Magpies sing their victory song in Music City

#15. Seth Haesecke

The Dallas Magpies have moved into a tie for first place in the Mid-American Australian Football League with a dramatic win on Saturday, just nudging the resilient Nashville Kangaroos. The game, played in Nashville, Tennessee, was very similar to the two teams’ previous match up a year ago in Dallas: very fast paced with numerous lead changes. The Magpies, winning the toss, chose to kick into the strong “four goal wind”, as described by the commentators in the Nashville’s press box. As the game proceeded, Nashville got on top in the first quarter using the wind to their advantage, then the ‘Pies clawed their way back in the second. The scores were tied 44-44 at half time. The second half was no different from the first. The game was starting to become physical, and Nashville, putting their bodies on the line for their team-mates, started to gain control of the game. Using the wind advantage, the home team ended the third quarter with what seemed like an insurmountable lead of 20 points.

The final quarter was as exciting as it was skillful. The ‘Pies moved the ball with pin-point precision from player to player all the way down the ground culminating in high-flying catches in front of goal from Full Forward Glen Paton..

As history always repeats itself, the Magpies strung together a number of passages-of-play which saw the ‘Pies storm ahead in the dying minutes again to snatch the ‘W’ from Nashville in back-to-back years.

The final score read 86-78.

“Winning on the road is always difficult in this league (MAAFL)” said Magpies coach Ian Russell, “I am proud of the way the boys never gave up today, they believed they were still going to win, because they had the wind at their backs”.

For the Magpies, the victory comes as a huge confidence booster.

Top placed Atlanta dropped to a tie for third with St. Louis by losing on the road to Milwaukee, breaking open the race for the MAAFL Cup. Dallas will have a much deserved bye week in Round Five of the MAAFL, but travels to Atlanta for Round Six on August 28.

The 2004 Magpies MAAFL Schedule:

Date	Opponent	Results
May 15	vs. St. Louis	W 69-60
June 5	@ Chicago	L 89-85
June 26	vs. Cincinnati	W 64-14
July 24	@ Nashville	W 86-78
Aug. 28	@ Atlanta
Sept. 11	vs. Milwaukee

About the Dallas Magpies:

The Dallas Magpies are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, dedicated to fostering national and international amateur sports competition as well as promoting a cultural exchange between Americans and Australians. The Magpies participate in the Mid American Australian Football League, a division of the United States Australian Football League and currently have a player competing on the U.S. National team in International competition. The team is active in promoting the Australian national sport and Australian culture through children’s clinics at area schools and by sponsoring events such as the annual Australia Day and ANZAC Day celebrations in the Metroplex.

For more details on organizing a school clinic, playing footy with the team or supporting the Dallas Magpies Australian Football Club, e-mail the recruiting department (recruiting@dallasfooty.com).