USAFL National Championships
The USAFL National Championships is a tournament for Australian rules football in the United States.
Since 1997, the National Championships have been a large event featuring teams from the United States and Canada in four men's divisions and two women's divisions. The competition is organized and run by the United States Australian Football League.
History[]
The first championships were held in Cincinnati in 1997, and they were won by the host Cincinnati Dockers. The Queen City would host the first three Nationals, with the 1998 edition welcoming 10 teams. The 2017 edition saw the largest turnout in the history of the carnival; 53 teams representing 42 clubs across North America took part, including a record 13 women's teams representing 27 USAFL and AFL Canada clubs.
The Denver Bulldogs have been the most successful club at Nationals, winning Men's Division 1 eight times, Women's Division 1 six times, and Men's Division 4 once. The Austin Crows have won the second most titles, picking up their fifth Men's D1 crown in 2021. The New York Magpies, San Diego Lions and Boston Demons are the only other multiple Men's D1 winners, each having won twice.
Canadian clubs were first invited to the USAFL Championships in 2006. The first Canadian champions were the Vancouver Cougars in 2008. The Calgary Kangaroos have won four Division 2 premierships while the AFL Quebec Saints have won two.
In 2005, the first USAFL Women's championships were held and were won by the Atlanta Lady Kookaburras. The Lady Kookas took home the first three premierships until 2008, when their 19-game winning streak came to an end at the hands of the Calgary Kookaburras. The Denver Lady Bulldogs then won six consecutive titles from 2010–15, winning 20 consecutive games in the process until losing to the Minnesota Freeze. Their string of premierships ended at the hands of the San Francisco Iron Maidens, who have since gone on to claim five-in-a-row of their own from 2016-21.
Format[]
The USAFL tournament seeding committee sets the divisions and seeding of all teams at least two weeks prior to the tournament. Teams are placed in divisions based on season performance, regional championships performance, previous Nationals’ performance, and team player availability. Teams are then seeded within each division, with teams that are geographically close together usually separated by pool to avoid matchups during the season repeating in the group stage. Clubs that aren’t able to field full sides are combined with others to ensure that everyone is able to play.
The Men’s Division 2 was created for the 1999 tournament, and has been used since 2001. Men’s Division 3 was introduced in 2002, and Division 4 was added in 2007. A standalone reserves division was used in 2017 and 2018. A second women’s division was created to accommodate combined teams in 2015, though the women’s competition reverted to one division in 2021 due to reduced numbers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Matches at Nationals are 40 minutes long, which is half the length of a typical full Australian football match. Usually, matches are played as two, twenty-minute halves with no time on. For the 2021 tournament this was changed to four, ten-minute quarters to allow for restrictions surrounding water runners as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Finals matches that are tied after forty minutes of play are decided by a five-minute extra time period, followed by golden point rules if the match is still tied.
Each team is guaranteed three games on the weekend, usually two on Saturday and one on Sunday. Each division’s Grand Final is played on Sunday afternoon, with the Men’s Division 1 Grand Final being the final match of the weekend.
The top three men's divisions and women's Division 1 are played as 18-a-side. All teams in Divisions One and men's Division Two must be single entity squads; they may not combine with other teams. Men's Division Three is played as 16-a-side if both teams agree. Division Four is played 14-a-side or 16-a-side, and women's Division two is played 14- or 16-a-side. As of 2017, in all divisions each team is permitted to dress a maximum of 24 players.
All Divisions are subject to the "50-50 Rule", which requires at least half of the players on the field at any one time to be "nationals" of the country that their team represents. Players of other origin are considered "non-nationals." Prior to 2009, the players were designated "Australian" and "non-Australian", with at least half of the players on the field needing to be "non-Australian."
In addition to premiership medals, awards are also given to outstanding players in each division. The Paul Roos Medal, named after the former AFL player and coach and former US Revolution coach, is awarded to each division's Best and Fairest. The Coopers Medal goes to the most consistent player in each division, while the Geoff Cann Medal goes to each of the Grand Final MVP's. The umpires of the Grand Final in each division are each awarded the Hayden Kennedy medal.
Locations[]
The USAFL had previously attempted to keep Nationals in the Midwestern part of the United States in order to keep travel costs down for teams on the East and West coasts, and for all teams to be able to bring as many players as they can. At the league's 2014 annual general meeting, USAFL president Denis Ryan stated that he wanted to have the three regions, East, Central, and West, alternate hosting duties.[1]
The 2020 Nationals tournament, originally scheduled for Ontario, California the weekend of October 10-11, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.[2]
- 1997 Cincinnati, Ohio[3]
- 1998 Cincinnati, Ohio[3]
- 1999 Cincinnati, Ohio[3]
- 2000 Los Angeles, California[3]
- 2001 Washington, DC[3]
- 2002 Kansas City, Missouri[3]
- 2003 Kansas City, Missouri[3]
- 2004 Atlanta, Georgia[3]
- 2005 Milwaukee, Wisconsin[3]
- 2006 Las Vegas, Nevada[3]
- 2007 Louisville, Kentucky[3]
- 2008 Colorado Springs, Colorado[3]
- 2009 Mason, Ohio[4]
- 2010 Louisville, Kentucky[5][6]
- 2011 Austin, Texas[7]
- 2012 Mason, Ohio[8]
- 2013 Austin, Texas[9]
- 2014 Dublin, Ohio[10]
- 2015 Austin, Texas[11][12]
- 2016 Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida[13][14]
- 2017 San Diego, California[15]
- 2018 Racine, Wisconsin[16]
- 2019 Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida
- 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[2]
- 2021 Austin, Texas[17]
Yearly Results[]
Year | Men's USAFL Div 1 Grand Final | Women's USAFL Div 1 Grand Final | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Premier | G.B (Total) | Runner Up | G.B (Total) | Premier | G.B (Total) | Runner Up | G.B (Total) | ||
Cincinnati Dockers (1) | Nashville Kangaroos | ||||||||
Boston Demons (1) | 15.7 (97) | Golden Gate Roos | 1.1 (7) | ||||||
Boston Demons (2) | 4.2 (26) | Golden Gate Roos | 3.2 (20) | ||||||
Denver Bulldogs (1) | 3.4 (22) | San Diego Lions | 3.2 (20) | ||||||
San Diego Lions (1) | 10.4 (64) | Boston Demons | 2.5 (17) | ||||||
Denver Bulldogs (2) | 8.1 (49) | San Diego Lions | 0.2 (2) | ||||||
Denver Bulldogs (3) | 8.5 (53) | Boston Demons | 1.3 (9) | ||||||
Denver Bulldogs (4) | 2.6 (18) | New York Magpies | 1.1 (7) | ||||||
Denver Bulldogs (5) | 4.8 (32) | Milwaukee Bombers | 1.1 (7) | Atlanta Kookaburras (1) | 6.5 (41) | Florida Fusion | 2.1 (13) | ||
San Diego Lions (2) | 4.9 (33) | Denver Bulldogs | 2.0 (12) | Atlanta Kookaburras (2) | 3.10 (28) | Pacific Coast Highwayers | 0.0 (0) | ||
Denver Bulldogs (6) | 3.3 (21) | San Diego Lions | 2.3 (15) | Atlanta Kookaburras (3) | 7.7 (49) | Arizona Hawks | 0.0 (0) | ||
Vancouver Cougars (1) | 4.4 (28) | Baltimore Washington Eagles | 2.0 (12) | Calgary Kookaburras (1) | 4.3 (27) | Atlanta Kookaburras | 3.4 (22) | ||
Denver Bulldogs (7) | 2.5 (17) | Seattle Grizzlies | 2.2 (14) | Milwaukee Bombers (1) | 8.3 (51) | Calgary Kookaburras | 1.5 (11) | ||
New York Magpies (1) | 4.4 (28) | Denver Bulldogs | 1.1 (7) | Denver Bulldogs (1) | 3.1 (19) | Calgary/Montréal | 2.6 (18) | ||
Denver Bulldogs (8) | 3.2 (20) | Calgary Kangaroos | 0.5 (5) | Denver Bulldogs (2) | 3.7 (25) | New York/Montréal | 0.1 (1) | ||
Vacated[18] | Denver Bulldogs (3) | 3.4 (22) | Boston/Baltimore-Washington | 0.0 (0) | |||||
2013 | Austin Crows (1) | 4.2 (26) | Calgary Kangaroos | 4.2 (25) | Denver Bulldogs (4) | 3.7 (25) | San Francisco Iron Maidens | 0.0 (0) | |
2014 | New York Magpies (2) | 2.4 (16) | Orange County Bombers | 2.1 (13) | Denver Bulldogs (5) | 2.3 (15) | San Francisco/Portland/Arizona | 0.4 (4) | |
2015 | Austin Crows (2) | 4.4 (28) | Orange County Bombers | 2.4 (16) | Denver Bulldogs (6) | 1st | New York Magpies | 2nd | |
2016 | Austin Crows (3) | 6.3 (39) | Golden Gate Roos | 2.1 (13) | San Francisco Iron Maidens (1) | 1st | Denver Bulldogs | 2nd | |
2017 | Golden Gate Roos (1) | 6.4 (40) | Los Angeles Dragons | 2.2 (14) | San Francisco Iron Maidens (2) | 2.2 (14) | Denver Bulldogs | 1.0 (6) | |
2018 | Austin Crows (4) | 4.6 (30) | Golden Gate Roos | 4.1 (25) | San Francisco Iron Maidens (3) | 3.2 (20) | Seattle Grizzlies | 0.0 (0) | |
2019 | Austin Crows (5) | 8.3 (51) | Denver Bulldogs | 1.2 (8) | San Francisco Iron Maidens (4) | 2.2 (14) | Seattle Grizzlies | 0.3 (3) | |
2021 | Austin Crows (6) | 10.8 (68) | New York Magpies | 2.2 (14) | San Francisco Iron Maidens (5) | 5.4 (34) | Denver Bulldogs | 2.5 (17) |
Year | Men's USAFL Div 2 Grand Final | Men's USAFL Div 3 Grand Final | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Premier | G.B (Total) | Runner Up | G.B (Total) | Premier | G.B (Total) | Runner Up | G.B (Total) | ||
1999 | Baltimore Washington Eagles | 3.4 (22) | Southern Crusaders* | 1.4.10 | |||||
2001 | New York Magpies | 3.8 (26) | Atlanta Kookaburras | 2.3 (15) | |||||
2002 | Orange County Bombers | 7.3 (45) | Golden Gate Roos | 2.3 (15) | Philadelphia Hawks | 3.8 (26) | Milwaukee Bombers | 2.2 (14) | |
2003 | Milwaukee Bombers | 4.2 (26) | Golden Gate Roos | 3.1 (19) | Kansas City Power | 6.7 (43) | North Carolina Tigers | 0.3 (3) | |
2004 | Arizona Hawks | 3.4 (22) | Philadelphia Hawks | 3.4 (20) | Cincinnati Dockers | 8.5 (53) | Kansas City Power | 3.2 (20) | |
2005 | Golden Gate Roos | 7.3 (45) | Philadelphia Hawks | 1.4 (10) | Minnesota Freeze | 4.3 (27) | Baton Rouge Tigers | 3.3 (21) | |
2006 | Baltimore Washington Eagles | 10.9 (69) | Minnesota Freeze | 2.0 (12) | Las Vegas Gamblers | 7.5 (47) | Baton Rouge Tigers | 5.1 (31) | |
2007 | Minnesota Freeze | 3.5 (23) | Seattle Grizzlies | 2.2 (14) | 4.7 (31) | Las Vegas Gamblers | 2.4 (16) | ||
2008 | Seattle Grizzlies | 3.4 (22) | Calgary Kangaroos | 0.3 (3) | Kansas City Power | 3.8 (26) | Austin Crows | 1.2 (8) | |
2009 | Calgary Kangaroos | 5.8 (38) | Milwaukee Bombers | 3.2 (20) | Dallas Magpies | 8.3 (51) | Austin Crows | 1.2 (8) | |
2010 | Calgary Kangaroos | 11.8 (74) | Minnesota Freeze | 5.1 (34) | Austin Crows | 4.4 (28) | Fort Lauderdale Fighting Squids | 2.5 (17) | |
2011 | Dallas Magpies | 8.6 (52) | Austin Crows | 0.5 (5) | Arizona Hawks | 5.2 (32) | Atlanta Kookaburras | 3.1 (19) | |
2012 | Minnesota Freeze | 1.6 (12) | Los Angeles Dragons | 0.3 (3) | Chicago Swans | 4.7 (31) | Columbus Jackaroos | 3.4 (22) | |
2013 | Columbus Jackaroos | 5.5 (35) | Los Angeles Dragons | 1.5 (11) | Houston Lonestars | 3.5 (23) | Sacramento Suns | 0.1 (1) | |
2014 | Los Angeles Dragons | 11.3 (69) | Columbus Jackaroos | 1.0 (6) | Sacramento Suns | 7.1 (43) | Philadelphia Hawks | 0.5 (5) | |
2015 | Quebec Saints | 3.9 (27) | Sacramento Suns | 0.0 (0) | Portland Steelheads | 5.7 (37) | Cincinnati Dockers | 1.3 (9) | |
2016 | Calgary Kangaroos | 6.3 (39) | Columbus Jackaroos | 0.3 (3) | Portland Steelheads | 7.4 (46) | North Carolina Tigers | 3.4 (22) | |
2017 | Quebec Saints | 5.6 (36) | Orange County Bombers | 1.1 (7) | Seattle Grizzlies | 4.3 (27) | San Diego Lions | 3.2 (20) | |
2018 | Minnesota Freeze | 5.7 (37) | Portland Steelheads | 3.0 (18) | Philadelphia Hawks | 7.4 (46) | Cincinnati Dockers | 3.2 (20) | |
2019 | San Diego Lions | 4.4 (28) | 1.4 (10) | Boston Demons | 4.2 (26) | Columbus Cats | 2.3 (15) | ||
2021 | 8.0 (48) | Boston Demons | 1.5 (11) | Arizona Hawks | 6.6 (42) | 2.1 (13) |
List of USAFL National Championship Premiers (Men)[]
Teams | Premiers | Runner Up | Total | Year(s) won | Year(s) lost |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Denver Bulldogs | 8 | 3 | 11 | 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 2007, 2009, 2011 |
2006, 2010, 2019 |
Austin Crows | 6 | 0 | 6 | 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 | — |
San Diego Lions | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2001, 2006 | 2000, 2002, 2007 |
Boston Demons | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1998, 1999 | 2001, 2003 |
New York Magpies | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2010, 2014 | 2004, 2012, 2021 |
Golden Gate Roos | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2017 | 1998, 1999, 2016 |
Cincinnati Dockers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1997 | — |
Vancouver Cougars | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2008 | — |
List of USAFL National Championship Premiers (Women)[]
Teams | Premiers | Runner Up | Total | Year(s) won | Year(s) lost |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Denver Bulldogs | 6 | 3 | 9 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 2015 |
2016*, 2017, 2021 |
San Francisco Iron Maidens | 5 | 2 | 7 | 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 | 2013, 2014 |
Atlanta Kookaburras | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2005, 2006, 2007 | 2008 |
Calgary Kookaburras | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2008 | 2009 |
Milwaukee Bombers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2009 | — |
*In 2016, the Bulldogs finished second in a round robin where no Grand Final was played.
See also[]
- US Footy
References[]
- ^ Barrish, Brian (October 21, 2014). "Ryan: Future Relies on Coaching, Recruiting, and Schedule". USAFL.com.
- ^ a b Barrish, Brian (July 16, 2020). "USAFL Nationals 2020 Update". USAFL.com. Check
|archive-url=
value (help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l US Footy Ten Year Commemorative Book (PDF). USAFL. p. 6. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ Carpenter, Les (October 8, 2009). "Baltimore Washington Eagles Australian Rules Football Club Is Now More About Winning Than Drinking". Washington Post. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ Hossana, Paida (March 28, 2011). "Australian Rules Football Club - Sacramento Press". Sacramento Press. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ Lieburn, Sara (November 11, 2010). "MBA student finds 'footy' success". news.wisc.edu. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ "Q&A with Saints linebacker Craig Robertson". NewOrleansSaints.com. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ "Beyond Bounds: Minn. Squad Nets National Football Title - Australian Style". CBS Minnesota. October 26, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ "Australia Football in America". Finding Houston. October 17, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ Bishop, Amy (May 6, 2014). "What Is Australian Rules Football? - Sacramento Press". Sacramento Press. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ Rine, Jessica (June 10, 2015). "Sacramento Australian Football League to host the Western Regional Tournament in Davis". Sactown Magazine. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ Walker, Chris (October 13, 2015). "The Lady Bulldogs Are the Most Winning Team in Sports-Crazed Denver". Westword. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ Neumann, Thomas (October 17, 2016). "Mason Cox Q&A: Surgery, finals and citizenship". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ Neumann, Thomas (October 18, 2016). "North American clubs put their best footy forward". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ "News from the Consulate". Australian Consulate-General, Los Angeles. Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. November 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
- ^ "Racine in 2018 - USAFL Nationals Head to Wisconsin". Publicnow.
- ^ Stevens, Rhiannon (October 25, 2021). "'Everyone who plays this sport is a little crazy': America's Aussie Rules football league is turning 25". ABC.net.au.
- ^ "2012 Division One Championship Vacated". USAFL.com. October 30, 2012.
External links[]
- Australian rules football competitions
- National championships in the United States
- Sports competitions in the United States
- Australian rules football competitions in the United States