Start Your Engines - Previewing the Central Regional

“Back home again in Indiana, and it seems that I can see / the gleaming candlelight, still shining bright, thru the sycamores for me / the new mown hay sends all its fragrance rom the fields I used to roam / When I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash, then I long for my Indiana home.” – Back Home Again in Indiana, written by Ballard MacDonald and James F. Hanley, 1917.

From its days as an outpost in the Northwest Passage, through its statehood two centuries ago, to its current modern day balance of farmland and metropolitan charm, the state of Indiana is home to proud tradition, constant progress, and an unrelenting work ethic.

It also home to lengthy and far reaching sports heritage, teeming too with rituals and successes that are etched within its borders.  Whether it’s the booming voice of Jim Nabors (or these days, Straight No Chaser) singing the words above before the rush of 33 engines around the world’s most famous speedway, or the legends of kids who can throw a big round ball through a hoop, Indiana embraces it’s sports past the way a child clings to his teddy bear at night.

Indianans also embrace the future.  And with auto racing and basketball, other sports such as soccer, baseball, football, and others have joined in alongside and have been enveloped by those who live in the Hoosier state. 

Aussie Rules football is getting there.  Since the Indianapolis Giants were founded in 2014, they have slowly found their feet in a city that has become one of America’s most faithful sports towns.

That future and that potential take one step forward this Saturday, as 12 teams representing 13 USAFL clubs make their way to a thin slice of lush greenery in the heartland, namely the Indianapolis World Sports Park, to compete in the 2016 USAFL Central Regional Tournament.

The men’s sides have been grouped into three divisions based on their USAFL Top 20 ranking, as well as their available numbers for the tournament.  Here is a look at how things are shaping up:

2016 USAFL Central Regional Tournament
Where: Indianapolis World Sports Park - Indianapolis, Indiana
When: Saturday, June 11th, 2016 -- First games begin at 9am EDT (6am PDT, 11pm Melbourne Time)
How to watch: LIVE via Go Sports Live Cast


DIVISION I (18 a side, roster limit 24 players)
#1 Austin Crows, #4 Denver Bulldogs, #7 Dallas Magpies, #9 Columbus Jackaroos

It seems somewhat impossible at this juncture of the season that anything can slow down the mighty Austin Crows.  They have won fourteen games in a row going back to last September, including the four games that ceremoniously crowned them as the best team in the USAFL.  They always travel well, and don’t have much in the way of weaknesses on the field.  From the center of the ground with players like Sam Nix, Nolan Cox, and Christian Merritt, to forwards Ben Carpenter, Pete Pettanari and defender Sean Connell, the Crows are definitely the favorites to repeat as Central regional champs as they look to do the same in Nationals.

But three other teams will definitely have a lot to say about whether or not that happens.  The Dallas Magpies know the Crows well, and their tough brand of football plows holes in defenses, busts up scoring chances, and does so with a cool confidence.  Craig Storer runs like a gridiron fullback but kicks with the efficiency of a quarterback (a good one, not Tony Romo).  Mike Mayne, Asa Potter, Jack O’Dell and Brenn Miller have been around some time for the ‘Pies, and they’ll head into Indy knowing full well they are capable of winning out and taking the trophy back to Big D.

The Denver Bulldogs, meanwhile, will also have the Crows in their sights after losing twice to them last year, once at home and once in this tournament last year in Racine.  Tom Ellis, whose job it is to know just about every team in is capacity as USA Revolution coach, will have scouted his three opponents and know what is coming from them.  He’ll have his usual array of suspects with them, led by high fliers Phillip Camping and Tom Harkness, in addition to a veteran core of playmakers that includes Michio McGrath, Leigh McMahon and the Poseys, Jeff and Brian.

Columbus rounds out the D-1 field, and comes in three weeks after going into Chicago and handing the Swans a fourth quarter runaway on foreign turf.  The Jacks are a team of heart, led by captain Clyde Simpson, another tall drink of water in Mark McClure, and Revo prospects Dan Hamilton and Rob Adams.  Columbus is a bit of a wild card considering they’ve never played Austin or Denver before, but they’ll welcome the challenge as they try to make it back to the D-2 grand final at Nationals.


DIVISION II (16 a side, option to play 18 if coaches agree)
#12 Houston Lonestars, #15 Chicago Swans, #16 Ohio Valley River Rats, Tulsa Buffaloes

The Division 2 field features a smattering of different styles among its ranks, and should serve as a good barometer for where all four teams are at on a competitive level.

The Houston Lonestars come to Indianapolis with a 1-5 record for the year, which belies a series of solid effort from a burgeoning club who are tested week after week.  They have exciting players such as Jesse Carcamo, Josh Devlin, and David Anastas.  Captain Matt Stevens has his team play with good skills that are improving season after season, and they come in as the favorites to take home their first piece of hardware since the 2013 D3 National Championship.

Like Division 1, however, there are will be loud objectors to whether the ‘Stars can do it.  The Chicago Swans enter still smarting from that loss to the Jackaroos, and what has developed as a pattern of inconsistency that has permeated their play.   But when the pieces come together, they can lay siege to any team that stands in their way.  Key pieces like Pedro Jimenez, Brian Hoyt, and Stu Nicol will need to make every chance count.

Ohio Valley was an underrated outfit last year, as it took them until the very end of the season for them to be ranked in the Top 20.  Not the case so far this season, as they currently sit in 16th and are quietly having people murmur about a possible step up to Division 2 at Nats.  First things first, though, as a largely veteran side headed by Eric “Sleepy” Floyd, Dave Zitko, Mike Hanavan and the rest of the River Rats try to flip the table and make a dent in the field.

Finally, the Tulsa Buffaloes complete the quartet.  The Buffs, which include players from the new Oklahoma City Flyers club, are full of athleticism and are suited well towards winning physical contests.  The Rasbold Twins, Stephen and Andrew, are the playmakers, and will try to get the ball forward to Dustin Brasel, Andrew Rose, and the rest of the Tulsa forward line.  The Buffaloes are a solid Division 3 package at Nationals, and they should come away with at least one win on the weekend.


DIVISION III (14 a side)
Des Moines/Milwaukee, Indianapolis Giants, Cleveland Cannons, Nashville Kangaroos

Division 3, which will be played at 14-a-side, will most likely be the most fun to watch.  All four teams are unranked in the USAFL Top 20 Poll, but they all match up against each other and all six games should be completely wide open.

The Des Moines Roosters and Milwaukee Bombers combine to offer a team with balanced abilities and good skill.  Ben Judge, Sean Chicoine and Nanabayin Coleman will be among the players to watch, and can transform the game in an instant. 

The Cleveland Cannons will get to stretch their legs in their first USAFL tournament appearance as a standalone club.  Andrew Olding and company got their first win last year in Indy, and hope to duplicate that feat and more on Saturday.

Once one of the most feared teams in the Central region, the Nashville Kangaroos have sunk out of the Top 20 poll after struggling in Division 3 last season.  They also are struggling in the goals department, and come to Indy trying to recover from a home loss to Atlanta last Saturday.  Nathan Caldwell and Cliff Cosnahan and the rest will try and reverse fortunes for the Kangas.

Last, but certainly not least, is the hometown Indianapolis Giants, whose goal it will be to make a great impression in front of what should be a good home crowd.  They also have a rising young star in Shane Branscum, who may very well be playing for the Revolution National team in Melbourne next year.

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