United States men's national Australian rules football team

The United States national Australian rules football team, nicknamed the Revolution, represents the United States of America in the sport of Australian rules football. The Revolution are named after the American Revolution (an event which gave the country separation from the British Empire) and wear the colors of the American flag.

United States
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Revolution
Head coachKyle Strenski
Rankings
CurrentSteady 6th (as of October 2022[1])
First international
1999 49th Parallel Cup [2]
United States vs. Canada
United States 10.15 (75) def. Canada 8.7 (55)
International Cup
Appearances6 (first in 2002)
Best result3rd (2005)

The team plays in international tournaments, including the Australian Football International Cup, as well as exhibition matches against other countries. The US national team has participated in every International Cup since its inception in 2002. The team's best result has been third behind New Zealand and Papua New Guinea at the 2005 Australian Football International Cup.[3][4]

Revolution players are selected from United States-born players from USAFL clubs across the country.[5][6]

History

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International fieldball: USA v Young Australia. Presidio of San Francisco. 1 October 1911

The first American representative team was assembled from grammar schools and took part in three reciprocal tours of Australia with international matches played at junior level between 1909 and 1919, the game in the US at the time was known as Fieldball and it competed against Australia in 1911 in front of a crowd of more than 5,000 in San Francisco. In addition to the matches against Australia, the team also competed against Canada in 1911 and 1915. It was disbanded in the 1920s and it would be another three quarters of a century before a team was again assembled to compete at international level.

Australian football legend Paul Roos coached the national side's inaugural game in 1999 at Chicago (Naperville, 8/1/99) to victory over Canada USA 10:15(75) CAN 8:12(60) before returning to Australia be appointed as coach of the Australian Football League side the Sydney Swans.

Gary Hill of the Milwaukee Bombers succeeded Roos, coaching the Revolution from 2000 to 2001.

Under 2006 head coach Tom Ellis, the Revolution lost in a lopsided score to the ex-patriate team (the All-comers) in a January 2006 match played as a curtain raiser to the AFL exhibition match held at UCLA.

On November 2, 2006, it was announced that Australian Trevor Lovitt would be the new Revolution head coach. Lovitt had served as an assistant coach (1998-2001) with the Noble Park Football Club (a premier division Eastern Football League club), winning the premiership twice, and twice finishing runner-up. In 2002 and 2003, Trevor served as the head coach of Mulgrave Football Club’s (division 2 Eastern Football League) senior team which finished 3rd in 2002 and 2nd in 2003. From 2003 to 2005, he was an assistant with Frankston Football Club in the Victorian Football League. He also served as a recruiting officer for Port Adelaide Football Club in 2004 and 2005.

 
Action from USA Revolution vs China during the 2008 International Cup

Prior to the 2008 Australian Football International Cup, Trevor Lovitt stepped down as coach. New York Magpies coach Robert Oliver was appointed coach of the Revolution and guided the team to Melbourne. Matt Bishop became head coach in 2009.[7] Tom Ellis returned as head coach in May 2015.[8]

International competition

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International Cup

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The U.S. played South Africa at ANZ Stadium during the 2011 International Cup. The U.S. won the match 7.14 (56) to 2.6 (18).
USA International Cup results
Year Finish P W-L-D PF PA %
2002 5/11 6 4-2-0 393 184 213.59
2005 3/10 6 4-2-0 277 200 138.50
2008 7/16 5 3-2-0 342 129 265.12
2011 4/18[9] 6 4-2-0 326 170 191.76
2014 8/18[9] 5 3-2-0 360 166 216.87
2017 4/18 5 3-2-0 312 201 155.22

49th Parallel Cup

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The 2015 49th Parallel Cup was played at CBRP Stadium in Florida
49th Parallel Cup
Year Home Team Score Away Team Score
1999   USA 10.15 (75)   Canada 8.7 (55)
2000   Canada 2.4 (16)   USA 4.17 (41)
2003   USA 9.12 (66)   Canada 9.10 (64)
2004   Canada 7.9 (51)   USA 9.9 (63)
2007   Canada 6.9 (45)   USA 4.8 (32)
2009   USA 12.11 (83)   Canada 5.3 (33)
2010   Canada 5.2 (32)   USA 9.12 (66)
2012   USA 7.12 (54)   Canada 5.1 (31)
2013   Canada 5.6 (36)   USA 10.7 (67)
2015   USA 6.9 (45)   Canada 3.11 (29)

International Cup Squads

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2017 IC Squad

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2014 IC Squad

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2011 IC Squad

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2008 IC Squad

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2005 IC Squad

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The Revolution's best and fairest player at the 2005 International Cup was Donnie Lucero, and he was named to the 2005 International Cup All Stars Team.[12]

Development Team

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The USA Revolution established a Development Team in 2012 (formally the U23 National Team), to develop players trying to work their way to the national team. This squad gives coaches opportunities to evaluate potential players for the next Australian Football International Cup. The Development Team competes against Canada's Development squad in an under-card showdown the night before the 49th Parallel Cup. The United States won the 2015 match, 9.9 (63) to 2.3 (15).[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "World Footy News World Rankings post 2022 European Championships - World Footy News".
  2. ^ "Men's World Rankings Matches - World Footy News".
  3. ^ "International Cup team summaries - AFL.com.au". afl.com.au. August 8, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  4. ^ Neumann, Thomas (October 18, 2016). "North American clubs put their best footy forward". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 29, 2017. The best American finish was third in 2005
  5. ^ "What's the Score? Australian rules football: Australian Football League" (PDF). Australian Human Rights Commission. Retrieved November 29, 2017. Australian Football International Cup, involving 10 countries (New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, United States, Ireland, Samoa, Great Britain, Canada, South Africa, Japan and Spain) with teams composed entirely of nationals
  6. ^ a b c d Ryan, Conor (August 7, 2017). "Montrose's stars and stripes". Herald Sun. Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader. Retrieved November 29, 2017. All of the Revolution's players hail from USAFL clubs
  7. ^ "USAFL selects new National Team coach". United States Australian Football League. April 8, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  8. ^ Barrish, Brian (May 21, 2015). "Denver's Ellis Takes the Reigns of USA Revolution". United States Australian Football League. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  9. ^ a b c Pountney, Tom (August 10, 2017). "'Grit, one-percenters, pride' is USA credo - AFL.com.au". afl.com.au. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  10. ^ afl.com.au
  11. ^ Official Website of the Australian Football League > News Article > Revolution IC 2008 squad named
  12. ^ Rees, Tuifa'asisina Peter. "2005 INTERNATIONAL CUP RESULTS - Samoan Australian Rules Football Association - SportsTG". SportsTG. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  13. ^ Barrish, Brian (August 2015). "USAFL.com". USAFL.
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