Whats On Tap - 21 September 2019

It's hard to believe that this is the last weekend of the USAFL regular season.  In three weeks' time, we'll be heading down to sunny Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida, for the biggest Aussie Rules tournament in the world.

First things first... one more blockbuster weekend of footy.

Ten events from the coast of Maine to the beaches of San Diego punctuate this 2019 campaign, with teams getting one last little nudge in before the big dance.  If you're near one of these matches / events, go on out and support local Aussie Rules in the USA.

Here's what's on tap for the 21st of September.

NY FAMILY DAY – YONKERS, NY – EVENT PAGE
Tibbetts Brook Park beginning at 10am EDT
Men’s – New York Magpies, Denver Bulldogs, Quebec Saints
Women’s – New York Magpies, Denver Lady Bulldogs, Montreal Angels

One of the Big Apple’s biggest Aussie Rules events in some time sees a number of potential Nationals previews in this, the regular season’s last round.

On the men’s side, three D1 teams square off in a round robin as the Magpies (7-3) put their winning streak on the line against the Saints (1-0) and Bulldogs (2-4).  Denver is coming off a tough loss to Austin at home last weekend, while Quebec brings their strong group down, fresh from finishing off their local competition.

For the women, New York and Denver may also find themselves toe-to-toe in Florida, and traveling Montreal preps itself for D2 with a roster full of Canadian Northern Lights national team hopefuls among their ranks.

STUMPTOWN THROWDOWN – PORTLAND, OR – EVENT PAGE
Donald L Robertson City Park beginning at 11am PDT
Men’s – Portland Steelheads, Calgary Kangaroos, Seattle Grizzlies
Women’s – Portland Sockeyes, Calgary Kookaburras, Seattle Grizzlies

Even when regionals is held in the Pacific Northwest, Stumptown is one of the most important days on the footballing calendar in that part of the world.

The Portland-Seattle rivalry, for both the men and the women, get a third member of the triad as the Kangaroos and Kookaburras come down from the Stampede City, both with Northwind and Northern Lights caliber players.  One last renewal before everyone goes to Florida with the hopes of finishing at the top, or at least, ahead of each other.  Seattle's men (6-2) handed Portland (5-1) its only defeat of the season so far, a three goal decision in Tacoma at the Cascadia Cup.  This will be the rubber match for the season on the women's side, as both teams have beaten the other once.  

TEXAS CUP LEG 3 – HOUSTON, TX – EVENT PAGE
University of Houston beginning at 10:30am CDT
Men’s – Houston Lonestars, Austin Crows, Dallas Dingoes
Women’s – Houston Lonestars v Austin/Dallas

The Crows men (7-0) have dusted away the Texas Cup title, but these last two games with Houston (6-4-1) and Dallas (5-5-1) will be important, as the Crows and their reserves put in one last run against their Lone Star State rivals.  The women’s teams will do one last intersquad match before coming together as the Texas Heat in the rubber contest; each team has one win to their name so far.

I95 DERBY – BALTIMORE, MD – EVENT PAGE
Frank C Bocek Park at 1pm EDT
Men’s – Baltimore Dockers v Philadelphia Hawks

The Hawks (5-4) and Dockers (12-3) finish their season series at the Train Yard, after each team has taken one match from the other.  Both games between the two teams have been close; Philly beat Baltimore by 14 points at the Eastern Regionals in June, while the Dock Show declawed the Hawkers by two goals at home last month.  This will be the first and only 4x20 matchup this season between the two rivals.

EAFL ROUND 7 – WASHINGTON, DC – EVENT PAGE
West Potomac Park beginning at Noon EDT
Men’s – DC Eagles v Columbus Cats
Women’s – DC Eagles v Columbus Cats

The second EAFL season since its return concludes in the Nation’s Capital.  The men’s teams do battle with a shot at second on the line for Columbus (2-8) and third for the Eagles (4-11), while the women go to work for the last time before possibly facing each other in D2 at Nationals.  The Cats women are still looking for their firs twin this season, while DC is finishing off another season of improvement in the hopes that it will parlay into their first Nats medal.

DESERT DERBY – MESA, AZ – EVENT PAGES: (AZH) (AZO)
Dobson High School at 10am MST
Men’s – Arizona Outlaws v Arizona Hawks

After taking home a solid victory in the first ever game between the two cross-town rivals, the Outlaws (2-5) will try to sweep the Hawks (0-3) in the first Desert Derby.  Both teams have looked impressive this season, and the athletic quality of both teams will be on display both in this match, and at Nationals.

NEW ENGLAND AFL – SOUTH PORTLAND, ME – EVENT PAGE
Wainwright Athletic Complex at 11am EDT
Men’s – Maine Cats v Boston Demons

In what is their only official match of the season against each other, the Dees (5-3) and the Cats (0-2) hook up in SoPo to determine the best team from New England in 2019.  Maine, who will be sending players to Nationals for the first time, are still looking for their first win over Boston.

DES MOINES V MINNESOTA – CLIVE, IA – EVENT PAGE
Indian Hills Junior High at 2pm CDT
Men’s – Des Moines Roosters (3-3) v Minnesota Freeze (6-2)

Looking to bounce back from a home loss against Wisconsin two weeks ago, the Roosters welcome in the Freeze, who haven’t lost yet this season, outside of those two games at Regionals in July.

ATLANTA V JACKSONVILLE/ROME -- DECATUR, GA -- EVENT PAGE
NH Scott Recreation Center at 2pm EDT
Men's -- Atlanta Kookaburras v Jacksonville Saints/Rome Redbacks

The Jacksonville Saints make the trip up from North Florida to join forces with the Rome Redbacks to take on Atlanta in a thrilling end to the season.

SAN DIEGO V LOS ANGELES – SAN DIEGO, CA – EVENT PAGE
Doyle Recreation Center at 12pm PDT
Men’s – San Diego Lions v Los Angeles Dragons

It’s one last tango between San Diego (12-3) and Los Angeles (5-6) before they both ship cross country with National Championship aspirations.  The Lions have won all four games over the Dragons this season, and will look for a clean sweep while L.A. tries to deny them the satisfaction.