with Denver. Seattle only played one game against a US based team in 2010, with a solid win over the unranked Portland Power.

Rounding out Group B is the surprise packed of the 2010 season, the Nashville Kangaroos. The Kangaroos are the first team to get a Division 1 spot from the MAAFL in a number of years. Nashville finished the season with a 7-2 record. Nashville went 1-1 against ranked opponents, with a loss to Dallas on the road and a home win against Chicago to take out the MAAFL Premiership. That said, Nashville’s televised road win against Boston impressed a lot of people around the league and showed the talent of the big three Australians, 2010 Coopers Goal Kicker of the Year, Damian Serong, the 2009 Goal Kicker of the Year, Chris Moerman and the big and talented ruckman Luke Stockdale. With talented Americans surrounding the big Aussies, Nashville may be the surprise packet of the 2010 National Championship tournament.