Tickets are now available online for the New York Magpies annual AFL Grand Final Party on September 30 at the Galway Hooker. This is the best place in New York to see the game with hundreds of other fans right in the center of Manhattan. Get your tickets before they run out!
The Village Bohemians have capped a stunning 2011 NYCAFL season by taking out the premiership in a closely fought contest with the Suburban Tollmen (Trash) at Pier 40 in Manhattan. Also on the night the Times Square Tourists won the battle for third place and the first pick in the 2012 NYCAFL draft by defeating the Hudson River Rats and the Blue team beat the Red team in the final Recfooty game for 2011.
It was a hot and sunny start to the evening as the Times Square Tourists and the Hudson River Rats stepped out on the field for the third place playoff. The River Rats had the benefit of most of their squad being available while the Tourists needed to recruit a few ring-ins to fill out their team. Despite the heat the intensity of the game was high with the River Rats jumping out of the blocks early thanks to the strong work of midfielders Buxton, Rush, Loader and Ormsby. The River Rats were continually pressing forward to their target Bowen with only the strong defensive work of Tourist Ryan preventing a barrage of goals. Both teams worked hard throughout the half but the River Rats had the ascendancy at half time leading 4.1 25 to 2.0 12.
After the break the Tourists came out the stronger with Lin finding space and capping off his own good work with a couple of goals. Mitchell and Miller got busy and worked off the effective tap work of Smiley to put through goal after goal. The River Rats managed to pull back a couple of goals but the damage had already been done with the Tourists running out 17 point winners, 10.0 60 to 7.1 43. The win was the Tourists first for the season and secured them the first pick in the 2012 NYCAFL draft as well as some revenge for their close loss to the River Rats in the 2010 NYCAFL final.
The fourth Recfooty game saw a great turn-out from the Lady Pies resulting in a reduction in the number of male participants compared to the previous games. The first half was a relatively even contest with the Blue team jumping out to an early lead via a goal from Cartier before Staropoli pulled one back for the Red team. Another goal saw the Blue team take a 9 point lead into the break. The start of the second half was a back and forward contest with neither team able to score for the first five minutes as midfielders Licata, Barlaz, Donner and Gallogly and both teams defense saw plenty of the ball. Ultimately the Blue team scored first via McHale to take a 2 goal lead and although the teams traded goals from that point on the established lead was too much for the Red team to pull back. The final game was played in the same excellent spirit of the rest of the series and continued to introduce new Lady Pies to the great game of Australian Rules football.
The main game of the evening pitted the undefeated Boho’s against the Trash for the 2011 NYCAFL premiership. The game represented quite a turnaround for both teams who played each other in the third place playoff in 2010. With healthy squads to choose from both teams opted to tag key players from the outset with the Boho’s Kerr going to Smith and the Trash’s Walsh manning up on McIntyre. The first five minutes of the game was contested at a frenetic pace with both teams giving their one out forwards a few opportunities. The Trash broke the deadlock first via Spielman before the Boho’s hit back via Schultz. The remainder of the half saw the Boho’s with the greater number of opportunities but inaccurate kicking meant that the difference at halftime was only a couple of goals.
Both teams came out fired up in the second half with man on man footy the name of the game and several heavy contests drawing Ooh’s and Aah’s from the tens of spectators at Pier 40. Wayward kicking continued to impact the Boho’s while the Trash were generally making the most of their foray’s forward. Goals were at a premium and the Trash trailed by a straight kick and change going into the final 5 minutes of the game. A goal to Boho ruckman Buckingham gave his team some breathing space before Smith soccered one through for the Trash and maintained the goal margin. Ultimately the Boho’s managed to lock the ball up in the centre and the whistle blew to signal the end of the contest and the Boho victory, 6.1 37 to 5.0 30.
The win to the Boho’s sealed their undefeated season and rise from cellar dwellers to premiers. Illustrating the integrity of the draft, the 2011 ladder was a complete opposite of the 2010 season despite a highly competitive series of games. The Boho’s toasted their victory at Magpies club sponsor the Australian Bar & Restaurant with a significant portion of the crowd kicking on to enjoy the mighty Collingwood Magpies come from behind victory over their arch nemesis the Essendon Bombers. Thanks to all involved in the 2011 NYCAFL season especially umpires Arne Pulle, Michael Payne and Rhys Ryan and the captains of the 4 teams. The NYCAFL will return bigger and better as part of the New York Magpies 2012 season!
The Village Bohemians and the Suburban Tollmen will face off in the 2011 NYCAFL grand final following wins over the Hudson River Rats and Times Square Tourists respectively in Round 3. The final represents a complete turnaround from 2010 when the 2 teams faced off in the 3rd place playoff. In the nights Recfooty game the red team proved too strong, kicking away with a barrage of goals.
The Boho’s had basically a full team to select from in the match against the River Rats who were missing several stalwart players including captain Ben Squires and inspirational midfielder Glenn Ormsby. However the Rats conducted some last minute recruiting and were boosted by the inclusion of first game players Matt Astill and Adam Simson. The start of the game was frenetic with neither team really being able to develop much momentum until the Boho’s applied immense pressure and managed to convert via the debuting Richard Franulovich. That goal opened the flood gates and both teams scored regularly for the remainder of the quarter before the Boho’s took a 3 goal lead into half time, 7.1 43 to 4.0 24.
The River Rats made a couple of strategic changes at the start of the second half with Andy Bowen moving into the midfield, immediately showing his class with the first two goals of the term to bring the margin back to a solitary major. The rest of the half was a see-sawing affair with the two teams trading goals until Jordan McIntyre put through two in a row to give the Boho’s some breathing room. The Boho’s then showed why they have travelled through the regular NYCAFL season undefeated to hold of the River Rats and record victory number 3, 12.1 73 to 9.0 54.
The Recfooty game for the week saw a couple of new players joining the experience and marking themselves as future Lady Pie guns. The game was high scoring with noticeable improvement in skills since the first game was played in the middle of June. Ultimately the Red team had too much firepower up front with Monica Robbins, Lina Staropoli and the debuting Sarah McMahon each piling on multiple majors.
The final regular season game of the NYCAFL for 2011 saw the Trash needing to win in order to guarantee a berth in the grand final and the Tourists still a technical chance of making the decider if they could rack up a big win. The Tourists came out with the intention of overcoming the odds scoring the first goal only seconds into the game via the strong tap work of Brett Smiley and the finishing ability of captain Andy Brennan. Stunned by the early advantage the Trash worked into the game with David ‘Digger’ Kyle and Todd Smith combining for several goals to give the Trash the lead. With Brennan being well held by Brian Caine, temporary Tourist recruit Scott McMaster set up as main rover and got the ball down to stay at home full forward Sam Mitchell on multiple occasions who, (aided by some excellent reads of the bounce) kept the Tourists in the contest. At half time the Trash led by 11, 8.0 48 to 6.1 37.
At the start of the second half the Tourists moved Mitchell into the middle where he was quickly picked up by Trash captain Juice Desai while Smith and Brennan established a head to head battle. Relieved of his tagging role, Caine popped up everywhere, delivering the ball with precision to full forward Kyle and kicking an over the head goal of his own to put the Trash in control of the game. Not to be outdone the Tourist scored late goals through McMaster and Cam Sinclair (in similar style to Caine’s earlier goal) to maintain a respectable scoreline. Ultimately the Trash came away with the chocolates, 18.2 110 to 9.2 56.
With the regular season over Saturday July 30th will see the Trash and the Boho’s fight it out for the 2011 NYCAFL premiership under lights at Pier 40 in Manhattan (west end of Houston St). In the teams earlier meeting for the year the margin was just 2 points so the game promises to be intriguing. Also that night the River Rats and the Tourists will clash for pride and the number 1 draft pick in the 2012 NYCAFL draft and the final Recfooty game for the season will be held. Games kick off at 7pm with supporters, family and friends encouraged to come down to the NY Magpies only games in Manhattan for 2011. Players and supporters are welcome to bring food and drinks (no alcohol is permitted) to what promises to be a fun evening. The after match function will be held at club sponsor, the Australian Bar and Restaurant in Midtown and will include the presentation of the NYCAFL trophy to the winning team and the playing of the Collingwood v Essendon blockbuster on the big screens.
The New York Magpies travelled to North Carolina looking to continue their winning form, however the team’s travel plans were thrown into disarray by a lightening storm leaving NYC. With half the team arriving in North Carolina only hours before the game, a few key players unable to make the trip and the blistering heat of the south, the Magpies experienced a less than ideal preparation.
However, all that was forgotten as the umpire bounced the ball and it was game on. New York pulled a few surprises early starting Mitchell at Full Forward. It paid immediate dividends though as he kicked the opening 2 goals of the match. New York kicked another through Blandford and opened up a handy lead. However, North Carolina stormed back into the game winning the centre clearances and kicking the next 3 goals. Keating then marked strongly and goaled from long range to see NY lead by that goal at quarter time.
The second quarter was a tough contest. Both teams fought hard to gain ascendancy in the clearances. Mantzaris started to work his way into the game allowing Buxton, Taylor and Lin to all accumulate plenty of the ball. Mitchell was lost to injury, however Brennan lifted his work rate and the NY forwards got on top. McMaster and Norman controlled the backline, allowing first gamer Pezanko and Kyle to gather plenty of the ball and goals to Brennan, Blandford, Keating and Buxton saw NY take a 6 goal lead into half time, whilst not conceding a goal in the quarter.
After the halftime break McCormick was moved to a wing, Vanasek was pushed forward and with Buckingham, Loader and Kerr all making an impact on the contest the ball was kept in the Magpies attacking half of the ground. Donner continued to be a presence in the goal square and Walkington added a touch of class to the forward line with his quick hands and football nous. When the North Carolina crowd favorite, Ben Squires, marked and kicked truly the Magpies opened up a comfortable 8 goal lead at the last change.
The fourth quarter saw the Magpies continue to play well as a team, however Spataro, having one of his best games for the club, unfortunately went down with a serious knee injury. The Magpies rallied and were able to cover his loss through Norman and Baskett, while Nick Walker relished his time across the half forward line, kicking a tremendous solo goal and perhaps a contender for the goal of the year.
In the end the Magpies had too much class and won by 56 points taking their season standings to 6 wins and 1 loss.
After the match Assistant Coach Adam Overell said “North Carolina are a tough opponent and we knew coming down here we’d have to play at or near our best to get the result. I was pleased with the way the boys stuck to the game plan and played team football. We didn’t have any standouts today, which was illustrated with our even spread of goal kickers, just a good, solid team effort. I was also wrapped with the performances of Pezanko, who played his first game of AFL ever, and Vanasek, who was coming off 2 years out with a knee reconstruction.
NY Magpies 14.5.89 def North Carolina Tigers 5.3.33
NY Best: Kyle, Keating, Brennan, Buxton, Lin
NY Goals: Blandford 3, Brennan 3, Keating 2, Mitchell 2, Walker, Buxton, Lin, Squires
