World Footy News

The United States Australian Football League officially got the 2015 season under way this past weekend with the Eastern regional tournament being held at the Central Broward Park Cricket Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  2015 will see a full slate of regional (Eastern, Central and Western) tournaments held across the league; these events, and a new USAFL poll-ranking system, will help determine divisional seeding at the National Championships in Austin, Texas later this year.

While three teams (#1 New York Magpies, North Carolina Tigers and the #20 Fort Lauderdale Fighting Squids) competed as full units, numerous players from other squads made the journey down to sunny Florida for an April footy-cation.  With two 2014 national champion sides in attendance, the stage was set for a wonderful day of Aussie Rules, with sunscreen and hydration the order of the day. 

Match results of the day surprised many observers of the USAFL. 

North Carolina 4.1 (25)
#1 New York 10.8 (68)

#20 Fort Lauderdale 7.6 (48)
North Carolina 3.7 (21)

#20 Fort Lauderdale 6.7 (43)
#1 New York 2.6 (18)

The Fort Lauderdale Fighting Squids were able to use their hometown advantage to overcome the reigning division one champion New York Magpies in the tournament’s final. Buoyed by a strong turnout of local players, the Squids forced New York to eat pie with a 25 point victory.

Despite missing numerous players from the team that took home the 2014 gold in Dublin, Ohio, the Magpies still retained several key performers. The question remains whether or not they can retain their grip on the USAFL’s number one ranking without former coach Glenn Ormsby at the helm.

In the face of two of defeats in Florida, the North Carolina Tigers appear to be a side on the way back up. With a mixture of veterans and newcomers, the Tigers snatched a division four championship in 2014. A strong, albeit unsuccessful, showing in Florida, indicates they will be a side to watch this season.

In other USAFL results,

#13 Nashville Kangaroos 13.14 (92)
Atlanta Kookaburras 2.7 (19)

Tulsa Buffaloes 8.10 (58)
#10 Dallas Magpies 15.19 (109)

Meanwhile, the April USAFL Top 20 Ranking Poll looked like this:

1. New York Magpies
2. Orange County Bombers
3. Austin Crows
4. Denver Bulldogs
5. Minnesota Freeze
6. Golden Gate Roos
7. Los Angeles Dragons
8. Columbus Jackaroos
9. Houston Lonestars
10. Dallas Magpies
t-11. Chicago Swans
t-11. Baltimore-Washington Eagles
13. Nashville Kangaroos
t-14. Boston Demons
t-14. Sacramento Suns
16. Philadelphia Hawks
17. Des Moines Roosters
18. Ohio Valley River Rats
19. Portland Steelheads
20. Fort Lauderdale Fighting Squids