USFooty News - The latest Aussie Rules Football News from around the USA

The Denver Bulldogs continued their dominance of Aussie Rules Football at the USAFL National Championships with a superb win over the Calgary Kangaroos on Saturday in Texas, scores being 3.2.20 to 0.5.5. The Bulldogs went through their three pool games on Saturday and early Sunday pretty much unchallenged with tough but comprehensive wins over San Diego, Baltimore DC and Seattle before moving onto the final in front of a crowd of 200 passionate footy followers and players.

This afternoon at the 2011 USAFL Annual General Meeting conducted in Austin Texas at the conclusion of the Administrators Conference the club delegates elected Andy Vanica as the new President of the USAFL for 2012 year. The USAFL board in 2012 will also include three new faces in Vice President and At Large roles.

Vanica takes over from Rich Mann who has brought the USAFL to new levels in his 5 year tenure as President and ensured the organization is now regarded as the best run Australian Football League outside Australia. Mann will stay on with the USAFL as the Nationals Tournament Director. Also new to the board are Brandon Blankenship, Dan Sarbacker in VP roles and Kathryn Hogg as the At Large officer.

There certainly hasn't been a year where Division 2 at Nationals has brought forward so much conversation, expectation, dare we say it, hype. If you look at our Division 2 viewers poll here, you might see what I mean. The top four picks by the general public, LA Dragons, Minnesota Freeze, Dallas Magpies and Philly Hawks are all playing on one side of the draw. Is this the USAFL's fault, the four best teams of one division in the same pool? Hardly, what we perhaps see here is four teams with entirely different preparations but with the enthusiasm to show confidence in their own chances.

The LA Dragons we have mentioned before, their quick rise out of the SCAFL to a standalone team out of LA is testament to the planning by their leaders and the support of the other SCAFL teams. Their solid playing form over the past few months also means they deserve to be red hot favorites here at their first Nationals. The interest in the three other teams in this part of the draw is equally impressive. Minnesota and Dallas are known for traveling in numbers as well as being well prepared for every Nationals campaign and the news on both these teams is they fancy their chances.

Jon Loring coach of the Philly Hawks said this week, "the quality of the teams in the their side of the draw presented a huge challenge to his club after coming up from Division 3 in 2010. Certainly the team that comes through to the final from this side will deserve their spot."

So on the other side of the division we see Boston, Chicago, Austin and Portland. Boston although down from division 2 for the first time in several years will remain strong through the many years of experience in division 1. Chicago always about in this division have shown nothing to think they wont be competitive again this year. Austin hosting this years event and up from Division 3 have had an up and down year. Perhaps this year might be a bit of a challenge. And finally Portland, also up from division 3 from all reports are traveling in large numbers and were very disappointed they didn't make their respective final last year.

The more than interesting thing about this side of draw is these teams have not played each other this year or in most cases ever. So although the interest might be in the Dragons or Freeze the four teams in pool B can write their own history.

Our tip, well its difficult to settle on just one team with a quality group such as this, but we will be thinking the LA Dragons will live up to their early promise and Chicago will use their experience to advantage. One thing for certain the winner of Division will be worth the wait.

The Denver women's performance last year to capture their first National Championship might have been a close call, however they are back this year to make sure everyone knows it was no fluke. The Denver women look to be the team to beat in 2011 and now be the measuring stick for women's footy in the USA. To confirm that however they will need to win their second National title this weekend.