When It Pours - Day 1 at the 2022 Nationals

Albert Hammond is a liar.  So are the Riveras, come to think of it.

What was originally forecast as a sunny, hot day turned out to be chilly, windy, and finally rainy.  That, with the palm trees and mountains backdropping a bunch of footy ovals, you’dve thought you were in suburban Melbourne and not suburban Los Angeles.

The conditions were an important part of the proceedings over the course of the first day at the 2022 USAFL National Championships.  And the SIlverlakes sports complex proved to be a welcome host for the 25th edition of this large tournament.T

Saturday brought us to the precipice of a record-breaking Sunday, and a huge first in the women’s game, and what should be another memorable day in the annals American Aussie Rules history.

Tune into Go Live Sports Cast for all the action, including ALL SIX GRAND FINALS.

Full schedule > Here
Full standings > Here

MEN’S DIVISION 1

Ever since the draw came out last week, Austin v Golden Gate has been circled on everyone’s calendar.  On Sunday, the Crows and Roos will do battle for tops in Pool A.  Both teams got by Los Angeles and the DC Eagles on Day 1, and the Roos will try to exact some revenge on the Crows for losses in 2016 and 2018.  Austin, meanwhile, now has their Nationals win streak at 14 games in a row and can tie Denver’s record of four straight if they run the table on Sunday.

Pool B will also feature a virtual preliminary final, as 2-0 Denver tangles with 1-0-1 New York for the other Grand Final sport.  The Doggies were victors over Seattle and San Diego, while the ‘Pies beat the Lions but only managed a 20-20 draw against the Grizzlies.  An interesting note, that’s the Grizzlies’ third draw of the season, setting a new USAFL record.  The Magpies will try for a back-to-back D1 finals appearance, while Denver will try to make their 12th Grand Final and ninth win.

Watch the Men’s D1 Grand Final on at 4:30pm PDT.

WOMEN’S DIVISION 1

The San Francisco Iron Maidens’ picked up their 21st and 22nd straight Nationals victories on Saturday, on the hunt for a record-tying sixth straight Women’s D1 crown.  Combining to beat Sacramento and New York by a combined 110-0, they now advance to the semi-final as winners of Pool A.  New York will play for 4th place on Sunday, while Sacramento will battle for sixth.

Who these teams will play will be determined by the last pool game at 9am on Sunday.  Questions had abounded prior to the tournament as to whether the Minnesota Freeze would’ve been able to field a Division 1 team.  All they did on Saturday was knock off perennial finals favorites Denver and then top-seed Seattle.  They’ve never finished better than third, and now they’re one win away from their first Grand Final.

A win over DC puts Minnesota straight into the decider, while the Seattle-Denver winner would go on to play San Francisco in the semi-final.  A DC upset would see the Grizz-Dogs winner have the opportunity to grab the Pool B GF berth on percentage.

The Women’s D1 Grand Final will be at 3pm.

MEN’S DIVISION 2

Boston’s quest for a third straight Grand Final appearance, and a second in D2, is on track.  Winners over Portland and Boston have the Demons at 2-0 heading into Sunday and a matc with winless Minnesota for a spot in the Granny.  An upset loss to the Freeze would open the door slightly for either the Steelheads or Dockers to sneak in based on who wins that match and by how much.

Pool B is an all-California virtual prelim, with both Orange County and Sacramento winning big over Columbus and Houston.  The Giants combined for an 83-4 leger, while the Suns offense clicked to the tune of 86 points in their two wins.  These two teams met a couple of weeks ago in the OC, and the Giants came away with the win.  What will happen on Sunday?

The Men’s D2 Grand Final will be at 2pm.

WOMEN’S DIVISION 2

Paced by a strong Austin contingent, the Texas Heat are just about into the Grand Final with a 2-0 record, a game ahead of 1-1 Orange County and Centennial.  The Giants face the Tigers on Sunday, while the Heat play the 0-2 Portland Sockeyes, the top two at the end of Round 3 playing off for the title.

The Women’s D2 Grand Final will be at 2pm.

MEN’S DIVISION 3

The Arizona Hawks are a win away from trying to defend their D3 title from a year ago, as they’ll encounter the Nashville Kangaroos in a match of two 2-0 teams.  Both teams beat Austin and North Texas on Saturday in Pool A play.

Denver’s reserves zapped Quebec and Philadelphia to go tops of Pool B, and face winless Oklahoma for a chance at the Grand Final, and second reserves’ trophy win.  A loss by the “Pups” opens the door for either the Saints or Hawks, but only if all are involved in lopsided scorelines.

The Men’s D3 Grand Final will be at 1pm.

MEN’S DIVISION 4

How do you like this for mass chaos… all six teams finished with 1-1 records, and the four semifinalists were decided by points percentage!

The dust has finally settled, and the Pool A leading Des Moines Roosters will take on the Pool B runners-up Denver Bulldogs 3rds in one semifinal.  They’ll play either Pool B winners Orange County, or Las Vegas, second in that Pool A mayhem.

The Men’s D4 Grand Final will be at 1pm.