AZAFL Grand Final Wrap Up

The sixth installment of the Arizona Australian Football League came to a close with a rematch of the ’05 Grand Final opponents, the Chandler Outlaws and Arizona State Sun Devils. Both sides were strongly motivated for this match-up having arrived at this match through vastly different paths. The Sun Devils struggled through the season, finishing strongly when Coach and Captain Gabe Miritello came back from an early season leg injury in time to carry the team past the ancient and plodding Tombstone Marshals in the semi-finals. The Outlaws, on the other hand, were attempting to cap off the first undefeated season in AZAFL history with a win in the much anticipated Grand Final. Not to diminish the feat, but it’s sort of like going 11-0 on the Junior Varsity team.

The AZAFL had bounced back from a difficult 2005 season, even managing to once again stage the enormously popular AZAFL World Invitational Metro Footy Championship Tournament in February. The tournament boasts the distinction of being the largest and most popular Metro Footy tournament in the Universe as well as having the longest name for any Australian Football event.  The AZAFL launched the ’06 season with six full teams (for the most part) and 10 rounds of matches.  As a result of off season recruiting the league saw a plethora of new faces giving our great sport a try for the first time.  The renewed popularity and success of the AZAFL in ’06 is due in large part to the relentless efforts of Troy “Helen of” Anderson and Brad “Porkchop” Palumbo.

On to the match report.
With the sun shining and game time temperature of 84°, both teams ran their warm-ups with great anticipation and enthusiasm. The Chandler boys in their black and white strip fired quick and accurate handballs while their ever-present boom box pumped out tunes that made this old-timer want to shout “TURN THAT CRAP DOWN!”.  At the opposite end of the field, the underdog Sun Devils in maroon and gold stretched and ran their drills with equal passion. Both teams, young and fit, were certainly ready to do battle and lay claim to the title “Champion” of the AZAFL.
As both teams lined up for the start of the match, Captains from both sides shouted last-second instructions to their mates, hoping to gain any advantage. From the first ruck contest, the tempo and tone of the match was set. The ASU ruckman, Big Dave Verwolf, clearly won the first contest but it was the Chandler onballers that took advantage of the tip and ran on to scoop up the crumbs, quickly clearing the ball out to the wing. Two short passes and the red pill was in the hands of Outlaw full forward Matt Sovereign who sailed it for the first major of the day. A repeat of the first ruck contest found the ball once again in the hands of the Outlaws as they pushed up the field to score. This time, Lucas Hannover, who had been given the daunting task of tagging Revo team member and Outlaw rover Rob Luto, was first to the loose ball, scooped it up and delivered it deep into the Sun Devil attackers. One more pass and ASU forward Darren Kelly sailed one through for six, putting the Sun Devils on the board. Sovereign would add one more goal for the Outlaws as did Jared Jones, and Rob Luto launched his first of the day as well. ASU onballer Tony Ciavardelli took a handball from the pack, and with a couple nice moves, found enough space to collect his inaugural Grand Final goal. The ball was immediately removed from play, given to the ASU team manager and will most assuredly be placed in an Australian Football Hall of Fame somewhere, or wind up on Ebay. As far as you know.
At the end of the first period, the Outlaws found themselves with a two goal lead.
Sun Devils 2-0-12
Outlaws 4-5-29

The second period saw the emergence of Hannover as an Outlaw nightmare, constantly disrupting the Chandler flow, flying around the field, wreaking havoc with the Outlaw’s game plan. The defensive pressure of the Sun Devils impacted the accuracy of the Outlaws limiting all of their scoring to minor points. Meanwhile, newly healed Sun Devil Captain Gabe Miritello was able to sneak in a goal on a hard angle to the left for his first goal of the day. Unfortunately for the Sun Devils, the Outlaws were able to keep the attacking pressure on resulting in only closing the gap by one point by half time.
Sun Devils 3-2-20
Outlaws 4-12-36

The Premiership Period belonged to the Sun Devils. Adjustments at half-time paid great dividends for ASU. Chandler came out from the break a bit flat and ASU capitalized on their opportunities. Miritello connected for his second goal on the day and attacker Johnny Reynoso added two more majors for the Sun Devils. Hannover continued his relentless harassment of the elder Luto, effectively taking Luto out of the game. Late in the period, Rob’s younger brother Ryan Luto called for a well timed switch for the Outlaws catching the Sun Devils napping in mid-field. Little Luto smartly played on, and after one bounce, snapped through a sharp 35 meter goal for his first on the day. At the end of the third quarter, ASU found themselves trailing by only four points. The Chandler boys were feeling the pressure and it showed. Three more behinds for the Outlaws gave them a total of 15 on the day. The Outlaws were closing in on an AZAFL record for behinds in a match and the subsequent swearing that followed each errant kick.
Sun Devils 6-5-41
Outlaws 5-15-45

Outlaw Veteran Troy Anderson pulled the side together at the break and appeared to take charge of the huddle. What ever he told them, it worked. The scoring for the Sun Devils was done for the day. Anderson controlled the middle, attacking every loose pill and creating options for his teammates. Finally the Outlaws began to play their game of running on and spreading out the field. Try as they might, the Sun Devils could not stop the trademark “run-n-gun” Chandler attack. Four different Outlaws added goals in the fourth quarter.

At the final siren, the Outlaws ran out winners. Their undefeated season was capped with their third Premiership and third in five years.

Sun Devils 6-5-41
Outlaws 9-17-71

Goals: ASU, Ciavardelli-1, Miritello-2, Reynoso-2, Kelly-1; Chandler, M. Sovereign-2, Ryan Luto-2, Rob Luto-2, D. Dollar-1, Jared (?)-2

Best on Ground: Lucas Hannover-ASU (3), M. Sovereign-Chandler (2), Ryan Luto-Chandler (1)

- John "Pops" Meier
(673)