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Warm weather again was on hand as the Kookaburras looked to get their season back on track against the visiting MAAFL favorites Chicago United. The Kookas without a win in the MAAFL competition yet in 2006 were expected to have their hands full with the Chicago outfit who had earlier in the year slated as being possible MAAFL Championship material in 2006. Into the side for the Kookas came three new players in Damien Sheehan, Strahinja Bobusic & Brent Jordan. Chicago had traveled poorly and only had enough to make it a legal MAAFL game with just 14 players making the trip. The first quarter and already everyone could tell the first gamers were going to have an impact on the game. Sheehan a strong grab and deceptively quick and Bobusic's silky skills set up many opportunities for the home team as things were looking good. It was local Frost kicking a great goal to start things off then former Captain-Coach Bacon playing only his second game of the season started his tally with a great goal. Chicago already had no answer as the Kookaburras peppered the big sticks with shots at goal. Sheehan getting on the board with some handy evasive skills then taking a strong mark for another. Bobusic chipped in to open his account for his new team and the Atlanta team were alight. Through the middle Tankersly was giving the Atlanta smalls in Crist, Collins and Kewley plenty of the ball as well as Glenn and Buharj who were doing well early. It was already evident it was going to be be a big day for the Kookaburras. At quarter time it was Atlanta 5.2.32 to Chicago 1.2.8 The second term and the Kookas started off on fire again. Buharj was quick to goal then Frost got his second. Chicago had no answers around the ground for the run and endeavor of the home team, something that had been missing all year for the Kookas. Burgmann and Drake seemed to be the only Chicago players making any head way. Burgman being marked by Atlanta's Curtis Jones was having go a long way up the ground from CHF in the first term to get kicks but was able to settle closer to home and out lead and mark Jones on several occasions. The Chicago team also look for him with their passes well and Burgman alone kept the Chicago team in the game with three very handy goals in a matter of 8 minutes mid term. He also missed two others that were 'getable'. At half time the Kookas with further late goals to Mobley & Bacon had moved further away Atlanta 9.2.58 to Chicago 4.8.32. Atlanta having one less scoring shot but were 26 point leaders. The third quarter for Chicago had to be make or break, they had to stem the the flow of easy goals coming the way of Atlanta and then also kick more accurately themselves up forward. With no interchange players to call on this was always going to be a big task as the Kookas brought on fresh players, a big advantage in the conditions. For Chicago it was not to be, the floodgates opened early for Atlanta with Bacon kicking a great goal then Sheehan breezed through two more. With Bacon, Sheehan & the likes of Diamond, Van Putten and Mobley floating around up forward it has been a long time since the Kookaburras have been able to afford such firepower forward of the center. Diamond added to the party with a goal for himself, then two for Mobley and one for Lance Van Putten the game was now out of reach for Chicago. Never the less they kept trying a good goal to Morgan gave them some pleasure in a bleak quarter of footy for the visitors. Three quarter time and the Fat Lady was not warming the vocal cords, she had headed to Turner Field to let the Braves know they are also gone! Atlanta 16.6.102 to Chicago 5.8.38. A seven goal quarter for Atlanta. It would have been easy for the Kookas to take the foot off the gas and let it ride but such is this MAAFL competition clubs want to drive as much home as they can. And the Kookaburras were for once in a MAAFL game and were having a good time of it. Burgman for Chicago kicked another from three tries though and had the pleasure of Sheehan moving on to him even though Jones had done a commendable job. Live wire and possibly the first Alabama resident ever to play Aussie Rules Brian Flaherty was having a good game along with Frost who also went back in the last term. Goals early to Bobusic and Van Putten their second each added to the celebrations for the home team. Still through the center it was the likes of Collins, Buharj and Crist that kept the forwards going with plenty of opportunities. The last call was Bacon kicking his fourth and Bobusic his third as the Kookas finished off the game as they started with accurate kicking and plenty of teamwork. Atlanta 20.11.131 defeating Chicago 8.11.59. A 72 point win to Atlanta. Chicago?, well much dissapointment for them especially only bringing 14 players. One can only summise that there will be some finger pointing in the windy city this week and time will tell if they can regroup. Their hopes of capturing the MAAFL title now certainly shelved for another year. A classy win by the Atlanta Kookaburras with every player making a solid contribution to the win and plenty of signs their season might be back on track. With players the likes of Ellis, Heffernan, Eckman, Beh and Gambaro to possibly come back into the team for future games the season looks much brighter for the Kookas. If they can get everyone out on the park together. This as always is the telling question for Aussie Footy teams here in the states, travel in numbers, win good games of footy. Simple as that. Atlanta 5.2 9.2 16.6 20.11.131 Chicago 1.2 4.8 5.8 8.11.59 Best Players: ATL: Jones, Buharj, Kewley, Collins, Mobley, Sheehan, Bacon CHI: D.Morgan, Burgmann, Ambrosino, Wu, Hanssens Goalkickers: ATL: Bacon 4, Sheehan 4, Bobusic 3, Mobley 3, Frost 2, Van Putten 2, Buharj & Diamond 1 each CHI: Burgman 4, Morgan 3, Drake 1
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