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The Lady Kookaburras were looking for their third successive National Championship title in Louisville Kentucky in 2007. A squad of 14 players lead by Judith Stein as Captain and Dewi Mitchell as Vice-Captain made the trip. In all there were 7 new players from the previous year with Kim Wilkins a 2005 member of the winning team making a late return to the team. The team also welcomed its first Aussies in Sue Marsh, Betty Pat and Diana Pizzari all who were to make a valuable contribution during the weekend. The team left behind Christina Murdock and Stephanie Powell who had played all year but did not make it due to personal reasons. The Lady Kookaburras faced three teams this year with 4 games guaranteed if they made the final. Being undefeated till this weekend that didnt seem too much of a task maybe. The games were also played with 14 aside except for when playing Milwaukee who wanted to play 12s. The field measured 150yds x 100yds also a first for the competition at Nationals. Game 1 Atlanta Lady Kookaburras v Milwaukee Lady Bombers The weather was perfect for footy, a slight breeze drifted across the field which was a little up and down in places and somewhat hard underfoot. It was certainly going to test the skills and fitness of all players. With Katie Grist into the ruck it was the Kookaburras who took control early. After an early snap by Judith Stein went astray it was 'welcome back' Jenny Sarbacker. Sarbacker coming off a 2 month lay off with a shoulder injury gathered a loose ball across half forward and after a dodge and weave kicked the first goal of the tournament. But this was only the start of the Sarbacker show. Milwaukee were barely getting the ball into the backline in the first half and if they did Kris 'Skubi' Kubicek sent it back quick smart. Along with Nikki Peoples there were little chances given to the Milwaukee team. In the center Sarbacker and co were have a good time of it. Diana Pizzari chipped in for her first goal of the day and with Cathy Reinhardt running hard things were looking up for the Kookas early. The quarter ended with 'Sarbs' showing what sort of weekend teams were install for with two more great goals. At the half time break it was Atlanta 4.5.29 to Milwaukee 0.0.0 In second half to Milwaukees credit they fought back. A lot of the time they were very competitive around the ball but their kicking skills let them down. The Kookas however were confident in sharing the ball around with handball and with Kim Wilkins coming off the interchange and scoring a goal early in the quarter the Lady Kookas were brimming with confidence. Betty Pat added a goal to the score as well before Kim Wilkins and Judith Stein added one more each for the Lady Kookas, The Lady Kookaburras were showing a touch of class already with solid performances all over the ground. Dewi Mitchell at Center Half Forward was a great avenue for the onballers to go through and Ashley Harmon finally got the chance to show her stuff changing into the ruck position later in the game. At the final siren err, "hooter", it was the Lady Kookaburras winners by 42 points. A solid team performance all over the ground and a great start to the weekend. Atlanta Lady Kookaburras 4.5 8.7 (55)
Milwaukee Lady Bombers 0.0 2.1 (13) Best Players: Jenny Sarbacker, Diana Pizzari, Kim Wilkins, Judith Stein, Dewi Mitchell Goalkickers: Jenny Sarbacker 3, Kim Wilkins 2, Judith Stein, Betty Pat & Diana Pizzari 1 each. Back: K.Kubicek
Half backs: A.Harmon N.Peoples A.Collins
Centers: D.Pizzari
Half forwards: B.Pat D.Mitchell, S.Marsh
Forward: J.Stein
Ruck/Rovers: K.Grist J.Sarbacker C.Reinhardt
Interchange: K.Wilkins M.Brown Game 2 Atlanta Lady Kookaburras v Arizona Lady Hawks The second game of the day was to be very interesting. Arizona had also won their morning game quite easily so were ready to take a crack at the undefeated Lady Kookaburras. Sporting 4 very good players from the USA Freedom team it was sure to be a tough encounter, perhaps the toughest team to beat the Lady Kookaburras had encountered in their short history. Well that summation wasnt too far off the mark. Through the center Arizona took it right up to the Lady Kookas for aggression and endeavor. It was perhaps after that area was cleared the Kookaburras were able to get on top early. Judith Stein after several minutes put the Kookas on the scoreboard with a nice mark and goal but opportunities were tough to come by for the leading goalkicker through the first half. At half back Kubicek, Peoples & Mitchell were too strong for the Arizona forwards meaning they had little chances to score but the game was not pretty to watch however as some basic fundamental errors crept into the Kookaburras game. Diana Pizzari was having a good game again however in the center and her reading of Katie Grist in the ruck you could see was improving. Sarbacker added a goal just before half time and the lead was stretched to 16 points with the Kookas holding any Arizona attack at bay. Atlanta 2.4.16 to Arizona 0.0.0 The second half was a carbon copy of the first however the Kookas again struggled to play the team football they had produced in the past. To Arizona's credit they threw everything they had into the game but lacked the true polish to finish things off. They were rewarded in some way with a goal midway through the term. For the Kookas it was the backline that took the brunt of the attacks and stood firm. Nikki Peoples and Kris Kubicek again doing more than their fare share of work. At the final siren it was a win to the Lady Kookaburras but not a moral boosting performance. For the first time maybe in a long time they had been outscored in a 20 minute period of footy and had scraped over the line. Showing 10 scoring shots to 1 perhaps indicates they had plenty more of the ball but didnt execute some of the finer points of the game that allow more forward moves to be converted into goals. Atlanta Lady Kookaburras 2.4 2.8 (20)
Arizona Lady Hawks 0.0 1.0 (6) Best Players: Nikki Peoples, Diana Pizzari, Dewi Mitchell, Katie Grist, Kris Kubicek, Betty Pat Goalkickers: Judith Stein & Jenny Sarbacker 1 goal each. Back: A.Harmon
Half backs: K.Kubicek N.Peoples D.Mitchell
Centers: A.Collins D.Pizzari B.Pat
Half forwards: S.Marsh K.Wilkins
Forwards: J.Stein M.Brown
Ruck/Rovers: K.Grist J.Sarbacker C.Reinhardt Game 3 Atlanta Lady Kookaburras v Balt/Washington-Calgary Sunday morning and it was an early 9.00am game for the Lady Kookas. No sleep-inns were available as team Captain Judith Stein had all players at breakfast at 6.30am. The Kooka opponents were to be a combine team from Balt/Washington-Calgary who had failed to win a game Saturday but just the same were not to be taken lightly. As each squad team had bought 9-10 players each they were to be commended for making the trip especially the Calgary team as their airfares were heard to be huge. Coach Wayne Kraska decided to switch up his team a little to give a few players some extra work and few others a lighter load hoping to keep them fresh for a bigger game later in the day. From the first bounce it was clear Katie Grist was going to be on top all game. Her tapping and palming to her smaller players had really developed over the weekend and seeing that Grist is in her rookie year it augurs well for the future of the Lady Kookaburras. With Ashley Harmon helping out who is only a couple of inches shy of Grist's 6'2" its easy to see the team could be built around these two players moving forward. Coach Kraska gave Sarbacker a well earned rest into the backline and moved Stein into the middle to help Pizzari and Reinhardt. Dewi Mitchell took the full forward position but it was another forward that was to steal the limelight today. After Stein followed up some great play from Meghan Brown and Kim Wilkins to kick the first goal it was Sue Marsh who bobbed up for a timely mark and goal. Marsh also coming off a shoulder injury from a game in June was like a little terrier around the forward line gathering possessions. Stein and Pizzari enjoyed the freedom their opponents were giving them to add to the Kookas tally before Marsh again marked 40 yards from goal and completed the play of the day. Noticing her opponent wasnt paying attention at all Marsh took off and slammed the ball through the goals. The fist pumping to follow was a delight to see and something that wasnt to be a rare occasion we later found out. At the half time break the Lady Kookas had taken the game by the scruff of the neck leading 5.4.34 to 0.0,0 With some further moves happening around the ground the Lady Kookas put behind them their disappointing game yesterday and played like the undefeated champions they were. Goals to Stein and then a lovely long goal to Mitchell from a mark put the Kookas further onto the front foot. It was Sue Marsh again darting in again to finsih off a blinder of a game with two more goals , with Mitchell and Reinhardt joining the party later in the term. There was fist pumping all over the place.! It was catching on Swampee.! The Kookas were again able to keep an opponent scoreless, a habit which the coaching staff must be only too happy to keep. Peoples and Sarbacker were the rocks in the backline and this allowed Ann Collins to come forward and join in the fun. A 6 goal term to the Lady Kookas was exactly the attacking footy they needed going into the final later in the day. A great team game. Atlanta Lady Kookaburras 5.4 11.6 (72)
Baltimore-Washington/Calgary 0.0 0.0 (0) Best Players: Sue Marsh, Nikki Peoples, Judith Stein, Cathy Reinhardt, Jenny Sarbacker Goalkickers: Sue Marsh 4, Judith Stein 3, Dewi Mitchell 2, Diana Pizzari & Cathy Reinhardt 1 each. Back: A.Collins
Half backs: A.Harmon N.Peoples J.Sarbacker
Centers: K.Wilkins D.Pizzari B.Pat
Half forwards: S.Marsh K.Kubicek M.Brown
Forward: D.Mitchell
Ruck/Rovers: K.Grist J.Stein C.Reinhardt Game 4 - Grand Final Atlanta Lady Kookaburras v Arizona Lady Hawks The Grand Final loomed quickly in the early afternoon and it was perhaps fitting that the Arizona Hawks were to be the Lady Kookas opponents. They had certainly showed on Saturday they were a strong team and had accounted for Milwaukee Sunday morning by about 12 points to reach the final. So the stage was set, perfect conditions again, the Atlanta Lady Kookaburras undefeated into their third year and the Arizona Lady Hawks who with improved fitness were certainly no easy mark. The game started at a frenetic pace with both teams showing lots of run. The ball moving from the half forward line to opposing half forward line quickly. Katie Grist again was showing the way in the ruck, her ability to get the ball to Reinhardt and Pizzari a huge advantage for the Lady Kookas. It was Sarbacker that again stepped up kicking the first goal of the game with plenty of support from Kim Wilkins who was a live wire around any loose ball. Sue Marsh was able to add to her tally of goals mid way through the first term and looked like the Kookaburras were starting to assert their authority again. Cathy Reinhardt could only be described as sensational, her consistent ball gathering and kicking on both sides of her body far exceeded the capabilities of her opponents. The Kookas certainly had the right mix around all contests when it counted with Betty Pat and Meghan Brown doing well. Again in the backline Peoples, Kubicek, Harmon & Collins ensured nothing got through and teamed well to repel many attacks. Arizona tried hard but perhaps they had run their race. Kim Wilkins kicked a handy goal towards the end of the term and signs were good for the defending champions. At the half time break it was Atlanta Lady Kookaburras 3.1.19 to Arizona Lady Hawks 0.0.0 If Grist, Sarbacker and Reinhardt had played well in the first half well they blitzed after the break. Reinhardt ran rampant around the packs picking up kicks with her fellow onballers giving the forwards ample opportunities to seal the game. Diana Pizzari on the end of some great handballs kicked truly early for a goal then Meghan Brown got her boot to one and a much deserved goal. The Arizona team had no answers. Pizzari had shut out one of their best players and was playing well herself, Kim Wilkins was just a ball of energy at every contest, the whole team did their part. It was Judith Stein that put the final touches to the victory picture with two goals later in the half to put the Atlanta Lady Kookaburras further entrenched into the pages of history with their third National Championship victory in as many years. Undefeated in three years pays testament that they have set the bar high at every opportunity. And to paraphrase a great racecaller in Australia "its the Lady Kookaburras first and daylight second". The Lady Kookaburras win the USAFL National title 7.7.49 to Arizona Lady Hawks 0.0.0 Atlanta Lady Kookaburras 3.1 7.7 (49)
Arizona Lady Hawks 0.0 0.0 (0) Best Players: Cathy Reinhardt, Jenny Sarbacker, Judith Stein, Diana Pizzari, Kim Wilkins, Dewi Mitchell, Judith Stein, Meghan Brown (The whole team was fantastic said the coach Wayne Kraska) Goalkickers: Judith Stein 2, Jenny Sarbacker, Kim Wilkins, Meghan Brown, Sue Marsh, Diana Pizzari all 1 goal each. Back: A.Collins
Half backs: A.Harmon N.Peoples K.Kubicek
Centers: B.Pat D.Pizzari K.Wilkins
Half forwards: S.Marsh D.Mitchell M.Brown
Forward: J.Stein
Ruck/Rovers: K.Grist J.Sarbacker C.Reinhardt At the presentations made by Essendon legend Kevin Sheedy and Carlton great Stephen Silvagni, Jenny Sarbacker was awarded Best & Fairest player (equal) for the tournament and Cathy Reinhardt was awarded MVP in the Grand Final. Judith Stein accepted the Premiership Trophy as Captain.
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