Whats on Tap - 7 September 2019

The final full month of the USAFL regular season is here, and this weekend there are seven big matches as we head towards Nationals in Sarasota-Bradenton on October 12-13.

Seven events with USAFL implications happen this Saturday, including a couple of long range road trips, as Oklahoma and Seattle rack up the air miles, and the first ever USAFL matches for Tampa Bay and Hawai’i.

Click on the “Event Page” link for location and time info.

SOUTH FLORIDA DERBY – FORT MYERS, FL
6500 South Pointe Blvd, Ft. Myers FL 33919
10AM EDT: Men’s: Tampa Bay Tiger Sharks v Ft. Lauderdale Fighting Squids

It’s the first USAFL game of the season for the two Florida sides, and the first game ever for the Tiger Sharks.  For both teams it’ll be a good tune up ahead of Nationals in their home state.

PHILADELPHIA V OKLAHOMA – NORRISTOWN, PA – EVENT PAGE
Lower Perkiomen Valley Park
Noon EDT: Men’s: Philadelphia Hawks v Oklahoma FC

Oklahoma’s (0-11) longest non-Nationals/Regionals roadtrip takes them to the Hawks’ Nest in Philly, where the Okies are looking to beat the Hawks for the first time in club history.  Philadelphia (4-6) won both Nationals meetings, in 2015 and in 2018.  They’re coming off an EAFL Split with DC and Baltimore two weekends ago, and will want a win in their home finale.

MINNESOTA V CHICAGO – MINNEAPOLIS, MN – EVENT PAGE
Noon CDT: Women’s: Minnesota Freeze v Chicago/North Star
1:30pm CDT: Men’s: Minnesota Freeze v Chicago Swans

A double header in Minny sees longtime rivals Minnesota (5-2) and Chicago (5-5) complete their season series on the men’s side.  The Freeze ran out 23 point winners in the Windy City back in June, which seems like an eternity ago.  The Minnesota women (6-0) will try to complete their regular season unbeaten, squaring off against a combined Chicago Swans/North Star Blue Ox entity.  The Freeze women, who are favored to challenge San Francisco at Nationals in Division 1, were 82-point winners over the Swans combo in Des Moines on June 22nd.

ATLANTA V OHIO VALLEY – DECATUR, GA – EVENT PAGE
NH Scott Recreation Center
2pm EDT: Men’s: Atlanta Kookaburras v Ohio Valley River Rats

The back leg of the home-and-home between the 5-4 Kookaburras and the 3-2 Rats sees Atlanta, coming off a road loss in Rome, trying to even up the season series.  It was the Rats, who are trying to make it back to their second straight Nationals Grand final in as many years, who knocked off Atlanta by 26 points at home in May.

SoCAL CUP ROUND 3 – IRVINE, CA
SilverLakes Sports Park  5555 Hamner Ave, Corona, CA, 92880
From 10am PDT: Men’s: Orange County Giants, Los Angeles Dragons, San Diego Lions

It’s fairly straightforward for San Diego (8-2).  With a 4-0 record in regional play, all they need is a split to lock up the SoCal Cup.  Los Angeles (4-5) has to win both matches to tie and force the series to a percentage tiebreaker, while the Giants (6-7) will be there to play the role of spoilers and try to swindle a couple of victories at home.

EAFL ROUND 6 – RALEIGH, NC
NC State Miller Fields
2pm EDT: Men’s: North Carolina Tigers v Baltimore Dockers

The Dock Show chugs into the Carolina capital as Baltimore (11-2) can wrap up second place in the EAFL with a win over the mighty Tiges.  This will be Carolina’s first USAFL game in seven weeks, and though they are 1-6, are dangerous enough to avenge their 70-point loss at the season opener in Richmond five months ago.

HAWAI’I v SEATTLE – HONOLULU, HI – EVENT PAGE
Kapiolani Park
10am HST: Men’s: Hawai’i Eagles v Seattle Grizzlies

A historic landmark in USAFL history, as the first league match to take place outside the mainland, and the first in Honolulu, pits the Eagles and the Grizz.  Hawai’i was formed a year ago, and finally they’ll play their first ever league game.  Seattle’s travelling squad will be using this, and the Stumptown Throwdown, as a measuring stick for D2 at Nationals, but this will be a win for Aussie Rules in the USA no matter what.

DES MOINES v WISCONSIN -- CLIVE, IA -- EVENT PAGE
Indian Hills
2:30pm CST: Men's: Des Moines Roosters v Wisconsin Wombats

Des Moines (5-2) has two games left, both at home.  They'll take on the still-developing Wombats (0-3), who are improving with every game.

NASHVILLE v NEW YORK – NASHVILLE, TN – EVENT PAGE
Elmington Park
5pm CDT: Men’s: Nashville Kangaroos v New York Magpies

Two longtime stalwarts of the USAFL meet at historic Elmington Park for a late season clash.  All three of New York’s (7-3) losses came with an undermanned side at the Eastern Regionals, but they’ll have a strong unit in the Music City to face an athletic Nashville (7-2) outfit.  The Roos haven’t lost at home since last year’s Central Regionals, and will need to summon all of their cosmic powers against the mighty Gothamites.