USFooty 2007 Preseason Top 10

1. San Diego Lions – the Lions have some aging greats such as Cameron Trickey and Andy Scott but with six representatives on the Revos including joint 2006 club best and fairest, Justin Valley, and some younger Australians the Lions look ready to defend their 2006 USFooty National Championship.

2. Denver Bulldogs – 2006 was a bit of a shock for the Bulldogs – the team did not win the National Title. Their only losses in the 2006 were to the San Diego Lions. They will be looking to turn those losses into wins in 2007. The Bulldogs also have some aging players such as the former USFooty President Rich Mann and former Revos Jim Baldwin and the Ellis brothers, but with 5 National Championships in 6 years who can count them out?

3. Milwaukee Bombers – the Bombers are certainly going to miss the Brunmeier brothers as the boys try to make the grade at the West Perth Falcons, but there are some very good young Americans. Milwaukee have a heavy schedule for 2007 including hosting the New York Magpies (4) and traveling to Nashville for their MAAFL Championship League match up against the Kangaroos.

4. New York Magpies – They only lost the EAFL Premiership by a solitary point, but they have the advantage in 2007 because the game against the Demons (5) will be at home and their only EAFL away game will be against North Carolina (10). The Magpies will also be traveling to Milwaukee to take on the Bombers (3) in a game that is going to have a big influence on USFooty’s National Tournament draw.

5. Boston Demons – They beat traditional rivals the New York Magpies (4) by a solitary point to win the 2006 EAFL Premiership. The Magpies and the Demons will be going at it again in 2007. I’m giving the advantage to New York (4).

6. Golden Gate Roos – The Roos don’t get out much, playing only one friendly and the Nationals, but when the do get out, they come to play. In 2006 they dispatched the Boston Demons (5) and the Milwaukee Bombers (3). Their two losses were at the hands of San Diego. In 2007 they will loose GGAFL Best and Fairest, Andrew Lamont to the Macquarie University Kookaburras, but Andrew may be back for the Nationals and his experience in Sydney will likely make a valuable player to the Roos.

7. Baltimore Washington Eagles – the Eagles finished 2006 on a high note by winning the USFooty Division II National Championship. This has been something of a stepping stone for up and coming clubs trying to make it to the top of the USFooty ladder. 2006 saw the recruitment of Chris “Bluey” Carroll who was the 2005 Essendon Scholarship winner and outstanding Revo player. 8

8. Chicago United – United didn’t travel to the Nationals and lost some tough games in the MAAFL. However, this club is working at getting footy established again in Chicagoland. With the Nationals returning to the Mid-West, I expect to see United back and better than ever.

9. Minnesota Freeze – Led by former Revo player and current Assistant Coach, Jason Becker, the boys from the north had a break out season in 2006 ending with a runner’s up in Division II at the USFooty Nationals.

10. North Carolina Tigers – the Tigers are a team to be reckoned with, particularly at home. They had a break out season in 2006 but 2007 will be the test as their only EAFL home game is against the powerhouse New York Magpies. They loose their head coach for the last four years, Adam Coleman, but with a young team of improving Americans they will be a force to be reckoned with in the EAFL.

Worth mentioning: Atlanta Kookaburras, OC Bombers, Nashville Kangaroos, Arizona Hawks, Seattle Grizzlies.

Here is our summary of the 2006 season. The rankings are based on performance during the season and at the 2006 Nationals including Wins/Losses and head to head match ups.

2006 USFooty Top 10
1. San Diego Lions (16-0, National Champions, Western Regional I and II Champions)
2. Denver Bulldogs (9-3, National Runner’s Up)
3. Golden Gate Roos (2-2)
4. Milwaukee Bombers (9-4, MAAFL Premiers)
5. Boston Demons (4-3, EAFL Premiers)
6. New York Magpies (6-2, EAFL Runner’s Up)
7. OC Bombers (5-8)
8. North Carolina Tigers (3-4)
9. Baltimore Washington Eagles (6-3, Division II National Champions)
10. Minnesota Freeze (5-2, Division II Runner’s Up)
Worth Mentioning: Dallas Magpies (6-7), Chicago United (2-3)

Article courtesy of www.worldfootynews.com

- Chris Adams
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