Denver Bulldogs

Season

The Denver men lost just two games all season against the Austin Crows and Minnesota Freeze. Coincidentally enough, they would face these two teams at the nationals in the opening rounds.^[2]

National Titles

The Bulldogs would lose their opening game in a close matchup against Orange County by a score of 23-18.^[3] Chris Candelaria would be best on ground for the Bulldogs.^[4] In the days later game, the Bulldogs would fall to Minnesota Freeze 3.2.20 to 4.6.30.^[5] To finish the tournament the Bulldogs would show a bit of heart and beat the previous year's premiers, the Austin Crows, 5.5.35 to 1.3.9.^[6] The reserves first match of the tournament would be a combfortable 54 -18 win over the Houston Lonestars.^[7] In the last match up of day 1 the Bulldogs reserves would have a very easy win 81-9 againest the Minnesota Freeze Reserves.^[8] After a terrific opening day the Denver Reserves would tangle with Tulsa Buffaloes for Pool A honors.^[9] For a chance at a spot in the grand final, the Denver reserves would beat the Tulsa Buffalos 31-17.^[10] The show down of division four would see Denver take on North Carolina. The balanced side of the Denver reserves would eventually lose by 14 points to the fast-paced North Carolina Tigers.

The Denver Lady Bulldogs would allow a total of eight points in their first two games with wins over the Boston/Columbus/Minnesota combo and a squeaky win over the new-look Calgary Kookaburas have them at 2-0 after Saturday. This gave the ladies their 19th straight win at nationals. The Lady Bulldogs would take on the San Francisco Iron Maidens and go into the half time break with an 8-point lead. With a close game the Lady Bulldogs, having some of the best players in the country at their disposal, would finish the game winning 15-4. Twannia Clark, who would be named Best and Fairest, would be her normal speedy self, knifing through the West Coast defense. The Lady Bulldogs would win their 21st straight game and add another ring to their collective thumbs, taking their 5th consecutive title home.^[11]

Season

The Denver Bulldogs would start the season with victory in the Midwest Regional 10s and remain in a solid 4th place on the poll.^[12] In June Denver seniors and reserve squad each beat Tulsa in Crested Butte, Colorado and held onto 4th position on the poll.^[13] In July Denver would travel to Wisconsin to compete in the central tournament. Chicago again were overmatched by the bulldogs 39-13. To decide Pool B, it would be Austin and Denver. This would be the best game of the day. The pace was frantic, and the footy was of high quality. .Only a single Denver goal interrupted a champagne opening term for the Crows. Denver coach Tom Ellis tried to rally his team with a fiery speech at halftime, and after five minutes of work they earned a goal and it looked like the comeback was on. The Crows would answer with two goals, quashing any hope of a return. Austin cruised 53-21 to clinch a spot in the final. Denver would play off for 3rd place winning 10.2.62 to 1.1.7.^[14] Denver played magnificently at the Central Regional Tournament despite being beaten by Austin leaving them in 4th position on the poll.^[15] In August Denver would beat Sacramento Suns and loss once again to the Austin crows in a home matchup. Denver moved down to 5 position on the poll after going 1-2 during the period ^[16] Outside of a couple of losses to the Crows, Denver weren’t troubled much when at full strength this year. The ‘Doggies are always full of talent, from high flyers Casey Robertson and Phillip Camping, to ruckman Adam Wufsus, to defenders Peter Taylor and Andy Vanica, this is a good team from top to bottom.^[17]

National Titles

The Bulldogs would lose their opening Division 1 matchup against Orange County in a squeaker 23-20. New York would then fall to Denver with Casey Robertson kicking two amazing goals in the end to spark a 34-20 victory over the past National Champs. Lastly the Bulldogs finished with an easy 43-8 win over Dallas. The Bulldogs would finish in 3rd with 2 wins and 1 loss. The bulldog reserves would make Sunday’s semifinals but fell against San Diego/Orange County.

After winning their opener, the Denver Lady Bulldogs almost saw their 22 game-winning streak come to an end as they survived a scare from the Sacramento Lady Suns. The Suns had the Doggies within a point before Denver came down and put the game away on a goal by Anna Thexton.^[18] The Denver Lady Bulldogs came into their morning matchup against the Minnesota Freeze with 23 consecutive wins at Nationals. At halftime, the ladies from the North were up 8-1. The second half will go down in USAFL women’s football lore as some of the best played in eleven years at Nationals. To end the match the siren sounded and from ten meters out, all the Freeze had to do was kick it over the pack on the goal line for the win. The Denver Nationals winning streak was halted at 23 games. For the third year in a row, it would come down to Denver and San Francisco to decide the premiership. Though they would only convert two of their eight scoring shots for majors, they were too much for the Iron Maidens. The Denver Lady Bulldogs would overcome the toughest fields in their competitions to hoist the trophies high as the best women's Australian Rules football teams in the land.^[19]