Records fell left, right and center as Midtown went on a goal kicking frenzy on Saturday morning quickly dispelling any doubts their AARFL dominance was anywhere near in jeopardy this year. Led by the return of Brent Bacon up forward who helped himself to 11 goals, Midtown vacuumed up the newly formed Clairmont Loungers and hung them out to dry. The Bombers kicking a massive 37 goals for the game including a record 12 in the last quarter.

The AARFL games take a weeks break and return on Saturday March 8th where Roswell and Clairmont will battle it out to get off the bottom of the table and post their first win.

Clairmont Loungers           1.6     5.8     10.11    11.13   (79)
Midtown Bombers              9.6  16.13    25.14    37.21 (243)

Reports, stats and more details to follow in days.

The Midtown Bombers drew first blood in the Spring 2008 AARFL with a solid win over the Roswell Rebels on Saturday. With the return of two great Kooka players in Brent Bacon and Paul Cargal, the reigning Premiers were too consistent all over the ground for the inexperienced Roswell team. Played in perfect conditions for footy the game started at a frenetic pace with both teams slamming on goals through the first 20 minute quarter. It was the Bombers however that were able to maintain that pace for most of the game and go straight to the top of the spring table.

Midtown Bombers               6.4  13.11  17.15   26.18 (174)
Roswell Rebels                   5.4      6.8     9.11  14.11   (95)

Match report can be read here.

The  AARFL kicks off this week with some changes to the previous few seasons. The league has been reduced to three teams to bring more current players onto each roster for increased on-field participation. This week sees the Midtown Bombers take on the Roswell Rebels both teams unchanged pretty much from last year. Next week however sees the emergence of a new team called the Clairmont Lounges, a union of former Druid Hills and Decatur teams.

Games remain at Dekalb Memorial Park on Wilkinson Rd East Atlanta, just a few minutes from downtown. New players are very welcome to come this week and sign up for one of the three teams and even play.  

Games commence at 10.30am and are played over 4 x 20 minute quarters this season. 

Sometimes people in this game make huge commitments to just play the game week in week out. Winner of the Fall 2007 League MVP did just that traveling every weekend from north Tennessee to Atlanta to play local league footy in Atlanta. Warren Ballagh played all six games for the Decatur Devils and although the Devils fell one win short of winning the Premiership there was no doubt their success this past season had a lot to do with Warren Ballagh. Warren also led the goalkicking total with 33 goals, many of those were booming 50-60 yarders. A great sight to see.

Runners Up in the MVP was a tie between another Decatur player in Wayne Kraska and Midtown Bomber Curtis Jones. Both those players also have had great seasons.

See all the votes, read more... 

The Midtown Bombers and Roswell Rebels recorded great wins on Saturday to finish off the Atlanta Australian Rules Football League on a great note. The Bombers were all smiles after wrestling the trophy from Decatur on the last day with a solid win. Coach and team leader Jim Batten was quite pleased and applauded his team for their commitment. The Premiership trophy was presented by Atlanta Kookaburras President Wayne Kraska to Adam Jennings of the Bombers.

The Roswell Rebels also celebrated quietly with a nice end to the season. With an influx of a bunch of new players over the last 4 or so weeks they have been just as much the talk of the competition. All goes well for the Spring comp for them as plans start for the increase of teams sizes and the securing of a new venue to play larger games, but still close to Atlanta.

Team Awards will be handed out this Friday night at the Atlanta Kookaburras MVP vote count night. Hope to see you there.

Match reports are here for this week.