International Cup team profile: US Revolution
WITH a President named Rich Mann, the United States Australian Football League seems destined for success. US Footy, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2007, is comprised of 47 clubs playing in leagues across the country.
Players in the national team, the US Revolution, come from 48 states. The squad selection process started in January 2006 with 90 players. These 90 were whittled down to a final 40 after practice matches in Fort Lauderdale, Louisville and Vancouver, and training camps in Atlanta and Los Angeles. The final 40 will now travel to Melbourne for the International Cup in August.
The coach
Revolution coach Rob Oliver played over 200 games of local football in Victoria and coached at junior and senior levels, managing two elite under-18 TAC clubs.
Oliver is assisted by Matty Dainauski, a founding member of the Denver Bulldogs who has played over 100 games, and Jason Becker, a past Revolution centre half-forward who kicked the first International Cup goal in history in 2002.
Team snapshot
The Revolution is described as a team of big players who are athletic for their size and have good overhead skills. Tackling is a forte. Several players are expected to hold down key positions through the carnival.
Secret weapon: Brunmeier boys
James and Jared Brunmeier hail from the Milwaukee Bombers in the northern state of Wisconsin and are in their second season playing in the Western Australia Football League. James finished sixth best and fairest for the West Perth Falcons reserves last year, proving his ability as a key defender and forward. Jared played for the Falcons reserves as a running player, as well as gaining experience in the WA Amateurs.
Motivation for playing: Revenge
The Canadian Northwind beat the US Revolution for the first time in August 2007 in Vancouver. The two have harboured a rivalry since the first citizen-only match in 2000.
In the words of the Northwind game development officer, the Revolution “went nuts” when little brother beat them.
Expect the match-up to be no holds barred when the International Cup rolls around.
It wouldn’t happen Down Under
In a 2007 match between the US Revolution and Canadian Northwind, local police had to be sweet-talked into allowing the game to continue in a public park, as not all of the proper paper work had been filed.
A few Aussie home truths
The Revolution last visited Melbourne for the 2005 International Cup, where they made a few cultural observations and developed some opinions close to many Aussie hearts.
After watching Fremantle beat Collingwood at the MCG, it was agreed that Fremantle had the “worst club song ever”.
Current Revolution coach and Collingwood supporter Rob Oliver assisted with some of the training drills following his beloved team’s defeat. Taking his frustrations out on the players prompted one team member to conclude: “Collingwood fans are all the same: they’re not happy unless others are in pain, on fire, or preferably both”.
After training, players experienced the home-grown remedy of recovery in Port Phillip Bay. The benefits weren’t immediately obvious, with initial observations limited to a feeling of intense discomfort combined with some noticeably unsettling changes to a certain piece of anatomy.
2005 International Cup placing: 3rd
Results:
Round 1 USA 9.8 (62) def South Africa 4.10 (34)
Round 2 USA 2.5 (17) def Ireland 1.7 (13)
Round 3 USA 5.11 (41) def Spain 2.0 (12)
Round 4 PNG 7.5 (47) def USA 7.4 (46)
Semi finals New Zealand 10.4 (64) def USA 5.2 (32)
Minor finals USA 10.5 (65) def Ireland 4.6 (30)
