Objectives

Austin Crows play strong in Baton Rouge

Australian Rules Football is a game where teamwork is essential in the quest for victory. In the player funded U.S Footy, the “road trip” to another state to play an early season game the day before mother’s day, requires a special commitment to the team. But when you break it all down football is a game of individual efforts, where players both on and off the field contribute to the team cause to support their mates in search of the team victory. Late on Friday night at 10pm, when most players were readying themselves for a good night’s sleep before a big day of action the next afternoon, two Austin Crows players were just starting to make their journey to Baton Rouge. Travelling through the Texan night, this odd couple, Jesse “el gallo” Leos the redneck Texan and Noor “Mr. MTV” Jehangir made their way across to Baton Rouge. With a few pit stops, including an interesting encounter in Vidor, TX, where Noor was advised to take cover and hide in the car, the guys finally pulled in to Baton Rouge at 6am the day of the game

At 1pm on Saturday 8th May it was time to do battle. The Crows on the road seeking redemption for a loss last year, Baton Rouge looking to maintain their home ground advantage. With the Crows missing a number of its star players but buoyed by the commitment to making this encounter a successful road trip, the Crows played their best football of the year piling on the goals in the opening quarter. With a new look forward line, the Crows kicked with a slight breeze and took full advantage of the conditions. Ford Shanley (2 goals including a soccer style fly kick), Stephen Stearns and Brett Emerson provided the spark that led to the Crows 6 goal opening term onslaught. Running for one another, tackling hard and moving the ball quickly were all traits that led to the Crows putting early pressure on the Tigers.

In the second term it was important that the Crows maintained the rage into the breeze and continued to work hard for one another. With Baton Rouge looking to bounce back after the first quarter blitz, it was the Crows defensive six that started to take control and repel any advance the Tigers made. Led by captain Dave Enslow, Matt King and a best on ground performance by first year player Seymour Butt, the Crows defense ran and covered every Tigers advance at goal. Ray Silva played his tough accountable brand of football, whilst Andres Campo locked down and did the one percenters at every opportunity. With the Crows defense providing an impenetrable wall that the Tigers were unable to pierce, the midfielders and forwards continued to run amok on an embattled Baton Rouge line up. With Ryan Minnick dominating the centre tap outs, the Crows midfielders dominated the clearances all over the ground. First it was coach Boyce with some silver service to his leading assistant Sauce Gloster, who converted the long set shot. Then Davidson, Leos and Jehangir continued to provide delivery to the Crows forwards with Brett Emerson looking dangerous at Centre Half Forward.

After the long break the Crows looked to continue the misery on the home side and put the game out of reach. Emerson was rewarded for his hard work up and down the ground and added to his goal tally. He would finish the day with four and looks to be an excellent addition to the Crows forward line. Seymour Butt continued to provide run from defense and big Matty King was marking everything that came his way through centre half back. The Crows ran all over the Tigers midfield with Coach Boyce snapping a clever left foot goal, Davidson working hard across the ground and Phil Brereton kicking a nice goal on the angle. Brereton was awarded a free kick after a tackle from behind.

The last quarter was a non event with both sides tiring in the heat of the day. Motivated by the coaches offer to pay for the first round of drinks if they were able to win the last quarter the Crows players pushed on to slightly increase the margin of victory. Some exhilarating runs and bounces from Jehangir, and more marks and goals would eventually see the Crows run out 65 point winners. A great reward for the team after a tough long road trip, that will hold the side in good stead for their battles against New York and Nashville in two weeks time back in Austin.

Final Score:
Austin – 14.11.95
Baton Rouge- 6.4.40

Best Players: Seymour Butt, Matt King, Brett Emerson, Ray Silva, Andres Campo, Ryan Minnick, Simon Boyce.

Austin goals:
Brett Emerson- 4, Simon Boyce, Ford Shanley, Jesse Leos, Stephen Sterns- 2 each, Phil Brereton, Darren Gloster 1 each

Austin Crows Split Games at Crawfish Cup

The Austin Crows travelled down I-35 Saturday to take on rival Dallas and also Baton Rouge in the 2010 Crawfish Cup. The Celebration Park oval was in tremendous shape for the games, but teams would be forced to deal with a 5 or 6 goal wind favoring the lake end of the ground.The Crows suited up 22 players on the day with 5 or 6 injured players also in attendance to support the team. The Crows started slowly kicking into the strong wind and were quickly behind 3 goals before they warmed into the game. Struggling with their intensity and running, Dallas were winning all the tough contests and things looked bleak for the Crows as they went in at half time 4 goals down.After a half time spray from the coaching staff, the Crows responded with Grant Campbell, Blake McLean and Sam Ryan really lifting the team. Cambo kicked a definite USFootynews. com Goal of the Year candidate balking several players, switching onto his non preferred left side, and banging home the goal from 40 meters to get the Crows going. Goals from Stu Davidson and Sam Ryan quickly followed and the Crows found themselves within a couple of goals  with 5 minutes left.Despite continued strong games from “Big Show” McLean and Ryan Minnick, the Crows couldn’t bridge the gap and after Dallas snapped home another goal, the Crows finished the game 22 points behind their rivals on the scoreboard. Joe Long did a fantastic job tagging one of Dallas’ star on-ballers and Caesar Silva was fantastic in his rookie game.

Final Score:
Dallas- 6 goals, 6 behinds, 42
Austin- 3 goals, 2 behinds, 20

Austin goals- Grant Campbell, Stu Davidson, Sam RyanAustin Best- Grant Campbell, Blake Mclean, Sam Ryan, Joe Long, Caesar Silva, Stu Davidson 

In the second game the Crows started out much better and began taking full advantage of the breeze. With ruckman Minnick winning virtually all of the hit outs against a much taller opponent, he gave first use of the ball to onballers Cambo, Jesse Leos, Stu Davidson, and Noor Jehangir. Stephen Stearns got the Crows rolling with a 50 meter bomb from the pocket. Cambo added another shortly after and it looked like the Crows may run away with the game. The backline was holding the BR forwards and repelling numerous times through the likes of Dave Enslow, Ray Silva, Seymour Butt and Deren Wilcox. Andres Campo was his usual harassing self, and Noor Jehangir and Jesse Leos started to open up the game with plenty of run through the middle.The Crows should have put the game away with many more goals in the first half but terrible kicking on goal and some dropped chest marks in the goal square meant they only went in at halftime with a 21 point advantage.After halftime the Crows battled on. Several injuries including a rolled ankle to Alex Corones in his final game with the Crows and a broken nose to Ray Silva left the Crows bench a bit thin. In ugly conditions many players kept battling especially Minnick who ran all day long laying bumps, tackles and shepherds. “Big Show” McLean and Sam Ryan were solid down back and made many good runs rebounding the ball into the Crows forward zone. Unfortunately Crows players dropped several more marks near the goal square and therefore couldn’t convert the excellent work of the backline and the midfield.As the final siren rang, Austin had held on and ran out 12 point winners. Dylan Schoedel played a terrific first game for the club and with his strong body in everything. Phil Brereton and Trey Gebhardt found some space in the second game and did some nice things also.The Crows will travel into Louisiana in 2 weeks for a return game with Baton Rouge on May 8. 

Final Score
Austin- 2 goals, 9 behinds, 21
Baton Rouge- 1 goal, 3 behinds, 9

Austin goals- Stephen Stearns, Grant CampbellAustin best- Blake McLean, Ryan Minnick, Noor Jehangir, Sam Ryan, Stephen Stearns, Dylan Schoedel, Seymour Butt

Injuries- Alex Corones- ankle, Ray Silva- broken nose, Simon Boyce- corked thigh

The Austin Crows Australian Rules Football Club was reborn in mid-2007.

Anyone interested in Australian Rules Football in the Austin, TX region can find a game with the club. All newcomers are welcome, no experience necessary.
If you would like to get involved with the club on a more social level, or think you can help out in some other way contact Mat King

In 2009 the goals of the club are:

• To start an Austin Metro League that plays on a weekly basis
• To grow the league to over 40 players
• To win our division at the USAFL Nationals
• To form a social events committee

2009 Games

May 2- Austin @ Dallas
May 16- Dallas @ Austin
June 6- @ Dallas versus Atlanta and Dallas (doubleheader)
June 20- @ Dallas versus Kansas City and Dallas (doubleheader)
August 29- Baton Rouge @ Austin

Minnick Takes Out Austin Crows Best and Fairest

On Saturday November 13, the Austin Crows players, their families and supporters gathered to celebrate another successful season on the field. The first item of business for the night was the best and fairest medal count.

After tallying 13 votes throughout the season, ruckman Ryan Minnick was awarded his first Crows Best and Fairest trophy. Minnick polled consistently in 6 games and was followed closely by runner up, Jeremiah Dawson who polled 10 votes, with Grant Campbell coming in third with 9 votes.

The Best First Year Player was a tie between Jeremiah Dawson and Jesse Leos. Andres Campo took out the Clubman of the Year Award.

The Austin Crows finished the year with a record of 8 wins, 3 losses and a runner up finish in Division 3 at the national tournament. The Crows will resume training in March of 2010.

RESULTS

Austin Crows ARFC Press Release                                                                           June 29, 2009

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Crows Split On Road Trip to Dallas

The Dallas Magpies groundsmen had the Celebration Park oval in pristine condition for the June 20 weekend tourney involving the Kansas City Power, the Dallas Magpies, and the top of the USAFL ladder Austin Crows. In sweltering conditions in Allen, TX, the Crows took a strong squad of 26 players to Dallas for the days action.

Against the KC Power, a powerful Austin effort allowed for the Crows to extract revenge on the team who took the USAFL Division 3 trophy from their grasp last year in Colorado Springs. Dedicated Deren Wilcox was elected captain for the day and chose to kick into the strong breeze at Celebration Park, which has quickly become known as the premier footy ground in all of North America. Despite kicking into the wind, the Dallas midfield led by Cambo and Eddie Kiel, moved the ball forward to create scoring opportunities for captain Wilcox, Phil Brereton, Ford Shanley, Noor Jehangir, and Mark Drinnan. Early goals to Wilcox, Kiel and Cambo had the Crows comfortably up at half time. Down back, "solid" Sam Harris and "Dirty" Dave Enslow gave the KC Power forwards nothing.

Kicking with the wind, Austin continued to dominate the middle and pile on the score. "Bomber" Smith came onto the ground and put the Power defense into immediate fright with his loud, barnstorming forward movement. Alex Corones did a fantastic job tagging the Power's best onballer and with an overall strong effort from the Crows they ran out 44 point winners.

Final Score:

Austin 7.8.50

KC 1.0.6

Goals: Kiel 3, Boyce 2, Wilcox 2

Best: Kiel (3 votes), Corones (2 votes), Harris (1 vote), Campbell, Minnick, Bomber Smith,

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After a strong first game, rookie Mike Cook was brought into the starting lineup to provide the Crows with a strong presence at Centre Half Forward. Austin started a little slow as the midfield struggled to find the form they had shown earlier in the game. Robbie "Choo Choo Train" Descant was one of the few bright lights in the first half and gathered numerous possessions across half back.

At the half time break, down by 3 goals, the Crows were asked to lift and they did. Campbell, Herrera, Minnick and Jerry Dawson were starting to get touches through the midfield and pump the ball forward. Goals to Wilcox and Campbell gave the Crows hope of pulling off the come from behind win. Things started to get chippy as Dallas sensed a Crows revival and Ford "Falcon" Shanley flexed his muscle in a push and shove despite being clearly outweighed by around 100 pounds.

The Crows were fired up and moving the ball well but the Magpie defense remained strong through the last 5 minutes with the ball predominantly in the Austin attacking 50 metre zone. As the final whistle blew the Magpies were up by 12 points on the scoreboard.

The Crows will now turn their attention to the annual International Rules series with the Irish Cowboys starting on July 11.

Final Score:

Austin 2.4.16

Dallas 4.4.28

Goals: Campbell, Wilcox 1 each

Best: Descant (3 votes), Minnick (2 votes), Enslow (1 vote), Herrera, Benninghoff

June-6 Austin and Atlanta @ Dallas

May-16 Dallas @ Austin

The Austin Crows braved the elements Saturday to pick up their first US footy win for the year against the Dallas Magpies in a nail biter at the Austin United Soccer fields. Halfway through warm up and with a massive thunderstorm approaching, veteran Grant Campbell told the group to get ready and that "they better get used to it because we aren't coming off this field even if lightning strikes the field." It is this kind of commitment and one's willingness to risk life and limb that is becoming a staple for the Crows.

As the rain came down hard and from every angle, the game started. Ryan Minnick was working tirelessly in the ruck as usual giving first chance to on-ballers Cambo, Zughni and Herrera. Ninja Jehangir in his first game for a while scored a lovely long goal to open the scoring for the Crows. Things stayed tight for the rest of the quarter and the Crows led by a goal at the first change. Halfway through the second term, a short stoppage in the play resulted in a debate whether the game could continue as half the field was now under a foot of water from the continuing downpour. With Cambo's earlier words in the back of their minds, the Crows soldiered on and kept it tight at half time (trailing by 1 point) despite their forward 50 now being located in a swimming pool. Forwards Jon Samueslon, Rene Gloria, Phil Brereton, and Mo Dalu did not mind however and went to work moving the ball forward through pool of mud and water.

A half time field move seemed to pay dividends for the Crows as they controlled the play in the third stanza through Cambo, Jeremiah Dawson, first gamer Robbie "Love" Descant, and Ninja. First gamers Joel Melrose, Joe Caputo, Bomber, and Sam Harris joined the game and got their first taste of footy (or mud anyway). At the last break, the Crows led by a solitary point.

The last term was when the Crows played their best footy for the day with Ninja finding space, Justin Raiti clearing the ball out of defense and ever reliable Chad Benninghoff repelling all forward thrusts from the Pies. Ninja scored another lovely long goal to give the Crows some breathing room and they were lucky enough to hold on and win by 1 point as the final whistle blew. As the rain continued to come down, the Crows gathered and belted out "The Pride of Austin, Texas" for the first time for the year.

Final Score:
Austin Crows 2 goals, 5 behinds- 17 points
Dallas Magpies- 2 goals, 4 behinds- 16 points
Goal scorers- Noor Jehangir- 2
Best players- Grant Campbell (3 votes), Noor Jehangir (2 votes), Chad Benninghoff (1 vote), Robby Descant, Jeremiah Dawson, Lalo Herrera, Samir Zughni, Justin Raiti, Ryan Minnick

Injuries- Dan Brooks- pulled hamstring
Umpires: Peter Mullarvey, Bernie Lancaster, Mark Drinnan
Attendance: 27 and 3 wet dogs at Austin United Soccer field

May 2- Austin @ Baton Rouge

The Austin Crows 2009 season kicked off with a strong but inexperienced squad of 20 players plus Assistant Coach Chi Chi Rodriguez making the trip down I-10 to Baton Rouge to play the Tigers. On a perfect day for footy at Clark Park, Baton Rouge, the Crows started a little slow kicking into the wind. The Tigers put some points on the board early before the Crows warmed into the game. In the second quarter kicking with the aid of a strong breeze the Crows got on the board and got within 15 points at half time. Alex Corones was getting plenty of the ball through the middle with his barnstorming rugby style play. Ryan Minnick was winning most of the ruck contests and toiled hard around the ground all day. Down back, Chad Benninghoff battled bravely to lead to lead the inexperienced backline. Newcomers Joseph Long,  Trey Gebhardt and Rob Almeida were getting their hands on the ball and did a great job for their first games.

After half time, veteran mid fielders Sammy Zughni, "Spewy" Davidson, Mo Dalu and Dave Enslow lifted their games and won plenty of the ball to get the Crows within a few kicks at 3 quarter time. A lovely soccer style goal by Rene Gloria and another from Lalo Herrera kept the Crows within range.

With some 3 quarter time adjustments the Crows gave themselves a good chance kicking with the wind in the last term but fell a little short going down by 19 points. Great last quarter efforts from Jeremiah Dawson who provided speed and hardness at the ball, lanky Tim Newman, and speedy Zughni up forward gave the Crows a real chance in the last term to come from behind. The Crows toughness was also apparent throughout the game with Lalo Herrera well below his best, but battling admirably on one ankle and "Hitman" Ray laying his trademark bumps everywhere despite a pulled hamstring.

Big thanks to Chi Rodriguez for doing a great job managing the interchange, Meg for running water and Chad for his after game stitch up job. Baton Rouge had a photographer at the game and all photos can be viewed and/or purchased at http://www.flickr.com/photos/marksteveg/sets/72157617520308277/

The Crows will welcome back some experienced players for their May 16 home opener versus Dallas.

Final Score:
Austin Crows- 6 goals, 5 behind- 41 points
Baton Rouge Tigers- 8 goals, 13 behinds- 60 points
Goal kickers- Simon Boyce- 4, Lalo Herrera- 1, Rene Gloria- 1.
Best players- Ryan Minnick (3 votes), Alex Corones (2 votes), Jeremiah Dawson (1 vote), Samir Zughni, Stuey Davidson, Rob Almeida, Chad Benninghoff and Tim Newman

May 16- Dallas @ Austin
June 6- @ Dallas versus Atlanta and Dallas (doubleheader)
June 20- @ Dallas versus Kansas City and Dallas (doubleheader)
August 29- Baton Rouge @ Austin

TX AFL

The TXAFL takes on a different game format than the regular Australian Football competition that the USAFL and MAAFL sanction. TXAFL games are a format that scales the game back to 9-12 players per side on the field, where games can be played on a regular soccer sized pitch.

TXAFL games are also played in these neighboring cities and the Crows travel to Dallas and Houston for similar tournaments. New players are also encouraged to join in the fun of these road trips.

For more information please signup with our yahoo group or send us an email. You can always contact our Coach Mat King or if you want to contact one of the American Players for his take on playing Aussie rule contact David Enslow .

We hope to hear from you soon!!