The Atlanta Kookaburras welcomed back past legends and champion players from their 20 year playing history to a great action packed game of footy and social event Saturday night. The game itself was tight all day with current players running rings around the Legends team a lot. But the ole guys were not going to go down without a fight and clawed their way back into the game in the third quarter to take the lead. In a hectic last quarter it was anyone's game but the young Kookaburras held on for a great win.
Atlanta Kookaburras 9.15.69
Atlanta Past Legends 9.11.65
Later in the evening the players, family and friends enjoyed the festivities and hearing the past stories of the greats from the past, reading over presentations lists of every game ever played by the Kookaburras, Most Games and Goals lists, watching slideshows of hundreds of photos and then listening to the announcement of the 20 Year Team of Champions. Of course there were a few surprise names in that team that was selected by club legends themselves, and a few that were unlucky to not make it. Current Kookaburras Head Coach Brent Bacon was named Captain of the team with Curtis Jones at CHB and Center Daniel Searle his Vice Captains. Wayne Kraska was named Head Coach with club founder Mike Powers an assistant coach with also fellow Life Member Jim Batten also an assistant coach.
The team that has 6 interchange players selected has 12 Australians and 12 Non-Australians per the USAFL game rules that the club initially came under when commencing to play in the late 90s. Notable players selected were goal kicking extraordinaire Chris Moerman at Full Forward with Half Forward Flank selection and former Captain & MVP David Croft they both hold the most goals in a game record of 11. At the blue ribbon Center Half Forward position Damien Sheehan was the pick, a player that was drafted from Port Adelaide to Carlton in the early 90s and as you could imagine starred for the Kookas in his shortish two year game career in Atlanta.
The Atlanta Kookaburras would like thank everyone for attending and making it such a great day and night of celebrations and many thanks to those that made it happen.
Commemorative T Shirts are now also for sale for a limited time in the Kookaburras Online Store with this link, grab one before they are all gone.
The Atlanta Kookaburras are excited to invite all past and present players, supporters and the public to their 20th Anniversary celebration events. Featuring a Legends game against the current Kookaburras team made up of past players of the 20 year history of the club, coming back to live former glories, tell some funny stories and celebrate the great history of the Atlanta Kookaburras Australian Rules Football Club.
The Legends v Kookaburras game will take place Saturday May 13th at Central Park, Pine St, Atlanta Map here
Later in the evening all players, supporters and guests will gather at The Bird Rotisserie and Sports Grill in Dunwoody Map here, where we will hear from club founder Mike Powers and enjoy the announcement of the 20 year Legends Kookaburras team and also the Legends Atlanta Lady Kookaburras Women's team. Also see club memorabilia, historic artifacts and peruse many of the past records of 20 years of Kookaburras footy in Atlanta,
2.00pm : Central Park, Atlanta. Announcement of legends players and team photos.
2.30pm : Kookas Vs 20 yr Legends team. Game will consist of 4 x 15 minute quarters. (With commentary)
7.30pm : Dinner Location: The Bird, Dunwoody $20 a head for non alcoholic drinks, beer and appetizers. Includes presentations from the game, speech by club founder Mike Powers and presentation of the 20yr Kookaburra Legends team and Lady Kookaburras Legends team.
You can RSVP to the event on FB with this link
We look forward to seeing everyone at the game and function afterwards to celebrate with us.
The Atlanta Kookaburras 2017 season games, all events commence at 2.00pm unless otherwise noted.
Results updated for all games are here
April 8th - @ Nashville - Tourney with Nashville and Columbus
April 22nd – NC Tigers @ Atlanta
May 13th – LEGENDS v KOOKAS
May 20th - Baton Rouge Tigers @ Atlanta
June 3rd - @ Nashville – Tourney with Nashville and Tampa
August 12th - Nashville @ Atlanta (Grant Park, 537 Park Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312 Map here ) Note: Game time 12.00pm
August 26th - @ NC Tigers
Sept 23rd - @ Baton Rouge Tigers - Tailgate with LSU vs Syracuse
Oct 21st - 22nd National Championships in San Diego California
On Friday the Atlanta Kookaburras celebrated the 2016 season with their annual MVP Mike Powers Medal vote count and Annual General Meeting. Mark Cannatelli after a stellar 2016 took out the Mike Powers medal in front of a packed but well controlled crowd.
Cannatelli traded the lead throughout the announcement of each games voting with good mate Brett Hester. Hester who has come along in amazing leaps and bounds in 2016 also had a fantastic year just fell short this year but we are sure if he continues to improve his medal is not far away.
In the end it was Cannatelli's consistency across all games, missing just one for the year, to grab votes and he rounded out with a terrific finals series at the Sarasota USAFL National Championships to thoroughly deserve the MVP award.
In third place was last year winner Paul Balding also best mates with Cannatelli and Hester meaning the 'GA Tech Boys' made a clean sweep of all the voting awards. Balding also won 'Best at Nationals' this year, for the second time running. Fourth place in the MVP was a tie with newcomer Mike Peek and Braden Medders who also has another great year and impressive final series.
Also note worth was Sam Ridenhour who was awarded Best Clubman and the Coaches Award from 2016 Head Coach Brent Bacon. Ridenhour's commitment to the club, to training, functions and his teammates didn't go unnoticed obviously. He also made some signifcant contributions on the field as well. (He also picked up the new Skoal Award for admirable pregame enriched warm-ups).
A new Board of Management was also voted in bringing many new people to important club administration roles. But more about that later. Right now congratulate Mark Cannatelli and all the award recipients for a great 2016 Kookaburras season.
MVP Voting - Leading Votes
Mark Cannatelli 70
Brett Hester 63
Paul Balding 28
Braden Medders 26
Mike Peek 26
(photo L-R: Sam Ridenhour, Brett Hester, Mark Cannatelli MVP, Paul Balding)
