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Warm weather was the order of the day in this pre summer game in Atlanta. Milwaukee came to town with a lighter team in numbers than their previous visit two years ago and certainly they were missing some of their star players form their 2006 MAAFL Premiership season. The Kookas had recently got back into the winners circle with a handy win against the traveling Baton Rouge Tigers and other than a few injuries were closer to full strength than they had been at any time in 2007.
From the first bounce it was the Kooka midfield that was on top. Reid Tankersly was giving the ball to the smaller players the likes of Kewley, Mobley and LaRosa and this led to many opportuunities for the Kookas fowards. Damien Sheehan marked and kicked a long goal after an early miss and when he kicked truly again from a solid mark just three minutes later the Kookaburras were
away. In the back half coach Powers had swung a surprise with veteran Kraska at full back but he was well backed up by Curtis Jones, Ben Crist and first year player Adam Jennings.
Ross Siegel kicked a goal mid term for the Bombers but there was to be little respite for the visiting Bombers from a Kookas barrage up forward, Sheehan was marking everything and with Eric Baker moving to the forward line he goaled as did Tankersly slipping into the forward to post his first score of the day. Justin Diamond leading from full forward capped off some great work by LaRosa and the Kookaburras had 6 for the quarter and were playing very well.
The second term was a lot more even as the Milwaukee Bombers recovered from their shock of being 33 points down after only 20 minutes of football. Andy Ciganek who is now living in Alabama was helping out his old team and playing well and he posted a goal early after some strong offensive running with Patrick DeFors also kicking truly for the Bombers second goal of the quarter.
The Kookaburras after losing midfielder Kewley to injury hit back late in the term though when first game Adam Grist goaled with his first kick in Aussie Rules Football and Sheehan again marked well and kicked his fourth for the half.
At the main break it was Atlanta 8.7.55 leading Milwaukee 3.4.22 in an entertaining game.
The third term was again an even affair and in fact the visitors out scored the Kookaburras but without looking very threatening. LaRosa despite being very well gaurded at stoppages was being handful for the Bombers and Crist and Jones were creating many chances off the half back line. A goal to Gary Hill for the Bombers and one from old-timer Colin Langley kept them in the hunt but then that man Sheehan bobbed up again with two telling marks and goals. Ross Seigel was without doubt Milwaukees best player and he was rewarded with a goal after some great roving. At the last change it was Atlanta 10.8.68 to Milwaukees 6.7.43 a 25 point margin which would seem enough in the conditions.
The last term was a mirror nearly of the first. The Atlanta midfield took over again. Crist capitalized on some of his great running with a great goal on the run and Sheehan marked and goaled again. The Kookas passing between LaRosa, Kraska and Sheehan was great to see and LaRosa also helped himself to a goal after some interesting free kicks and 50m penalties seemed to be taking over the game. Last gamer maybe Greg Cave (and Exec of major sponsors Pratt ) marked and kicked truly for his 9th goal of his 18 game Kooka career and the Fat Lady was in full voice. Sheehan rounded off a BOG (Best on Ground) performance with one more mark and goal and Kraska slipped into the forward line to get in on the party with one to seal the deal.
Kookaburras big winners in the end with a 6-0 goal last quarter and a 61 point drubbing of last years MAAFL Champions. A little payback maybe from last year in Milwaukee when the Kookas went down in similar style. For the Kookas Sheehan, LaRosa, Crist & Jones were the standouts and from there a very even team performance.
Best Players
Atlanta
Sheehan, LaRosa, Crist, Jones, Tankersley
Milwaukee
R. Siegel, A Seigel, DeFors
Goalkickers
Atlanta
Sheehan 8, Baker, Crist, LaRosa, Cave, Diamond, Grist, Kraska, Tankersley 1 each
Milwaukee
R Siegel 2, DeFors, Ciganek, Hill, Langley 1 each
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