An interesting article about Australian football appeared in the New York Times - in 1910. The historic piece was quoting Major Peixotto, leader of the Pacific Coast Amateur Athletic Union. It dates back to an era when the sporting landscape was vastly different. The professional sporting bodies of today did not exist, and a variety of amateur associations encouraged endeavour across a range of sports, some of which no longer exist - basketball teams even competed in weight divisions.

It seems that Australian football was being exhibited in California and met with enthusiasm. "Practically a similar summing up as that of the major's is the consensus among the Californians who have seen the game as demonstrated as it is now being taught on the coast. Its general absorption of most of the other types of contests with the leather spheroid has proved the rule whenever the issue was football", wrote the Times.

As previously reported, the Calgary Kookaburras travelled down from Canada to the US Nationals where they defeated all their opponents in the Women's division, finishing with victory over the Atlanta Lady Kookaburras in the final. Below is a complete report on their tournament, courtesy of AFL Canada.

The Calgary Kookaburras have capped off a stellar 2008 season by winning the US National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Kookaburras were unbeaten in four games to win their first National Championship, overwhelming the previously-undefeated Atlanta Lady Kookaburras in a thrilling final.

The tournament win was made more remarkable because Calgary finished last in the 2007 US Nationals when they merged with the Washington First Lady Eagles. Losses to Milwaukee, Arizona and Atlanta during that tournament sparked the Calgary women into a vigorous off-season fitness program and led to the development of the first full-season women’s footy league in North America during the 2008 summer. Regular matches and dedicated women’s footy training sessions helped to give the mostly-Canadian squad the skills needed to take out the 2008 title.

At the 2008 USFooty National Championship Tournament in Colorado Springs CO, USFootyNews.com held a little ceremony for their 2008 Goal Kicker of the Year and MVP of the Year. Chris Moerman, the Nashville Kangaroo full forward, kicked 43 goals to win the Goal Kicker of the Year award. Kelly Nelson, OC Bomber and Revo mid-fielder, received 12 votes to win the 2008 MVP. Terry Miniken of Coopers Brewery graciously provided the boys with a six pack of Coopers Ale and a Cooper's T-shirt each.

Moerman had an outstanding year with Nashville. He had an incredible averge of just over 6 goals a game in his 7 games. This included 13 goals against Baton Rouge where he was also named best on ground.

Moerman's coach, Marty Thompson, pointed out that even with this 13 goal haul he had numerous assists. Thompson said things slowed down a little as the season wore on because word got out and teams started to double team Moerman. Still, even in his last game against Minneosota, Moerman kicked 6 goals in Nashville's desperate attempt to win the MAAFL Championship.

Kelly Nelson also had an amazing year. Nelson played 6 for Orange County and 3 for the Revolution in Melbourne at the International Cup. He was named in the three best in 5 of OC's six games and had three best on grounds. In Melbourne he was named in the best for three games and was best on ground in the Revo's dismantling of China. Highlights included a best on ground in OC's defeat of San Diego and two goals for the Revos against Japan in their last game of the Melbourne tour.

To see the full count of goal kickers and vote getters for 2008 go to USFootyNews.com Stats page.

Congratulations from USFootyNews.com to both Chris Moerman and Kelly Nelson and thanks to Coopers Brewery for their support.

On October 11 and 12 2008, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs hosted the 12th annual USFooty National Championships. Unfortunately, while Colorado Springs promised beautiful surrounds it delivered a very very cold, foggy, windy and somewhat wet Nationals. A low cloud cover hang over the weekend threatening rain and actually delivering rain during the afternoon games on Saturday. The big winners on the weekend were the Vancouver Cougars who went home to Canada with the first John Harrell Memorial Trophy to cross the US’s northern border.

In second division, the Seattle Grizzlies were able to quiet the other Canadian team in the mens, the Calgary Kangaroos. The third division championship was taken by a resurgent Kansas City Power. In Division Four, the Ohio Valley combination of Louisville and Cincinnati takes home a National Championship and the big responsibility of hosting the 2009 USFooty Nationals in Mason, Ohio. In the Women’s, the Atlanta Kookaburras lost their first National Championship to yet another Canadian team, the Calgary Kookaburras.

Presentation of USFootyNews.com Goal Kicker of the Year and MVP to Chris Moerman (Nashville) and Kelly Nelson (OC) respectively. Interviews with Shane Atherton (WA Football), Jenny Sarbacker and Tina Arend (US Freedom), Ryan Richardson and Mark Lambert (KC), Andrew Donlen and Jeff Purcells (Seattle) and Rod Grljusich.

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Canadian coach Mark Block was an interested attendee at the recent US Nationals in Colorado, in which Vancouver took out division one. The Northwind's main man was impressed with talent coming through from the programs in B.C. and Alberta, and can see plenty of future Northwind potential. Here's what he had to say about the Canadian teams in the US Nationals, and a hint at a possible "Canadian Nationals" in 2009.

On October 13th 2008, the Vancouver Cougars won the Division 1 Championship in spectacular fashion at the US Nationals in Colorado Springs. I was particularly impressed by Stewart Grills who has bled blue and red for the Vancouver Cougars as one of the legends of B.C. footy. His hard work is also been benefiting the Northwind national program. There were strong performances from players like James Maitland who cleaned up in the half back line with great marks and booming clearances. Clayton Holmes applied effective pressure in the half forward line with Gareth Bowley. They also had strong performances. Congratulations goes out to Scott Sheen, (B.C.'s Assistant Coach of the Northwind) as well, for his great success as the coach of the Vancouver Cougars.

The following story is courtesy of Dan Eddy from the Ontario AFL.

Toronto, Ontario, October 4th – In one of the greatest Grand Final’s in the 20-year history of the Ontario Australian Football League, the Etobicoke Kangaroos have taken out their first Premiership in stunning fashion by defeating the Toronto Eagles by just one point. The victory stopped a run of two consecutive Conacher Cups for the mighty Eagles team.

The day began with an exhibition match between a metro team and a team from outside of Toronto, with the metro squad too strong in the end to the tune of 97 points. That was then followed by a junior match with students from Red Willow public school in Brampton. This was a success as the kids soaked up the chance to learn the skills of the game on a League oval in front of a big crowd.

With a junior program in the works for next season, we may see these kids playing in the OAFL before too long. It was then time for the big match, and after opening speeches from representatives from League sponsors Crown Point (Martin Walter) and the Trillium Foundation (Vincent Conville), as well as the Canadian National Anthem, the game got under way.

The Vancouver Cougars kicked three goals with the strong breeze and one goal against to take a solid victory over the Baltimore Washington Eagles who were only able to kick two goals with the wind. The talls of Vancouver dominated the game, particularly in defense. The Eagles stuck to their game plan of precise passes, but they weren't precise enough and turn overs led to goals in the first half.

It was a pretty big day for Canadian football, with the Calgary Kookaburras beating the Atlanta Kookaburras in the Women's National Championship.

It wasn't all one way for Canada, with the Seattle Grizzlies defeating the Calgary Kangaroos to take the Division II National Championship.

The Division III Championship was won by the Kansas City Power and Division IV winners were the Ohio Valley combine team.

Story by Chris Adams for USFootyNews.com.

The following article Australian Rules Football reaching many new heights by Justin Pederson appeared in local Colorado Springs newspaperThe Gazette and the original article can be viewed online here.

An Australian Rules Football game at an elevation of 7,000 feet against a backdrop of mountains is an unusual sight considering the sport's origin on a continent known for coral reefs and sandy beaches.

Nonetheless, the 2008 U.S. Australian Rules Football League National Championships kicked off Saturday at the Air Force Academy athletic fields. The league's first tournament - in 1998 - consisted of eight teams. This year's event has 30 men's teams in four divisions and six women's teams.

Colorado, hosting the event for the first time, is represented by three teams from the Denver Bulldogs Australian Rules Football club. Denver's Division I team is the defending champion and has won five of the past six national titles, including four in a row from 2002 to 2005. The Bulldogs also feature a Division III team and a women's team.