2022 USAFL Nationals Weekend Guide

We have a massive weekend of events planned on-field and off to celebrate the league’s 25th Birthday so make sure to lock these into your schedule!

25th Anniversary Gala – Thursday, October 13th, 6:30pm, Ontario Convention Center
200 guests will celebrate the league and its clubs, unveiling each club's teams of the last 25 years and heritage members. The US Revolution & Freedom will present their Silver Season teams and new USAFL Life Members & Hall of Fame recipients will be inducted.  Guests will enjoy a 3-course dinner showcasing Tasmanian food & wine and Coopers beer. A Silent Auction will be held to help raise funds for the USAFL Foundation and help secure the future of Australian football in the US. *BE QUICK, ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT!

Silent Auction
Aren't we all looking for that once-in-a-lifetime piece of Footy swag? Now is your chance to find just that at our Silent Auction. You can bid on your favorite items starting at the Gala on Thursday night lasting through Friday's Welcome Reception.  Items include AFL memorabilia including a signed Essendon AFLW Guernsey, St Kilda, Adelaide and Hawthorn Jumpers, an AFL Indigenous footy, and even a Coopers Beer Droid (not memorabilia but AWESOME.) If you cannot wait to get your bid in until Thursday, you can text Cari anytime at 262-498-5197. Silent Auction ends at 10pm on Friday. All proceeds go to USAFL Foundation.

Raffle for Fiji Airway Tickets
The USAFL Foundation is proud to announce a special raffle over Nationals weekend. A free flight on Fiji Airways from LA to Sydney, with a stopover in Fiji in both directions. Enjoy the beautiful islands and waters of Fiji on your way to Australia. We will have other prizes of football memorabilia, including an AFLW Indigenous Round footy. Tickets will be $10, 3 for $20, 10 for $50, 25 for $100 (hey, we had to have 25 in their somewhere to celebrate the 25th Anniversary!). Tickets will be available at the Gala, Friday Night Welcome event, the Merchandise tent at the fields, and from roving volunteers throughout the weekend. A big thanks to Fiji Airways for the donation!

Coaching Clinic – Friday, October 14th, 12-2pm, SilverLakes Sports Park
AFL Coaches’ Jimmy House will host a free, two-hour coaching clinic focused on planning and delivering training drills and training sessions.  It is open to all USAFL members so please pass onto suitable individuals in your club. Participants are required to register HERE.

Umpire Clinic – Friday, October 14th, 2-4pm, SilverLakes Sports Park
Whether you’re an already accredited umpire or are just starting out, this free, immersive clinic hosted by veteran AFL Umpires Ray Chamberlain and Chris Donlon and the USAFL Umpires Association covers the ins and outs of each officiating role. Register HERE via the UA website.

USAFL Administrator’s Conference – Friday, October 14th, 2-4pm, Ontario Convention Center
Presentations and league club discussions from both USAFL and AFL for club leaders.

USAFL AGM – Friday, October 14th, 4pm, Ontario Convention Center
The 2022 USAFL Annual General Meeting, during which amendments will be voted on and the 2022-23 USAFL Executive Board Elections will be held.

Nationals Welcome Reception/Check-in – Friday, October 14th, 6:30pm-11pm, Ontario Convention Center
Join us for some Meat pies & sausage rolls, Coopers beer, merchandise, a silent auction and awards as we launch the weekend’s festivities!  Check-in opens at 6:30pm for those who wish to do so in person and for those who still need to verify their nationality.  At 8:30pm, we will be awarding Club Heritage Member, Freedom and Revolution Anniversary Teams, as well as Life Membership and Hall Of Fame honors.  This will lead into a live showing of the Sydney v Essendon AFLW match at 9:10pm, which will feature two former USAFL players: Dani Marshall and Jess Wuetschner.

USAFL National Championships – Saturday, October 15th and Sunday, October 16th, 9am-6pm, SilverLakes Sports Park
40 teams playing over 70 games across five fields to determine who the best is in season 2022!  There are games every hour on the hour, so pick out a spot next to one of the fields or do some oval hopping!  Admission is free and no ticket is required.  Bring a blanket and/or some chairs and enjoy the magnificent SilverLakes sports complex.  There will be Nationals and 25th Anniversary merch on sale, as well as great food and of course, Coopers Beer! Parking $12. https://www.silverlakestournaments.com/

Longest Kick Competition presented by Tasmania & Blundstone – Sunday, October 16th, SilverLakes Sports Park
Fancy yourself as the longest kick in the league? Drop-kick or Torpedo - the choice is yours! Junior’s Comp @ Men’s Div 2 Final halftime; Men’s Comp @ Women’s Div 1 Final halftime; Women’s Comp @ Men’s Div 1 Final halftime. Sign up at Tournament Central. Winners will receive a pair of the iconic Australian & Tasmanian-made Blundstone boots.

Mateship Match – Sunday, October 16th, 1pm, SilverLakes Sports Park
It was during WWI that US and Australian armed forces fought side by side for the first time. Since then Aussie and American troops have served alongside one another in every major conflict of the 20th and 21st centuries. The USAFL exemplifies the spirit of this Mateship between Americans and Aussies fighting side by side on the field of play. 
In honor of this the 4th Annual Mateship Cup will take place at the USAFL Nationals again this year. The match will feature American and Australian military players. Players will be outfitted in Mateship uniforms, especially for the match, and the winning team will hoist the Mateship Cup.
All current or former US and Australian military members interested in participating in the match should complete the registration form below. Interested players can get more info and register here.

Masters vs Legends – Sunday, October 16th, 2pm, SilverLakes Sports Park
Supporting the USAFL Foundation, the “Old-Timers” game features the more seasoned veteran players of the league square off in what has become one of the great traditions of the carnival.  This year will be extra special being the 25th Anniversary and we will have players in the match that played in the first Nationals way back in 1997! The match is for players 35 and over, and it will be a coed game so everyone can join up. Interested players can get more info and register here.

Awards and Sunday Afterparty – Sunday, October 16, 6pm-11pm – The Back Yard at SilverLakes
Celebrate and cheer the victors of a great weekend of football as we head over to this magnificent outdoor venue right on the tournament grounds – The Back Yard!  The tournament individual and team awards will be presented across all six divisions, and then… it’s party time!  Enjoy food from local food trucks, full bar, games and performances from some fantastic local US-based Aussie artists including Desert Sparrow and Mane.