World Footy News

As we move toward the start of the 2009 season, USFootyNews.com will be previewing the Top 10 teams in USFooty as voted in the preseason USFootyNews.com and WorldFootyNews.com poll.

At Number 9 in the Preseason Poll is Chicago United. Chicago finished 2008 ranked 10th with a record of 6-1. They also repeated as MAAFL Premiers. In 2009, Chicago looks odds-on to "three-peat" as MAAFL champions. They have a favorable MAAFL schedule, hosting both No. 10 Nashville Kangaroos and the Milwaukee Bombers. Head Coach Paul Drake agrees. "Have to like that schedule indeed and it certainly bodes well for a stab at the three-peat."

Photo courtesy of Fernanda Schwartz.

"Home field is a huge advantage and going on last years results, Minnessotta are susceptible up there and we have already started to push guys to get on the earliest flights out of Midway as they certainly travelled with excellent numbers last season. We are all looking forward to that Nashville game though, as I know they are."

That said, they can't forget what happened in 2008 says Drake. "2008 was a huge lesson for us in going into games underdone very bloody cocky! Nashville flogged us and then it took us three quarters to break away from a very dogged St Louis. From then on though the season started to click. The Minnessotta game was a classic in the tropical storm that hit that day. But going up to Milwaukee, we never felt out of the title race as we were playing some of our best footy. That was probably the best I've seen a Chicago Football team play that day in Wisconsin." Chicago thrashed Milwaukee in Milwaukee and took the title for the second year in a row.

"Players we are expecting to step right up this year include Bretty Isadore and Graham Brennan who had massive first years in the league. Veteran American players such as Disco Panek and BJ Gambaro keep getting better and with Frank Bradley coming off his best year, big things are expected of him. The returns of Dan Kastilahn and Drew Wolfe will help out as well. Of the Australians, three guys that missed considerable time last season but are returning include Roofy Ward, Mustard DeJong and the irresistable force that is Warrick Burgmann," says Drake.

Chicago's 2009 MAAFL schedule kicks off on May 16 with the team traveling to Ohio to take on the Ohio Valley River Rats. On May 30 they host the Nashville Kangaroos at 4pm at Waveland Park in what should be a huge game. Milwaukee and Chicago take up their 10 year rivalry on September 12 at 4pm at Waveland Park.

Chicago United 2009 Schedule

16.05.09 Ohio Valley vs Chicago @ To Be Announced

30.05.09 Chicago vs Nashville @ Chicago IL

27.06.09 Minnesota vs Chicago @ Minneapolis

22.08.09 Chicago vs Columbus @ Chicago IL

29.08.09 St Louis vs Chicago @ St Louis

12.09.09 Chicago vs Milwaukee @ Chicago IL

The Chicago Australian Football Association season begins on April 24 with Wrigleville taking on Lincoln Square. Drake is excited about the upcoming season "Last years metro was more like what we envisioned a few years ago when Warrick Burgmann promoted it as part of our newly merged team. Metro introduces guys to the game and prepares us beautifully for MAAFL. We started seeing its benefits last year when we were able to field three separate, individual and competitive teams and as the season went on, the football improved dramatically. Reigning premiers, the Lincoln Park Piranhas will be reeling from the loss of Dave Allen but with Big Al MacGlashan running the show, anything could happen." The 2009 schedule is available on Chicago United website.