Aussie Football Returns to Austin’s City Limits

The United States Australian Football League’s (USAFL) National Tournament returns to Austin this weekend, October 19-20. The tournament is expected to attract more than 1,000 athletes from all over North America for the two-day event being held at Onion Creek Soccer Complex, south of downtown. This is the second time the tournament has been held in Austin with the first in 2011. After much success and positive feedback the vote was unanimous to return.

"We are truly excited to be the host city once again for this fantastic event", said Matthew Payne, Executive Director for the Austin Sports Commission, "we had such an amazing experience with the league and their members back in 2011, so were thrilled when we the USAFL decided to return".

Both men and women will compete throughout the weekend, with four men’s and one women’s division – 39 teams in total. The top division favorites are the New York Magpies and Calgary Kangaroos who both missed out on the division title last year after it was vacated when the Dallas Magpies were disqualified.

The USAFL will welcome a number of special guests over the weekend from the Australian Football League (AFL). Nick Riewoldt, Captain of the Saint Kilda Saints, a professional AFL team based in Melbourne, Australia, will be in attendance on Sunday to present awards to the tournament champions.

Additionally, three US Athletes who have all recently been drafted to professional AFL teams, will also be attending the event and interacting with participants. These three players were all drafted to the AFL via two talent combines held in Los Angeles in 2012 and 2013. Eric Wallace (2012), Patrick Mitchell and Jason Holmes (2013) have all been selected for their outstanding physical attributes as well as skills that the AFL hopes will make them stand out players at the top level in Australia.

The Subiaco Football Club, from Perth in Western Australia are also visiting the US and will be attending the tournament, but not competing. The Club will be running a coaches clinic Friday and assisting at the event throughout the weekend. The team is being supported by Tourism Western Australia who, in 2014, will be celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the cities of Perth and Houston, Texas, long standing Sister City relationship.  As well as the visit by Subiaco, The Honorable Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi from Perth Australia plans to visit Texas for the anniversary celebration.

The USAFL National Tournament begins Friday evening with a welcome function at 8pm for the athletes at the, the Wyndham Garden Hotel. The tournament round robin begins at 9am on Saturday and runs until 6pm, then starts up again Sunday morning from 9am. The Finals begin Sunday afternoon from 2pm with the Division Three and Four finals, followed by the Women’s Division and Division Two at 3pm and the Division One championship match will begin at 4pm. An awards ceremony will follow directly after the conclusion of the Division One final at the grounds and will recognize top players and teams from across the weekend.

In addition to the tournament games, a social Alumni game will be played Sunday at 1pm for older players who may have since ‘hung up the boots’, plus the visiting Subiaco players will hold their own exhibition match.

For more information, please visit http://usafl.com/nationals/2013