On a beautiful Sunday arvo Teams Navy and Gold gathered for Round 3 of our local Metro League Shedule. Despite a shout out to all from El’ Prezidente’ on the need for everyone planning on going to Dallas to show up, numbers were again low. But with return of veteran James Kavanaugh, new recruit Cameron Stout and Joe Roy showing up after his commitments were done, we had the numbers to run a warm up handball game and then onto the Main Event…
Navy and Gold initially went score for score but with higher accuracy Navy ran away with 6 point lead at half time. Into the second half Gold came back well with new recruit Cameron getting involved in the thick of things. Gold hit the lead with just moments left in the game but a last minute turn over allowed Navy to sneak ahead for the win.
First Half
Navy 4:2 : 26
Gold 3:4 : 22
Final Score
Navy 7:5 : 47
Gold 7:2 : 44
Player of the week
This week goes to James ‘Minnesota’ Kavagnauh with his long awaited return to the team after collegic restrictions who made all sessions this week and though intially showing some rusty skills managed to come through in the Metro game to be a strong contributer. Good on ya Minnesota!!!
This past weekend 11 of your fiercest team mates boarded the party bus to Houston for our first USAFL game of the year. We met at Footy Central at 7am (or just after) and drove the bus straight to the game were we played 10 a side with 2 subs supplied by Houston in windy conditions. The team took the field with 4 of our 10 players being rookies so some time was burnt with the Tigers finding our flow on the field. The wind turned out to be a strong factor with the team having the breeze, winning each quarter. But it was Houston’s 10% of their team being rookie’s to our 40% that allowed them to grab a early lead in the 1st quarter and though we won the 2nd and 4th quarters, we were not able to make up all that ground.
The final score was:
Houston – 13:7:85
Baton Rouge – 7:10:52
After party as always was great and the trip home uneventful, all in all a good weekend of Footy with some great play from everyone on the team and a lot of really good skills and play experience was gained.
IF THERE WAS ONE LESSON TO BE LEARNT FROM THIS WEEKEND IS THAT, AS A TEAM WE NEED TO TRAIN AND SCRIMMAGE MORE TO GET OUR GAME SKILLS FLOWING.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I’VE BEEN TELLING YOU ALL ALONG!!!
See you all at trianing this week, New guys are always welcome. Come try this awesome sport.
We have our first match of the season this Saturday afternoon, April 9th, against Houston. We are planning to leave Saturday morning at 7 am, from Rob’s place, on the bus. We are spending Saturday night in Houston and leaving early Sunday morning, that’ll put us back in town early Sunday afternoon.
If you dont know Rob’s address shoot him an email:
Aussie Rules Football is a full contact game of football, but with the focus on stopping the ball not just knocking the player to the ground, the contact rules are different than in American football. Contact is allowed in 3 types. Tackling, Shepherding (blocking) and Bumping, or also called a ‘hip and shoulder’. Have a look at the 3 clips below to see the rules on Aussie Rules Contact
Tackling
Shepherding (Blocking)
Bumping (Hip and Shoulder)
Sunday saw the 2nd round of the Metro League held at a different location for recruiting and exposure reasons. Kathy Drive Pk just off of O’Neal Ln hosted us for the scrimmage, with the sounds of flag football in the background drowned out by our own screams of fun and frustration, and the Bus and PA blarring in the background. A good but tiring run saw Navy squeek ahead of Gold with a final score of
Navy
14:14: 98 to Gold
13:16: 94
Everyone hung around for a BBQ and refreshments afterwards and a good arvo was had by all, including our pretty crowd or onlookers.
Player of the week went to BEACH one more time due to his depth of heart in coming out despite have gastro and having to go off in the 3rd quater. Goodonya Mate, nice effort!!!
Memorable mentions also need to go to Jonathan Johnston for his training and game efforts this week. You can train guys, but until you play you just don’t know this game or your team mates abilities.
Kicking it in the Oval office with the PrezWho would have imagined Aussie Prime Minister Julia Gillard kicking the Footy with President Obama in the Oval office……. Priceless!!!!!
Sunday March 13th @ 1pm saw the gathering for the 1st Metro League Scratch Match for 2011. Despite low numbers an exciting if exhausting game for the players unfolded which fulfilled all the expectations, requirements and desires of the Metro League, which are, Fitness training, Skills training (specifically in the form of on field game day skills and team development), And, . . . it was fun, with everyone hanging out for a couple of ‘refreshments’ afterwards. So by every measure it was a success with the only loss being those who where unable to attend.
Matt Heintze umpired and did a great job of clarifying the rules as he went. The contact was good without any injuries and a lot of great running and some great basic play skills started to develop as the game went on with the concept of position play and quick and accurate disposal of the ball starting to sink in to the newer guys as the essentials that they are.
Navy took an early lead with increased accuracy in their scoring and was up at half time,
For those still unclear on the scoring a clean untouched kick through the center goal posts (even if it touches the ground) is a goal and = 6 points. If the ball is touched by another player or touches a post before it goes through, is carried through or is kicked through between one of the center taller posts and one of the outside shorter posts then it is called a behind and = 1 point. The final score then is a total of goals and behinds e.g. 1 goal and 1 behind = 6+1=7 and is showed as 1:1 : 7.
Player of the Week
This week goes to Matt McQueen for his general improvements as a player this week and specifically for his performance at the game on Sunday. Well Done Matt
Also an honerable mention to Mike Shaw for his 1st appearance for the year and also Ray Chastain. We understand that we’re all busy, but try to organize ahead to make the trainings and especially the matches. OUR FIRST NATIONAL LEAGUE GAME IS ONLY 4 WEEKS AWAY: APRIL 9th IN HOUSTON. Lets get training guys
Also, our special thanks to PEAK PERFORMANCE Physical Therapy for their sponsoship in supplying our new Jerseys for our Metro League Competition, which had their first use Sunday. We expect much more use of these in the weeks and hopefully years to come.
Hey Guys,
Here are some clips from some of the pro’s to help the new guys and remind the rest of us on some of the basic’s of this awesome sport. This week we’re covering kicking and handballing (passing) You CAN NOT play this game properly without mastering these skills accurately so checkout the clips and bring it to training Thursday.
Also: we’d like to re start a custom from last year with nominating a player of the week
For last week it’s going to be ….. wait for it ……BEACH…… Come on down!!!
Beach has not missed one session and has been working hard on those basic’s SO let take a page from his book.
A great first week of training. We worked hard at all our drills and ran hard. There’s only room for improvement, so let’s stay focused.
Just reminder, we have training Tuesday, March 1 @ Highland. NO TRAINING Thursday, Sunday, and the following Tuesday (March 3-8) due to Mardi Gras. Everyone needs to get in a little running on their own during the break.
Also, anyone who is interested and hasn’t come out yet, come and give it a go(check training section on site for details).
Everyone is always welcome, bring your shorts and cleats and come give this awesome sport a try. Just give us a shout that you’re coming @ BatonRougeTigers@gmail.com
With the season just around the corner we are getting everything together for a successful 2011. Coming up we’ll have a few casual intro training sessions and then the Annual Pre-season Barbie. Official training will start following that.
Any and all who’d like to come out and see what this awesome sport is all about are invited to come and give it a try.
Once you come out, footy fever will get you and you’ll be hooked as well!
Saturday, February 19th – Start of year BBQ Sunday, February 20th – 1st Official Training Session, 1pm @ Westdale Middle School, then Tuesday and Thursday 6:30 @ Highland Rd BREC(see trainging schedule for more details)
Start of season BBQ will be held at 630 Royal St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, Starting at 7pm. We’ll grill, explain the sport and watch a game. So if you’re interested in finding out a bit about this fabulous sport, grab a mate and come on by, everyone’s welcome. Just look for the Aussie Flag!!!
For first time in 7 years the Tigers got together to watch the Grand Final party(Australian SuperBowl) away from any of the local area bars. With Dingo’s threatening to go offline and no other bar options leaping out at us we were really lucky when Lauren Lane (Mrs. Coach)was able to arrange the use of her apartment clubhouse for the spectacular. This meant there were no problems with bouncers trying to make us head for the door as the game passes closing time at 2, and that we could be as loud as we wanted to. . . . And let me tell you, WOW, what a gripping Grand Final it was, especially the last quarter!!!!
The 2010 Grand Final saw Collingwood take on St. Kilda in a good old fashioned battle of the Melbourne suburbs. Collingwood entered as a hot favorite after an emphatic victory over defending champs, Geelong in the Semi-Final. The Saints however wore the scars of an agonizing defeat in the 2009 Grand Final as incentive and appeared a determined unit after a turbulant year dogged by off field allegations and the loss of Saint Nick for a significant part of the year.
Collingwood were quick out of the blocks looking like they may repeat their strong semi-final win, but credit to the Saints however, as they flowed with the early pressure of the Pies to slowly stifle the onslaught of The Magpies game. While still trailing for most of the second half it had become apparent that the Saints were hanging tough and not going to give in. With Collingwood frustrated by the inability to bury the Saints due to some inaccurate kicking one could hear the ghosts of wobbles past coming to haunt the Magpie faithful. At 3 quarter time with the Saints only a goal down it was anyone’s match.
The final term was a classic, and in our clubhouse the excitement was at fever pitch with people screaming loudly for their team and growing hoarser by the second. The adrenaline was flowing and the tension was palpable. By now the Saints had reduced the Collingwood run to a trickle and it was not long before the scores had been leveled. It was now panic stations for the Magpies, and as Brendan Goddard soared above a pack to mark and goal, putting the Saints up for the first time all day it seemed that the Collingwood nightmare was going to become a reality. Collingwood not to be denied though, replied with a quick goal setup by the courageous play of their inspirational skipper, Nick Maxwell, to tie the game up and send things to overtime!!!!!
Hold on. . . . , there is no overtime in Aussie Rules Grand Finals. What an eerie feeling it was across the ground, indeed across the city and even spreading all the way to Baton Rouge Louisiana, as the final whistle blew and the spent and bewildered players on both teams could only drop to the ground in sheer exhaustion following the most epic of grand finals. A DRAW!!! one of only 3 draws in over 150 years of Aussie Rules history, No Overtime, No sudden death and the only way to find the overall chanpion was to regroup and come back again in 1 week for a rematch and fight again for the glory of the 2010 premiership!!!
REMATCH !!!!!
With the no overtime rule a rematch was scheduled for the following week and Lauren was again gracious to allow the use of her clubhouse. Unfortunately the rematch would not live up to the drama of the previous week( really, how could it?).
It seemed that the Saints were a spent force from the moment the game started as they were never really in the game. It was ultimately a just result as Collingwood had struggled the previous week while the Saints you felt had given everything in battling to a stalemate. With St. Kilda failing at the final hurdle for a third time in 2 years you wonder if a premiership is on the horizon for this group of Saints that now seem destined to only add to the history of failure at a club who has tasted premiership glory only once in over 100 years. While ultimately the replay was a disappointing spectacle, you can never argue with another week of footy.
Thanks to everyone who was able to make it and who contributed so much to the 2010 season and we look forward to another great year of footy in 2011.
Baton Rouge Tigers Australian Rules Football Club 