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| Jackaroos Ride a New Frontier |
Jackaroos Ride a New Frontier
By Scott Matheson
August 21, 2008
Columbus, OH – Footy in 85 degree humid weather seemed as foreign to this Aussie as
driving on the opposite side of the road, but after years of false starts it appeared as if this
Columbus Football Club was off and rolling this July. A short training session later and it
was obvious to me that these blokes were the real deal. There was a sense of Aussie spirit
along with a hefty dose of American skill and athleticism that was apparent when the
Jackaroos went through their strides on the training ground. There were key components
to a successful footy club: solid leadership, oodles of raw ability, a local watering hole
and, most importantly, a nucleus of key players bonded by Jackaroo camaraderie.
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Columbus, OH – Footy in 85 degree humid weather seemed as foreign to this Aussie as
driving on the opposite side of the road, but after years of false starts it appeared as if this
Columbus Football Club was off and rolling this July. A short training session later and it
was obvious to me that these blokes were the real deal. There was a sense of Aussie spirit
along with a hefty dose of American skill and athleticism that was apparent when the
Jackaroos went through their strides on the training ground. There were key components
to a successful footy club: solid leadership, oodles of raw ability, a local watering hole
and, most importantly, a nucleus of key players bonded by Jackaroo camaraderie.
Player nicknames such as ‘Jackhammer’, ‘Bama’, ‘the Chosen One’, ‘Duke’ and
‘Sheepdog’ are quickly becoming replacement titles for core players on the Columbus
Jackaroos. Rookies one week, quickly transform to veterans the next, as foot and hand
skills rapidly improve for many first-timers. Training drills such as ‘three-man weave’
and ‘ultimate footy’ have become second nature as former Rugby, Soccer and American
Football stars are molded into fair dinkum ‘Footy Players’.
The Jackaroos leadership group includes three Americans with prior footy experience.
Coach Matt ‘the General’ Reiss is an 8 year veteran of the sport with strong knowledge
of the game. The General rallies the troops through sophisticated training exercises
designed to simulate game situations. Evan ‘Cagey Vet’ Gardner also brings previous
experience from a future Jackaroo foe in the MAAFL (Mid-American League), the
Nashville Kangaroos. But the ripe 2nd year player and former Cincinnati Docker, Chet
‘Karaoke Superstar’ Ridenour, has to be considered the engine driving the Columbus
Jackaroo machine. Using enthusiasm and flair on the recruiting trail, Chet has been a
perfect fit as the club’s first president.
An exciting future awaits current and future Jackaroo players, with the potential for this
club through the ceiling. Columbus is right in the heart of the Mid-American AFL
country; a major league in terms of American Footy. Next season, not only will the
Jackaroos become a regular league fixture but they figure to feature prominently at the
US Footy Nationals to be held in Mason, OH (NE Cincinnati). While the ‘Jacks’ look
forward to their double-header trip to Chicago on August
23rd, the club’s first home game looms large. A re-match for
the Buckeye state bragging rights on September 13th against
Ohio Valley (Cincinnati & Louisville) is sure to be a
blockbuster. So come on down, say ‘G’day’ and throw your
support behind the Jackaroos, Columbus’ newest and fastest
growing sports team.
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Posted on Aug 31, 2008 04:01am by admin
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