In the first MAAFL Championship Division match for 2008, the Nashville Kangaroos hosted 2007 MAAFL Champions Chicago United at Elmington Park. The 2007 match in Chicago was still on players' minds, when a ferocious United team had defeated the Roos by 50 points (a 10.19.79 to 4.5.29 thrashing). However, home ground advantage has always played a big role in the long rivalry between these two teams. A crowd of just under 200 had gathered to witness a classic match between two of the oldest rivals in USFooty. They were not to be disappointed.

The game began with a few minutes of congested play, each team determined to prevent the other team from gaining clean possession. Just as it seemed that predictions of a close game might have been justified, three quick goals by the Roos opened it up. First, a clearing kick from Jeff Persson found Dave McNamara, who quickly snapped a goal to open the scoring. Persson again featured, scoring a goal of his own from forward pocket on the very next possession. Then a pass from Matt Wheatley provided Ross Flemming's an opportunity and his kick went straight through the middle.

Both teams were now finding space, but only Nashville converted the open play into scoring opportunities. A long kick from Dee Vsetecka provided McNamara with another opportunity, but he handed off to Chris Moerman who was in better position to score Nashville's fourth goal. Chicago was not able to effectively clear the ball from the back line, largely due to Roo co-captain Luke Nemeth floating around the half back line. Moerman enjoyed two more goals, the latter after a huge one-handed grab by McNamara followed by Moerman's own spectacular mark from McNamara's kick.

At last, Chicago's Warrick Burgmann, got free from the tight Nashville defense to score for United. Less than a minute later, Nashville responded as McNamara snapped an incredible kick for goal from 45 yards out. The first quarter ended with the marks were even at 11, but Nashville up by a stunning 7.1.43 to 1.0.6, and the Nashville players and supporters sounded like they had already won the match.

Kicking with the breeze in the second quarter, Chicago came out hard, determined to prove there were still three quarters to be played. Burgmann again created an opportunity and scored his second goal. Nashville responded with ruckman Damian Serong grabbing the ball from a sideline throw-in and delivering in the direction of McNamara, who almost overran the ball but maintained his momentum to run around his opponent and score his third goal.

Burgmann showed more flash with another running goal. Chicago's Matt De Jong earned a free kick close to goal and efficiently scored. United were back in the game, having reduced the deficit from 37 to 25 points. It seemed that the game would go to half time Chicago having outscored Nashville three goals to one in the second quarter. With seconds to go, Persson and Vsetcka teamed up to deliver the ball into the goal square, where Moerman took another impressive, contested mark. The half time siren was blown with Moerman in mid-kick, but put it through nonetheless to stretch the lead back to 31 points, 9.1.55 to 4.0.24.

The Roos had fought well with the forwards converting 90% of their opportunities into goals, and the defense limiting Chicago to only three scoring shots with the breeze, thereby retaining most of the first quarter advantage. Nashville now came out for the premiership quarter kicking with the slight breeze.

Coach Marty Thompson moved new recruit John Peers to an on-ball attacking role and was immediately rewarded as Peers was involved in the first three scores of the second half: another goal by McNamara and Moerman with a couple of near misses, one of which was touched on the goal line in an impressive effort by the Chicago defense.

Dave Walker showed the skill and savvy that led to his selection for the US Revolution national team, providing a great lead, marking strongly and putting the ball straight through from 30 yards on an angle. Chicago's defense was impressive while being under the hammer all game long as the ball kept coming back at them. Wheatley received a handpass from Vsetcka and kicked to the goal square, where Jason King took a great mark. King's goal extended Nashville's lead to fifty points.

Chicago's Al MacGlashan and Drew Ehlers and the rest of the United were throwing their bodies into the play with enthusiasm and determination. Despite this, the game remained impressively clean. In one of the few lapses, Moerman was awarded a free kick down the ground when he was tackled after disposing of the ball, resulting in a fourth Roo goal for the quarter.

The final quarter began with the Kangaroos leading by a seemingly insurmountable 56 points, 13.3.81 to 4.1.25, an amazingly accurate contest with 16 of 21 scoring shots being majors. Nashville's lead in marks was now an incredible 37-24, a far cry from last year's match. Nonetheless, Chicago persevered, attacking with the breeze and starting strong in the fourth. Bill Ulhmann and Doug Malcolm each goaled for United early in the quarter as they fought with tremendous spirit as would be expected of a champion team, but four other Chicago scoring efforts failed to produce a major, and with Luke Nemeth showing why he is a Revolution starter in vacuuming up mark after mark, the hope of the miracle comeback faded. In the last minutes, there was a courageous smother by a the never-say-die United, blocking a shot at goal by Flemming. Moerman kicked Nashville's only goal in the last quarter, completing his "bag of six", but no more were needed as the game ended with Nashville leading by 47 points, 14.4.88 to 6.5.41.

After a 3-2 season in the Championship Division last year, the Roos are at the top of the MAAFL Championship ladder with the 1-0 start, 1-1 overall in 2008. Nashville faces four more rivals in the Championship Division, including three challenging road games against St Louis, Milwaukee, and Minnesota. Nashville's next Championship Division MAAFL game will be on May 17th against the Cincinnati/Louisville combined team at Elmington Park on West End Avenue, Nashville.

Chicago United 6.5.41, Nashville Kangaroos 14.4.88

Goals
Nashville: Chris Moerman 6, Dave McNamara 4, Ross Flemming, Jason King, Jeff Persson, Dave Walker
Chicago: Warrick Burgmann 3, Bill Ulhmann, Doug Malcolm, Matt De Jong

Best Players
Nashville: Luke Nemeth, Chris Moerman, John Peers, Matt Wheatley, Damian Serong, Dave McNamara
Chicago: Matt De Jong, Paul Drake, Dan Kastilahn, Al McGlashan, Warrick Burgmann

MAAFL Votes
3- Luke Nemeth (NAS), 2- Matt De Jong (ATL), 1- Chris Moerman (NAS)

Field Umpire: Grant White
Goal Umpires: Toby Persson, Alex Benjamin

Attendance: 175 Injuries: None

Story courtesy of Evan Ling and www.nashvillekangaroos.org