AUSTIN CROWS WIN NATIONAL TITLE

After months of hard work, 31 Austin Crows players and several supporters embarked on the journey to Louisville, KY, with the goal of bringing home the clubs first ever National title.

For the first time in club history, Austin entered teams in both Division 3 and Division 4.

On a chilly, wet morning, the D3 Crows went about starting the tournament off on the right foot. Playing Atlanta in opening game, the Crows started slowly and Atlanta controlled the midfield and kicked out to an early two goal lead. The Crows battled back and had a slight lead at half time. Second half goals from Sam Harris, Darren Gloster, and the sealer from Grant Campbell put the Crows across the line with a 19 point win to open the tourney.

The Crows coaching staff, unimpressed from the morning's efforts stressed the need for a massive lift in the afternoon game versus an up and coming Portland squad. After another slow start from the Crows and several big marks from the Portland Centre Half Forward, the game was tight early. Midfielders Herrera, Dawson, Leos and Jehangir started to get there hands on the ball, and club President Mat King had now tightened the reigns on the threatening Portland forward. The Crows kicked away to a 15 point half time buffer.

The Crows hit their straps in the second half led from the half back line through Seymour Butt and Blake McLean. Across half forward, Sam Ryan and Brett Emerson were getting there hands on the footy, and the Crows were starting to hit top gear. Livewire small forward Stephen Sterns crumbed a nice goal, and Anthony Arnold added another, before Campbell finally put the game out of Portland's reach with a superb goal from a tight angle.  In a much better display, the Crows ran out 7.10.52 to 5.3.33 winners.

With sore bodies from the day before, the Crows knew they had there work cut out with the Ohio Valley squad. The coaching staff assigned Chad Benninghoff with the job of curtailing the Ohio full forward who had kicked 9 goals in the previous days play. Captain Campbell had the troops fired up and the Crows hit the ball with amazing intensity from the start in this game. Jeremiah Dawson was in everything, as was Cesar Silva, and the ever steady half back line of King, McLean and Seymour provided the Crows with a solid wall that the Ohio team could not penetrate early.

After jumping out to an early three goal lead, "Ninja" Jehangir was caught up in a disagreement that turned into a large melee. Two key players from the Ohio team were sent off, as was Ray Silva who was battling on through the tournament despite carrying a leg injury. Once they settled, the Crows played there best football of the carnival with the wingers Leos and Jehangir running everywhere, and Ant Arnold kicking two majors to seal the 5.6.36 to 2.3.15 win. 

The Crows were off to there third Grand Final appearance in as many years. They were hoping for a better result than the previous two.  The D3 Crows went into the Grand Final with several injuries but were focussed on the task ahead. In a typical grand final battle, neither team could gain an advantage with both defenses on top. Florida opened the scoring through a free kick deep in their forward line. With Captain Campbell injured and stuck deep in attack, Seymour, Herrera, Leos and Jehangir were working hard getting the ball forward. Ruckman Sam Hartmann was everywhere controlling the tapouts and also taking some big grabs around the ground including a Mark of the Year candidate in front of the building crowd in the beer tent.

Sam Ryan pulled off an Oscar Award winning acting job to gain a 50 metre penalty and open the goal scoring for the Crows. When Jehangir ripped off one of his trademark runs with a great goal, the Crows were off and running and looking good. Going into half time with an 8 point buffer, it was bound to be a tense second half. With Herrera and Leos off through injuries, Joe Long, Stu Davidson and Cesar Silva were thrust into the midfield. Jerry Dawson was his usual bulldog self; tackling and hitting his classy opponent into the ground. Trey Gebhardt was doing a fantastic job on the dangerous Florida forward also.

Stu Davidson crumbed a nice goal to give the Crows some breathing room. When Assistant Coach Gloster centred the ball to the hotspot and found Captain Campbell who slotted the goal, the Crows looked home. It was a tense final few minutes as Florida added a major, but with superstar Blake McLean holding the backline together, and Chad Benninghoff providing his usual last line heroics, the siren sounded and the Crows were victorious. The whole travelling party gathered in the middle of the ground and belted out "The Pride of Austin Texas" one last time for the season. An afternoon and evening of celebrating the Austin Crows first premiership followed.

Final score was Austin 4.4.28 to Florida 2.5.17. Congrats to Noor Jehangir for being awarded Best on Ground in the Final by the USAFL and to Blake McLean for winning D3 Paul Roos Medal for Tournament Best and Fairest.

The D4 team, led by Captain Phil Brereton also had a wonderful weekend winning there first two games over Minnesota and Nashville comfortably. Brereton finished the tournament with a bag of goals, and other good players that played a game or more with the D4 squad were Stu Davidson, Brett Emerson, Joe Long and Big Jon Samuelson, who rucked tirelessly all weekend with an iffy shoulder. Sunday morning the Austin team met a powerful New York combo who ran hard and tackled ferociously. The Crows were unable to match the high intensity of the Magpies and went down by several goals to the eventual D4 National Champs.