MATCHDAY MAGAZINE

MatchDay OFFICIAL GAME PUBLICATION OF TAMPA BAY ARFC

2015 SEASON PREVIEW

FOOTY

COMES TO TAMPA BAY FAST, FURIOUS AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL HITS FLORIDA WITH NEW USAFL CLUB

SUPERSTAR MIDFIELDER CHRIS JUDD OF THE AFL’S CARLTON BLUES

TA M PA BAY MATCHDAY • THE OFFICIAL GAME PUBLICAT I O N O F TA M PA BAY A R F C MEET YOUR CLUB

Two-Time USA National Team MVP Dustin Jones Takes Helm

DUSTIN JONES: Former USA National Team MVP and USAFL Veteran

Long-time USAFL player Dustin Jones has been named Senior Coach of Tampa Bay ARFC. A multiple-time MVP of the USA National team, where he was also leading scorer, 2

Jones appeared each season from 1999-2008 in the AFL International Cup, and has trained with the Australian Football League’s Essendon Bombers.

A proponent of a fast-paced and attacking style of play, Jones will lead both trainings and matchdays while continuing to also take the ground at Rover.

T H E O F F I C I A L G A M E P U B L I CAT I O N O F TA M PA BAY A R F C • TA M PA BAY M AT C H DAY MEET YOUR CLUB

Import Senior Executive Charts Course For Tampa Bay ARFC Past President of South Croydon (Australia’s Eastern Football League) AimsTo GuideTampa Bay to New Heights in American Footy.

“Our goal is making Tampa Bay the premier Australian Rules football club in the United States.” Fresh off a two-year term as Club President at the EFL Division One South Croydon Bulldogs, Tampa Bay ARFC is pleased to announce the addition of Mark Lumsden to the same role with the emerging USAFL club. During his twenty years with South Croydon ‚ beginning as an Under 10 and working all the way to Seniors in 2005, Lumsden has been Captain, Best and Fairest winner, and leading goal scorer. He also played on consecutive Under 18s Premierships with future AFL players Lukas Markovic and Matt Jones.

MARK LUMSDEN: Rose from the Under 10s team to Club President at South Croydon in his sixteen years with the club.

addition of Lumsden gives Tampa Bay ARFC and Starfish FC world-class leadership in “I’m keen to get involved with the community and build keeping with the club’s longrelationships,” says Lumsden. term goals. Bay/West Florida Region.

“I hope to use my previous experience in my new role and build the club to new heights.”

While at University, Lumsden studied at the University Of With his additional experiFlorida, and has recently re- ence as an account manlocated to the Greater Tampa ager and administrator, the

“We’ll set our goals extremely high,” he says. “Our goal is making Tampa Bay the premier Australian Rules football club in the United States.” 3

TA M PA BAY MATCHDAY • THE OFFICIAL GAME PUBLICAT I O N O F TA M PA BAY A R F C

NewTo Footy? GetTo Know Australian Rules FootballWithThese Basics

First developed in the mid 1800s as off-season conditioning for Australian cricketers, Australian Rules Football (“Aussie Rules” or “Footy”) is a fast, high-scoring code of full-contact football.

This unique form of football combines elements of soccer, American football, rugby and even basketball into a hard-hitting, non-stop game that’s loved the world over. Governed by the Australian Football League, the most familiar form Footy featured two teams of 18 players on the field at any one time. With the object being to outscore the opposing team by scoring goals (worth six points), players advance the ball either by kicking, running or hand-passing to a teammate in order to create

GO FOR SIX: Goals (center posts) are worth 6 points. A kick through the side posts (“behind”) is 1 point.

goal opportunities. It is illegal to throw or lateral the ball, and players receiving a kick may catch (“mark”) a kicked ball in order to shoot for goal or play on.

Footy is traditionally played on a cricket oval, making the playing field much larger than an NFL field, but the nine player game (“Metro” or “9s”) is played on a gridiron field and is popular in the United States.

Defenders may challenge the “mark” and also may tackle the With goals counting for six opposing player with control of points (the equal to a touchdown), Footy game scores can the ball. commonly resemble basketball finals, and each goal is hotly CUSTOMIZED FOR AMERICA contested.

Although it may look unfamiliar at first glance, Footy is uniquely suited to American sporting tastes, as witnessed by the growing popularity of the USAFL.

HOME, SWEET HOME: Many Tampa Bay ARFC home matches will be played by“Metro” or “9s” rules, with 9 player teams on a configured football / soccer field. Starfish FC is the 9-player squad of Tampa Bay ARFC.

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In turn, 2015 sees two American born players competing in AFL action in Australia, with a realistic chance to be the first of a USA talent pool in the future.

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SupportThe Home Side!

WeWelcome Players,Club Members & Sponsors - Join Us! Tampa Bay ARFC is bringing a whole new ballgame to town, and we’re inviting you to join us as we get set to take Footy to new heights in the USA!

Whether you’re interested in playing or learning the game; attending home or away matches or partnering with us for sponsorship or special events, we’d love to hear from you! You can reach us Toll-Free at (844) 299-3099, or visit our websites at starfishfc.com or majorleaguefooty.us!

USAFL EAST

ONE CLUB, REGIONALTOURNAMENT TWO TEAMS APRIL 18 2015 Our cross-state rivals the Ft. Lauderdale Fighting Squids will host the first East regional Tournament, Saturday, April 18, 2015. All clubs from the USAFL’s East Region (see season previews on Page 7) are invited to attend, and the tournament will be held on the ground of the

fabulous Central Broward Regional Park Cricket Oval - the only fully-sanctioned cricket stadium in the USA. If you’d like to get in on the action, call Tampa Bay ARFC toll-free at (844) 299-3099 or email us at [email protected]

In keeping with USAFL norms, our club has both a ‘Senior” team which plays 18-man football, and a “Metro” club (9-players). So, while our official club name is Tampa Bay ARFC (“Larrikins”), our Metro team is known as St. Pete Starfish FC. Both nicknames have deep ties to Australian culture, and you can learn more in our next issue of MatchDay!

AMERICA’S GABBA: Central Broward Cricket Stadium, Lauderhill, FL

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TA M PA BAY MATCHDAY • THE OFFICIAL GAME PUBLICAT I O N O F TA M PA BAY A R F C

As Stateside Interest Heats Up, Yanks Make Mark Down Under BY BRIAN BARRISH USAFL.COM

Though he wasn’t the first American to make his AFL debut in 2015, Oklahoma’s Mason Cox arugably put on the best performances by a Yank so far. The 6’11” ruckman played a shade over a half of football for the Collingwood Magpies,during which he amassed a team high fourteen hitouts in a seven point loss to arch-rival Carlton in a NAB Challenge match at the Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo. Cox entered the match with a minute remaining in the first half, after starting ruck Brodie

MASON COX: Making impact at Collingwood.

Grundy went down with an injury late in the second term. Cox won his first hitout in AFL play, and as the second half began, asserted himself into the ruck and battled hard for just about every ball.

He became the third American born, American raised player to play top grade footy, following Jason Holmes for St. Kilda several weeks ago, and former Magpie Shae McNamara back in 2010.

Alan Richardson’s gameday roster. After sitting out the first half, Holmes was activated and began the third quarter in the central ruck. He initially looked wary at times, and in some ways, his inexperienced showed. In the end, though, he rallied to turn in an effort that has caught the attention of Saints’ brass. Holmes joins Mason Cox as the JASON HOLMES: Vying For Spot with St. Kilda first American nationals to play in the AFL since Shae MacnaOnly the second born-and-raised mara competed for Collingwood American player to play AFL in the 2010 NAB Cup preseason, football, he recently made his and the Saints trying to turn debut with the pre-season squad around a last-place 2014 finish. of the St. Kilda Saints. Holmes is trying to be a part of The result? Not bad at all.he 6’ that group, if not at the begin7”‚ruckman was one of two sub- ning of the year, then possibly stitutes listed on St. Kilda coach somewhere down the line.

Two years ago, Chicago-native Jason Holmes didn’t know that Australian Rules football existed. 6

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2015 Season Preview

USAFL.COM’S BRIAN BARRISH LOOKS AT EACH USAFL EAST REGION CLUB

York.Preseason Nationals Projection: High Seed, Division I.

BY BRIAN BARRISH USAFL.COM

CHECK OUT PRE-SEASON PREVIEWS OF ALL 34 USAFL TEAMS AT USAFL.COM

Though the balance of power has shifted from the East Coast clubs out West, three of these eight teams contested for Grand Finals at last year’s National Championships. Only New York has been left in Division I, and they won the whole shebang. That said, the Eastern clubs are slowly gaining somewhat of resurgence. That growth coincides with the rise of a couple of old teams to Nationals glory, and a new team about to take the stage. Keep an eye out for these teams as they do battle at the Eastern Regional 18s in Fort Lauderdale on April 18th, and at the Regional 10s later on this season.

Coming off a one win season and a disappointing crash-out of Nationals in Division 2, 2014 was not kind to the blue-and-gold. The Eagles are still Division 2 material, but a year in Division 3 may do them good in the long run. Preseason Nationals Projection: Middle seed, Division III. The last several years have seen the Dees evolve into a balanced side; still hard hitters, but with a knack of finding open players and spreading the ball around.

The North Carolina Tigers have been very aggressive in recruiting this off season; they will have an influx of Gaelic football converts, and have a rich pool of athletes to draw from the large colleges in the Triangle region. They’ll move up to D3, and they’ll contend in Nationals. Preseason Nationals Projection: Low Division III.

In 2014, the Hawks entered as the third seed overall in the division and made quick work of their poolmates and The Demons will most likely going to found themselves in a Grand Final for stay in Division 2 unless they have a ter- the first time in nine seasons. You can rible season. With key matchups against pencil them in as Division 3 favorites Philly and New York at home, they seem depending on the draw, but the key for to be safe. Philly will be how they recruit during the Preseason Nationals Projection: Low season. Preseason Nationals Projection: seed, Division II. High Seed, Division III.

Founded in late 2014, Tampa’s new club replaces the Florida Redbacks, who went dormant at the end of 2013. Some of the remnants of the club will go forward in building this new side, led by longtime Redback and USAFL veteran Dustin Jones. They played their first game at Fort Lauderdale, teaming up with HousDespite being relegated to Division 4 ton for a win over the home squad. status after being a Division 3 Grand Over the last decade, New York has man- 2015 will be a foundation year for them, Finalist in 2011, the Kookas are one aged to consistently remain one of the however, looking to recruit in advance of those teams that always has a top three teams in the country year-in for a full schedule next season. They veteran presence and always plays and year-out. (2014 was EAFL title #7 in are slated to play the Squids twice and strong football. . Atlanta will keep to the ten years), has not always converted to take part in the EAFL Regionals in April, same regional schedule in 2015 that they success at the final hurdle. which will be a good barometer of their did last year, taking on Nashville, Baton Last season was different, however. On recruiting progress so far. Rouge, and North Carolina. Preseason paper, a repeat National Championship Nationals Projection: Division IV looks very much in the cards for New There have been great strides made since spinning off from the now-defunct Florida Redbacks back in 2011, and there’s no reason to think a climb is not in the offing. Preason Nationals Projection: Middle seed, Division III.