Established in 1998, the New York Magpies are the largest Aussie Rules club in America and their continued success, both on and off the field, has made them the premier organisation within the USAFL.
Collingwoodfc.com.au has published a progress report on its New York affiliate, recapping the 2012 USAFL Championships and the end of season award winners.
The black and white continues to prove a force in Aussie Rules, and not just in Australia.
Much like their Collingwood cousins, the New York Magpies enjoyed another competitive season in 2012.
They competed in the USAFL National Championships, with the Magpies’ Division One team making it all the way to the Grand Final where they suffered a narrow two-point loss to the Dallas Magpies.
After defeating the Nashville Kangaroos and the Denver Bulldogs and losing to the OC Bombers during the qualifying rounds, the Magpies took on their namesakes in the competition’s decider.
The match was controversial for several reasons, not least the fact that it began several hours prior to the scheduled starting time due to the threat of hurricane winds.
The conditions made the coin toss even more important than usual and as luck would have it, it was Dallas who won the toss, affording it the chance to kick with the strong breeze in the first half.
The conditions forced the New York Magpies to defend like their lives depended on it in the first half, dropping extra numbers back into defence and stymieing Dallas’ forward thrusts.
The big men touched the skies when the New York Magpies took on the Denver Bulldogs.
Two goals late in the half propelled Dallas to a lead of 3.3 (21) to 0.0 (0) at half time, but the conditions meant that New York entered the second stanza with confidence that they would be able to match their opposition’s first half.
The expected congestion inside their forward fifty made goals hard to come by for New York, but two goals to Chris Walsh and one to Chris Murray meant that they drew within two points late in the game.
With everything to play for, Dallas managed to defend its slender lead in the closing stages and ended the match two points ahead.
But that’s not where the story ended.
In an unexpected twist, the USAFL declared the 2012 USAFL National Championship Division One title vacant after an investigation found that Dallas had fielded an ineligible player.
The USAFL Executive Board debated several different options for the 2012 premiership, including awarding the flag outright to New York, but the fairest outcome was deemed to be the vacation of the Championship altogether.
Proudly wearing the black and white at the 2012 USAFL National Championships.
In other results, the Division Three side went into the Championships undermanned and recorded a win over the Florida Redbacks that was bookended by losses to the Chicago Swans and the Sacramento Suns.
The Lady Pies, meanwhile, liked their chances at the beginning of the competition but an early loss to Calgary/Arizona left them requiring victories against Minnesota and Sacramento/San Francisco if they were to clinch the trophy.
Unfortunately, a loss to Minnesota scuppered those plans, but an eight-point victory over Sacramento/San Francisco meant that they ended the competition on the right note as well as adding momentum to their 2013 campaign.
Keen Collingwood fans will note that the New York Lady Magpies have a Siobhan McHale on their books, symbolically tying the two clubs even closer together.
The Lady Pies celebrate victory over Sacramento/San Francisco in the 2012 USAFL National Championships.
2012 Award Winners Announced
Late last year, the New York Magpies held its awards night for season 2012 at The Liberty NYC.
Alex Kwiatkowski, Ojas Desai and Andrea Casillas took out the major awards, while Christina Licata, Brett Smiley, Ed McCormick and Casillas were honoured with life membership.
The outstanding performers at the 2012 USAFL National Championships were also recognised, including Jordan McIntyre, Dan Lehane, Siobhan McHale, Richard Marian and Rob Donner.
2012 New York Magpies Award Winners
- 2012 Men’s Most Valuable Player: Alex Kwiatkowski
- 2012 Men’s Most Valuable Player: American: Ojas ‘Juice’ Desai
- 2012 Lady Pies Most Valuable Player: Andrea Casillas
- New York Magpies Life Membership: Andrea Casillas
- New York Magpies Life Membership: Christina Licata
- New York Magpies Life Membership: Brett Smiley
- New York Magpies Life Membership: Ed McCormick
- Magpie of the Year (Best Clubperson): Brad Davis
- Nationals Most Valuable Player – Division 1: Jordan McIntyre
- Nationals Most Valuable Player – Division 1 American: Dan Lehane
- Nationals Most Valuable Player – Division 3: Richard Marian
- Nationals Most Valuable Player – Division 3 American: Rob Donner
- Nationals Most Valuable Player – Lady Pies: Siobhan McHale
- Men’s Rookie of the Year: Tai Scott
- Lady Pies Rookie of the Year: Alison Vorstaz
- Golden Boot: Sam Mitchell
- Goal of the Year: Tom Burke
- Lady Pies Most Improved: Sam Wolf
- Coaches Award: Toby Tornay
- NYCAFL Most Valuable Player: Jason Clifford
- Rob Oliver Medal: BOG in ANZAC Plate Game – Alex Kwiatkowski
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