News — Club News

CHICAGO, IL- The real men of Chicago are back, bigger (literally with regards to a few), not so much better but as cunning as old foxxes to take on the new guns of Chicago football in what is always (well, we’ve only done it one other time… I kicked 6 on Brazendale just quietly!) a great day on the Chicago footy calendar.

In a contest where bullshit will be the ultimate winner, its hard to see a bunch of young wannabes make any dent against the talent pooled against them. The mere mention of some of these names is enough to have a Kangaroo or Bomber or even a random Blue boy running for the hills. Brazendale, Kastilahn, Bacon, Latessa, Berry, Callachor, Masters, Morgan(s), Ehlers, Donuts, Miller, Gambaro, and perhaps the best of the bunch, Drake and MacGlashan all are out and out champions having represented the best of Chicago Football for a combined 350 years (Al makes up 75 of them himself). Are the legs there though and who the hell is picking up Billy and Haysie because it certainly wont be this little black duck!

The young guns have a pitifully weak line up that wouldn’t scare a bunny rabbit. They are coming off a demolition by the all star old boys 2 years ago (3 points if I remember rightly?) and it looks like Holmberg is missing which will leave a few doors open for the pups. But as they say in Milwaukee, if Brazendale is in the team, lets just give up and not even try as its like pinning diarhoea to the wall… truthfully, they say that up there…. Milwaukee are always talking shit.. get it? I am on fire today.

Anyway, back to the footy….. the only thing longer than the nose and ear hairs on a few of the legends will be the stories of the goals once kicked and grabs once taken. For the record, Callachor has never kicked a 70 m goal to beat Carlton (that was Blighty) and Bacon has never sat on Kelvin Moores head to take a hanger… but it may have happened, who knows. Shit this Corona is going down well.

Where’s Basher? What about Spider? Who the hell is Poncho playing for? Is Burgmann threatening to turn up for this? Braz, you’re coaching mate…. best of luck trying to keep Jules away from the goals.

I don’t even want to talk abou the young’uns, they’ve got nothing to talk about… except Billy and Jase Wilhelm, now there’s two good looking chaps… strewth, that 8th Corona went down way to quick.

DETAILS:

WHO: Chicago Old Boys v Chicago Wannabes
WHEN: Saturday, July 10th at 3pm sharp
WHERE: Waveland Fields, CNR LSD and Waveland Aves
ANYTHING ELSE? Turn up, you’ll get a game. This is a fundraiser for our old mate Rich Noty’s Leukemia Fund so ddig deep and help support our club and the wonderful strides being made in this field that has had such a profound effect on our beloved club.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Old Boys: MacGlashan (Gun forward, massive grab), Brazendale (speed to burn), Pace McCormick (watch carefully as he’ll be injured by 1/4 time), Latessa (more skills than one man deserves… be done by 1/4 of the way through the first 1/4 though).
Young’uns: No one, weak as buggery

Chicago, IL- A new coach, a sleu of new talent and a renewed desire to hit the 4-peat drives Chicago United down the I 65 in their season opener against the little big man in Scott Matheson and his Jackaroos, the surprise packet of 2009.

The Jacks brought a strong team to Chicago in 09 where after hanging on for a half, they were eventually worn down with the experience, size and skill that oozes from this Chicago team. But the Jacks have a year of playing with the big boys in the MAAFL under them and according to Matheson a strong recruiting class that is ready and raring to take on the best in the Midwest. The little mans size is belied by the size of his mouth but everyone is expecting a cracker of a game this saturday at Tuttle Field with no favors asked, nor given.

Columbus come into the game on the heels of a good old fashoined schellacking by the Nashville Kangas who it seems have not forgotten nor forgiven the Jacks for their upset against them last season. One can only imagine the ‘Roo boys winter long frustrations simmering and churning in their bellys after the shenanigans pulled by a certain team positioned slightly north of Chicago in the Nationals (would love to be at that game when those two meet again!). But I digress. Columbus have a healthy metro comp brewing (even a girls team… which apparently Matheson is allowed to play in as well!!! I heard that from Chet if anyone talks to the little man!) and are looking to this game as a baromteter on how far they have come in their short life.

On the other side of the football is the might of the Chicago United Football Club. Hendrie leads a strong side into the wilds of Ohio with a team that has its eyes set on the 4 peat and cracking the Nationals hoodoo that plagues this team. Led by Rohan Ward, the United bring with them new guns Stenger, Wilhelm, Hattery, Jiminez, Harper and Nate Ward, all of whom have shown plenty in early metro rounds. Look for Wilhelm to play a particularly big role in this game as he will definitely be the best looking chap out there if not the biggest bastard as well. His first up effort against the Rhinos had Drake and Bradley comparing him to a young Drew Wolfe.

This team will, however, be missing big guns in Leibowitz, MacGlashan, Allen, Drake, Forte and the brothers Dhoory but there should be enough talent in there to win this. Uhlmann is one of the best American footballers to ever play in Chicago (or the US for that matter) and he’ll be alongside arguably the best player in the entire competition in BJ Gambaro who, like a bottle of fine wine, just gets better and better. David Fitzgerald, Frank Bradley and Brain Hoyt complete this murderers row of backmen that will be harder for the Jackaroos to penetrate than a cheapskate on Michigan Ave in December.

The on ball brigade will feature the aforementioned Wilhelm (so expect a large female crowd to be in attendance… Hoyt, eyes on the ball son!) who will be feeding Hayse, Brennan, Blundell, Rocky Deehan (if allowed back into Ohio of course) and 5 fingers Betty Palmer with better quality balls than Secretariat ever had. Look for Hayse to dominate as he loves the open expanses and the lad looks fitter than Miranda Kerr right now it must be said.

The only weakness this team may have is the forward line although any line that boasts big Roofy can’t be too bloody bad can it? McKeegan will always be good for 3 or 4 too.. the little bastard. The Jackaroos had quite the answer for Roofy last time (he still kicked a lazy 6 though) but Chet and the boys must remember Oscar and the OBK will need some close checking too.

All up, a great way to start the season with a hard trip to Columbus. I’m picking the United by 5 goals in a close one. I’m also picking Rocky Deehan to be a tad quieter which will leave a vacuum of sorts that needs to be filled. Will Hoyt step up or is he really off the beer? Is it time for Betty Palmer to put his hand up for the Runaway train award that seemed to be his last year before Rockys Ohio shenanigans? Maybe one of the new lads? Hattery is a good Kansas boy and they are drunk all the time down there, just look at the Royals! My pick thoough is Sam Blundell. He has the eye of the tiger on him that boy and hates a beer. With Rocky and Betty egging him on, I predict big things from the Rhino speedster, maybe not stolen mannequins across state lines big but I am picking he’ll at least come back a pound of two lighter then when he went.

Chicago, IL- This Friday night sees the welcome return to Chicago of top flight Australian Football as the might of the Lincoln Square Tigers takes on the upstart Rhinos of Wrigleyville in what should be a cracker of a game that has been 6 months in the making following the devastation of the 09 Nationals.

Ably lead by the great Francis Bradley, the Tigers have been the dominant recruiting team in the offseason with no less than 8 new players ready to make their mark in the Australian Football sporting world (and rumors abound of former Shark legend Jeffrey Dreher making a comeback!!). With names that read like a whose who of Chicago football, the Tigers have shot out to early flag favoritism and a quick glance at the Vegas odd makers show them 5/4 on to repeat with the Rhinos coming in second at the handsome odds of 4-1. The Piranhas with a lacklustre recruiting class are a mere 231- 1 to take it all (but like a pub with free beer, the Irish are flooding into the Lincoln Park team (now to be known as the O’Piranha’s or Paddy-ranhas) so look for a huge improvement from them.

The Tigers boast an awesome defence and midfield. Bradley, Fitzgerald, Grisoni, Hoyt and Trimberger are set to take aim at the Rhino forwards (DeJong is a huge loss however) while their midfield is nothing short of sensational with names like the brothers Doorhy, EP, Uhlmann, Tommy Gunn, Brennan and journeyman Leibowitz all looking to rack up big numbers in the possessions department. The forward line, long a burden to the Tiger faithful, has come along nicely this off-season. Look for Meyer and Bradshaw to have big games while much can also be expected of Ortiz, Junius (if sober) and of course club legend Warrick Burgmann (if he plays… absolutely nothing is ever guaranteed with the big man). The Tige’s, unlike their professional counterparts in Australia, feature a bevvy of quality new recruits and the coaching staff will have a field day trying to figure out best positions for all these boys. Harris, Jason, McHale, Harper, Allen, Wideman and Burds all look set to make their debuts this Friday night.

On the other side of the ball, ‘THE’ Outback Kid will lead his band of merry men into the game missing Blundell, Allen, Ambrosino and McClamroch. Big names such as Forte, Deehan and Wolfe must shine brighter than a Hoyt knob for the Rhino to scuttle these Tigers. The Rhino always gets great input from their lesser known players though so look for big games from the likes of Jackie Thompson, Jeff Borchardt, John Scher, Kansas Hattery, the 3 Tylers and little Eli Rosen who will probably get the big task of running with the flying Peanut in Billy Uhlmann. The defence is iffy without Clarke and their forwards will need to be on song to play against the infamous Tiger defense but an upset is not out of the question.

Fitness will be a huge determining factor in this game. All players are coming in underdone with the Chicago weather always being a factor. Lincoln Square will have the height and pace, the Rhinos will have the forward power and a huge chip on their shoulder. All in all though, a great game is expected on the shores of Lake Michigan this Friday night.

Details as follows;

WHO: Lincoln Square Tigers v Wrigleyville Rhinos
WHERE: Waveland Fields; CNR LSD and Waveland
WHEN: Friday the 9th of April
TIME: 6pm (sharp)

SMART MONEY: Tigers by 3 goals, 23 if Burgmann plays.

AFTER: Brownstone Tavern. This is an important function as we need as many people to attend to show our new sponsor that we are fair dinkum. We will take turns controlling Rocky after 10pm. NO BEEP TESTS TO BE RUN THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON BJ!

ALL PIRANHAS AND NEW PLAYERS: Each team must field at least 12 guys. We will endeavor to play 16 a side. If a team is short, Piranhas will fill in. Those picked will be 1st or 2nd year players only. Therefore, all Piranhas should turn up to the game with the following… Footy gear (no baseball cleats!!!), umpiring gear (experienced Piranhas… boundary and goal required.. Haysie will email you lot with more info), and beer (Worniak, don’t drink it all again).

NEW THIS YEAR: Burgmann award will run on the website and will combine metro and maafl. The metro Best and Fairest will be voted on by the umpires and votes will be sealed to be read out at our presentation night.

MacGlashan Medal is both MAAFL and Metro but you don’t get credit for goals kicked playing for an opposition team.

FINALLY: Get on facebook and check out the chicago footy site for all updated info on training, games, play ‘where’s Wazza’ and to upload any photos etc. Also, ensure you are logging into www.chicagofooty. com and paying your dues which need to be paid asap. Oscar has done a beaut job on the website and it needs to be seen to be believed. Check out the forum link to find out what the OBK is up to (or down to… lost another 3 lbs and now is 236lbs! Or was that 326? Dunno but we’ll see friday night!)

The Chicago Australian Football Association and Qantas Airways are pleased to announce their continued sponsorship of Chicago Footy. Qantas again has shown it is committed to supporting the local community and Chicago area business’ travel needs to the South Pacific. Qantas Airways has been a great supporter of Aussie Rules in Chicago.

With Qantas’ sponsorship spanning 10 years, we truly appreciate your ongoing partnership with the CAFA. For the latest Qantas news and fare information visit www.qantas.com.au.

The 2010 Chicago United squad has been eager to get back on the pitch ever since they were put down at Nationals by the Calgary Kangaroos. With the sour taste still fresh in their mouths United leaders took off season training to the next level.

“It’s always nice to get out and break a sweat playing basketball or hitting the gym.” said new coach of the United, Anthony Hendrie. “But our lads wanted to get the footy in their hand again, work on some footwork, and start the season off strong.”

A typically Chicago United offseason would bring the team together for some pick up basketball games, extra fitness, and the ever present night festivities. However, the club went the extra mile to rent indoor soccer space at a nearby facility. As a result, recruiting numbers are up and the United are getting an early start on their championship run.

“We made some great changes and additions this off-season. New coach, new sponsor, and some quality recruits.” President Frank Bradley explains. “We’re bringing back a lot of our starters this year. More importantly is that we’ve got some young guys who will challenge those veterans for starting spots. It makes everyone better.”

The indoor training sessions have allowed The United squad to focus on getting their mechanics back after a cold off season and several months away from a football. Back in October, the United squad faced a focused Calgary in their first Nationals is two years.

“It was a wake up call for a lot of our guys.” says veteran B.J. Gambaro. “Our pace just wasn’t there and Calgary did a good job of taking us out of our game. Regardless, 2010 is a big year for us both in the MAAFL and at the National level. We’ll be ready for Nashville.”

The Chicago United have 3-peated in the Mid American Australian Football League (MAAFL) claiming titles in 2007, 2008, and 2009. As the weather turns in Chicago the team looks to get off to a quick start and many of the new recruits will get the first taste of the big Waveland Oval. It all starts with Chicago’s own Metro Divison where the Wrigleyville Rhinos will face the defending champs, Lincoln Square Tigers, on April 9th. The Chicago United squad will first suit up for the Columbus Jackaroos on May 22nd.

ANZAC Day Commemoration 2010
Saturday 24th April, 7:00pm @ Brownstone Tavern – Buy Tickets!

“They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old,
Age will not weary them, nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them,
Lest we forget”

There has been a good response so far for tickets to our Anzac Day commemeration @ Brownstone Tavern. We still have space for more. This is a main fund raising event for the club, which will benefit you come October when we head down to Louisville for Nationals; get on board lads, bring your girlfriends, wives, man friends and your family. You must purchase tickets on line.

Rumor has it that a certain Chicago player has nominated himself to eat more meat pies than anyone else! This will be a sight worth seeing (or not!). Yes the Brownstone are going to have meat pies available.

Tickets ($30), you must purchase in advance from www.chicagofooty.com to guarantee entry; includes drink package (beer, wine & soda) for 3 hours (7:30-10:30pm). Tickets are also available for $10 without the drinks package.

The big ANZAC Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood will also be televised live.