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Last Saturday's opening to the 2009 AARFL season started and ended with a bang. With 25 eager players lining up for the opening siren, AARFL organizer and umpire Jim Batten didn't have time to finish his welcoming statements as the players were wanting to get on with it.

The two new teams - the Buckhead Bushrangers and the Downtown Dingoes - fielded evenly matched teams following last week's draft of players. The captains - Nick Miklowski and Carl Garofalo - both have a good mix of experience, youth and raw talent on their respective teams.

Played in slippery conditions because of the rain, players had trouble adapting to the conditions and the resulting play was sloppy. Soon though, experienced players Brent Bacon and Ed Robinson got the Dingoes on the board with excellent goals and, in reply, Dave Evans countered with one of his own. Dave's kicking has vastly improved over the winter break and it will compliment his strong rucking skills to make him a formidable player. Mike Powers, returning from his daily travel regime, came on to provide good defense for the Dingoes. Mike is always there for the club and team and even though he's travelling all the time, he makes the effort to get back for games.

Play in the first quarter was tough and even and the score at quarter time had the Dingoes 3.1 (19) leading the Bushrangers 2.3 (15).

With a drying ball and better ground conditions, play improved in the second quarter with the ball racing from end to end. Goals to Curtis Jones and Eric Baker brought the Bushrangers closer to the Dingoes, but he latter kept their slim lead with goals to Paul Cargal and evergreen Dan Heffernan, who is returning this year after a layoff to rest his weary hamstrings. Also returning to the team is Damien Lee, a Kookas stalwart from some years ago. Damo eased his way into the play with skill and steadying touches. Sadly for Damo, he later did his repaired shoulder again and will miss the next few weeks.

Greg Frost was also back to play after returning late last season. The Big Unit contributed to defensive struggle that was ensuing as both teams failed to get more than a few points in front of each other. Clark Wiley came on to provide speed for the Dingoes and, together with veteren Wayne Kraska, back after some serious eye surgeries, provided a steady stream of balls going into the Dingoes forward line. Here the balls encountered strong defending from Brian Lucy and Wayne Mitchell and this contributed to the back and forth flow to the game. Two strong defenses repelling the forward attacks.

At half time, the Dingoes lead remained slender with a scoreline of 6.3 (39) to 5.6 (36).

The third quarter started with new players Simon Davis (an Australian with obviously smooth skills), Mike Roper (an American in his first ever game) and Shawn Williams (another American returning after a brief foray into the game last year) steadily gaining confidence with their new teammates and producing some fine touches. All players look to have a good future at the club. Simon notched a goal for the Bushrangers and, along with former club captain Ben Crist, took the Bushrangers into the lead for the one of the few times in the game. Bacon and Robinson were doing their best to bring teammates into the play with good handballs and shepherding. Bacon is looking very svelt following a winter of two-a-days and has renewed vigour for the game.

The third quarter ended with Bushrangers edging ahead 8.10 (58) to 8.5 (53).

The final quarter started as energetically as the first (showing that the level of fitness in the teams is well ahead of normal for the start of a season) and play bounced from end to end. The Bushrangers lacked accuracy up front, partly due to the stout defending of Dingoes Shane Wamsley, Brent Kewley and Mick Frost. These players were also providing good running out of the backline and all crept forward to have shots on goal of their own.

However the Bushrangers dominance in the ruck, through Russ Barner and Dave Evans, kept the ball going forward to Sam Stern and Eric Baker up forward. It was the Bushrangers lack of accuracy that prevented them running away with the game and it came down to 4 minutes to go, with the Dingoes attacking, seeking a tying or go ahead score, when a serious clash of players led to Bushrangers' captain Nick Miklowski sustaining a season ending broken leg. Ironically, it was a clash with fellow captain (and roommate) Carl Garolfalo, both players going hard for the ball, that led to the injury. As the ball trickled through for a Dingoes' point, Miklowski collapsed to the ground and play stopped as everyone realized the seriousness of the injury.

With the excellent help of the Deklab EMS guys, Nick was whisked off to Piedmont Hospital. The players and club officials wish Nick a speedy recovery from this freak injury. Carl Garofalo's leg also suffered in the collision and he was seen limping after the clash.

With the score tied and everyone having cooled down following the break in play, it was decided to call the game a tie and to resume again, anew, next weekend.

Final Score was the Bushrangers 8.15 (63) tied with the Dingoes 9.9 (63).

The high level of play, so early in the season, bodes well for the AARFL and the Kookaburras club for the 2009 season.

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