Whom ever said that size doesn’t matter, definitely hasn’t met new Wildcats Center-half Forward Kyle Skinner. The 6’8’’, 270lbs not- so-gentle giant just recently joined the ‘Cats roster, and he couldn’t have come at a better time. With several key players missing due to work commitments/injuries, he’s definitely slipped into his “big” role with ease. This past weekend, “Tiny” received the ‘Cats Hardhat Award for his impressive performance vs. the Lakeshore Rebels; as well as for kicking his 2 first OAFL goals. Great job K.

After a very disappointing loss versus the Toronto Dingos the previous weekend, the (5-4) Hamilton Wildcats were definitely looking to rebound against the struggling (2-6) Lakeshore Rebels at Mohawk Sports Park this past weekend. The Wildcats had already taken a 1-0 lead in the season series vs. the Rebels and were hoping to make it 2-0 with a solid performance in front of the home crowd. Still missing several key players due to injury and/or work commitments, the ‘Cats hoped their youth, speed and heart would carry them through the final few games of the year despite their lack of more experienced players. The first quarter started with the ‘Cats giant ruckman Jeff Fish winning the bounce, but the Rebels took control in the first 20 minutes, jumping out to an early lead. Fortunately for Hamilton, Lakeshore’s only shot at goal resulted in a single and the Wildcat defense keep the home side in the game despite the early pressure from the Rebels forward line. As the second quarter got underway, the Wildcats offense officially began to wake from their first quarter slumber with goals from “Rookie of The Year” candidate Derek “8 Staples…that’s all you got” Rutten, 6’8’’ newcomer Kyle “Tiny” Skinner and veteran ruckman Jeff Fish. The three quick 2nd quarter goals seemed to spark the team all over the ground, as the fantastic four of Nick DiRago, Justin Johns, Barry “BC” Crow and Paul Lawson absolutely shut down the Rebels middle four and dominated across the centre of the ground all afternoon. As the Hamilton offense began to fire on all cylinders at one end of the ground, their backline seemed to be getting stronger as well; repelling any Rebel kick or offensive wave sent at them. Fullback Greg “Plugger” Young, rookie halfback Justin “ROY” Settle, former full-forward turned halfback Charles Thompson and flanker Rich “Gumby” Burgess stood on their heads all day long, and their fine defensive play definitely showed on the scoreboard, as the normally high powered Rebels attack was unable to score a single goal versus the home side. As the incredible individual performances began to multiply all over the field for the ‘Cats, (4 goal performance from Player/Head Coach Justin Johns) Hamilton eventually ran out winners on the day, defeating the Lakeshore Rebels 13.5.83 to 0.2.2. The (6-4) Wildcats, who are currently sitting in 4th place on the OAFL ladder, will now try to double their winning streak next Saturday, July 28th at Mohawk Sports Park starting @ 12noon when they host the (6-3) Broadview Hawks. This weekend’s game could definitely be a 2007 Finals preview, so the more fans we can get on-hand to cheer on the Steeltown boys, the better our chances of knocking off the high flying Hawks. C’arn the Wildcats!

HAMILTON GOALS: Justin Johns (4), Derek Rutten (2), Kyle Skinner (2), Luke Main (2), Jeff Fish (1), Nick DiRago (1), Mario Cararra (1)
HAMILTON BEST: Justin Johns, Kyle Skinner, Charles Thompson, Derek Rutten, Justin Settle

On Saturday, August 18th at Mohawk Sports Park the Hamilton Wildcats AFC will be hosting their very first SPONSORS/FAMILY DAY. The festivities will get underway starting at 12noon, as the Wildcats will be suiting-up to face the Central Blues, with a catered BBQ meal as well as several presentations for and by our proud sponsors following the Round #13 match-up. For everyone looking to attend this event, tickets can be purchased through the club at $35 per person, $5 for kids. Sponsors are FREE. Chicken, pasta, burgers, sausages, salads and desserts will be served on the day, with wine and beer being included in the ticket price. We hope to show our gratitude to all of our supportive fans and sponsors with this event, and hope to make this a very successful annual tradition for years to come.

This past weekend, the newly formed Ottawa Swans hosted their second exhibition match against Canada’s National Team (Northwind). For the Swans, the match was an opportunity to unite the club and prepare for their inaugural season when they join the OAFL in 2008. The Northwind also looked forward to the game as they prepare for their rematch against the US Revolution in three weeks. The Northwind were prepared for a tough match as they heard reports of the Swans 75 point victory in their first match of only two weeks prior. Canada needed a good outing if they were to travel to Vancouver with confidence and enthusiasm. The Northwind looked nervous and fumbled many marks and kicks. Ottawa matched up well, especially in the full forward position where Joel Dawes was very strong taking big marks. The National Team showed more determination in the early stages however, and after kicking 6 behinds in a row, began to settle down and put some goals on the board. From that point on, they looked more relaxed and began executing plays with more and more confidence. The second half featured several great performances, especially from Toronto Eagles player Kevin Minacher who was unstoppable the entire game, capping his incredible performance with a flying “Specky” while roaming the through the backline. Alex Hendrix, Jacob Sone, Hamilton Wildcats Charles Thompson and Nick DiRago also showed the same exciting determination, as well as helping out on the scoreboard. Defensively, Tasos Dimacokos and Matt Lowden refused to let up even when the score became insurmountable for the Swans to recover. They never let up, diving to block goal kicking attempts and showing a great level of intensity in their zone. In the end the Northwind won a decisive victory 24.24.168 to 0.1.1. The entire Northwind constabulary would like to extend its deepest gratitude to the Ottawa Swans for providing this development fixture. We are confident their entrance into the OAFL next season will be a successful one and wish them well. The highlight of this road trip however, was the bus ride home where all players enjoyed a great celebration, drawing from their victory a heightened sense of confidence and camaraderie. Just what the Doctor ordered!

Wow…it feels like just last week I was writing about Hamilton Wildcat winger Josh Beaupre picking up the “Hardhat Award” for his tenacious style of footy and never-say-die attitude. Wait a second…that was last week! For the second week in a row, “Ship Jumper” has earned the prestigious plastic helmet for being voted as the hardest working player. He continued where he left off versus the Demons a week earlier against the Dingos, hitting hard, kicking long and taking several highlight reel marks. We missed you big-time last year and we’re glad to have you back in ’07 Josh. Maybe his new nickname should be Josh “Hardhat” Beaupre.

After coming off a fairly impressive victory over the High Park Demons the previous week, the (5-3) Hamilton Wildcats were looking to keep their winning streak intact as the (4-4) Toronto Downtown Dingos headed into town. With a victory over the Dingos, the Wildcats could definitely put some breathing room between themselves and their Toronto counterparts on the OAFL ladder, as both clubs battled for a finals birth. The Dingos, 3 time OAFL Champions (2003-05), are an extremely talented team who were also coming off a big win a week earlier and looking to make it two in a row in Steeltown. The extremely tough weather conditions definitely took centre stage all game long, as 35km/hr winds made crisp hand passes and accurate kicks a rarity for both sides. Despite having a 2 player advantage for the entire game, Hamilton seemed to be running on empty for the entire 80 minutes, especially in their defensive end. Poor center clearances, bad decisions with the footy in front of their own goal and undisciplined play seemed to be on the menu all afternoon long for the ‘Cats; and the experienced Dingos devoured Hamilton’s mistakes for their main course. Aside from the play of Wildcat wingers Barry Crow & Josh Beaupre, there weren’t too many positives on the day as Hamilton fell to the Dingos 9.11.65 to 3.3.21. The (5-4) Wildcats will now try to make amends for their miscues this upcoming weekend vs. (2-6) Lakeshore Rebels, on Sat., July 28th at Mohawk Sports Park starting @ 12noon.

HAMILTON GOALS: Derek Rutten (1), Paul Lawson (1), Steve Gerryts (1)
HAMILTON BEST: Barry Crow, Josh Beaupre, Justin Johns

This past weekend versus High Park, Hamilton had many solid individual performances, but one player definitely stood out above all the others. Veteran Wildcat, Josh “Ship Jumper” Beaupre earned the “Hardhat Award” for his courageous efforts against the Demons. After missing all of the 2006 season as well as the first 6 weeks of the ’07 fixture to pursue his education in Northern Ontario, the Wildcats have been blessed to have re-gained Josh’s services for the remainder of this season. Keep it up Josh!

This past weekend, July 7th in Hamilton, the (4-3) Wildcats took on the (1-6) High Park Demons at Mohawk Sports Park. Both clubs were coming off a 2 week hiatus, due to the Canada Day long weekend, and the ‘Cats were hoping to buck their 2 game winless streak after losses to both the Toronto Eagles and the Etobicoke Kangaroos in previous weeks. Unfortunately, due to a mix up between OAFL officials the league forgot to have umpires dispatched to Hamilton to take care of the Round #8 match-up and thus forced the game to be delayed well over 30 minutes while the teams looked for answers and/or umpiring replacements. Fortunately for both clubs, Hamilton’s first year Aussie import Luke Main was getting married the following day and his father was in the City for the weekend to enjoy some Canadian footy and see his boy get hitched. Luke’s father Allan Main, a retired umpire for the past 13 years with 386 footy games in Australia under his belt, was more than willing to make it 387 (payment was made in mass amounts of cold Canadian beer) due to the lack of umpires in Hamilton last weekend. With all craziness finally set aside, the game got underway with Hamilton taking control of the ruck and moving the footy up field to their much taller forward line time and time again. Despite missing several key players due to injury/work commitments, the ‘Cats used their limited bench to keep fresh legs moving through the guts and forward line all game long against a reserve-less Demons side. This strategy seemed to be working as the Wildcats took a commanding 16 point lead into the 1st intermission. As the game wore on, it was obvious that without any interchange High Park would have a hard time containing the fresher Hamilton side, especially under an extremely hot July sun. Great bursts of play from first year Wildcats Derek Rutten, fullback Greg “Plugger” Young and Dominic “Uter” Krill helped to keep Hamilton ahead on the scoreboard through out the first 3 quarters of play. As well as having his father on hand for the game, Luke also had his younger brother Jake Main and best mate Trevor “Ted” Edwards suiting up for the ‘Cats while on vacation in Canada. Jake, a former under 18’s Geelong Falcons defender definitely left his mark in his first footy game on Canadian soil; notching a goal from a long run up the boundary as well as helping out on the half back flank with several great goal saving spoils. Trevor didn’t fair too badly himself, kicking 3 goals from the guts and helping to spark the Wildcats offense with his hard nosed style of play, on his way to earning Best On Ground for his tireless efforts. Hamilton looked to build from these individual performances to help gain more momentum heading into the final 20 minutes of play, and eventually ran out winners on the day 10.6.66 to 5.7.37.

HAMILTON GOALS: Trevor Edwards (3), Daniel Crouch (2), Josh Beaupre (2), Jake Main (1), Derek Rutten (1), Mike Nolan (1)
HAMILTON BEST: Trevor Edwards, Josh Beaupre, Jake Main, Greg Young

After starting the 2007 season with their first 5 games on the road, the Hamilton Wildcats finally headed home to Mohawk Sports Park to host their first home game of the year. Unfortunately for the 'Cats, the first visitors into the unfriendly confines of M.S.P. would be the 2006 Champion Toronto Eagles, who were currently sitting on-top of the '07 OAFL ladder heading into the Round #6 match-up vs. Hamilton. As the game got underway, the hometown 'Cats came out hard versus the defending champs, seemingly un-phased by the visitors' near perfect record and hoping to take the league’s top team by surprise with an extremely strong first quarter. Hamilton’s offense came out firing on all cylinders, as the 'Cats pumped the footy into the forward at will, eventually taking a 26-0 lead into the break with 3 big goals from full forward Daniel Crouch as well as a beauty from talented rover Mike "Mr. Abs" Nolan. After an astonishing opening 20 minutes, the Wildcats needed more of the same if they were to hold off a talented team such as the Eagles. Unfortunately, the Eagles have been in this position before and were looking to turn the tables on the lesser experienced 'Cats on their home ground. Hamilton battled hard in the 2nd frame, keeping the game relatively close heading into the half, but Toronto had made a valiant comeback to take a 2 point lead into the 3rd quarter. Now having to play catch-up, and with Hamilton's 1st quarter momentum slowly disappearing, the speedy Eagles offense began to take over. Despite great goals from rookie winger Derek "8 Staples" Rutten and a terrific 8 goal performance from Australian import Daniel Crouch, the Wildcats were unable to keep up with the Eagles high voltage attack as time ran out. The Wildcat players who came out to face the Eagles should be extremely proud of the efforts against such a tight and experienced club, and this only shows the members of our club as well as the rest of the league that the 2007 Hamilton Wildcats are definitely not a team to be taken lightly this season. We'll definitely have our revenge come playoff time vs. the Eagles, so let's use this game as a learning tool for our next match-up...hopefully on Grand Final weekend!

The (4-2) Wildcats will now try to get back into the win column versus the extremely tough Etobicoke Kangaroos (4-0) this upcoming weekend at Humber College North starting at 9am sharp, Saturday, June 23rd. This game was originally scheduled for Friday evening at Sam Smith Park (Humber College South campus), but has been changed…please make note of this schedule and time change.

HAMILTON GOALS: Daniel Crouch (8), Derek Rutten (1), Mike Nolan (1)
HAMILTON BEST: Paul Lawson, Derek Rutten, Daniel Crouch, Rich Burgess

Since the club's inception over 14 years ago, the Hamilton Wildcats have been blessed with several extremely talented Australian imports, who've come to have a kick while traveling across our great country. Some have stayed for a year or so, and some, like Brett Hill have become a permanent fixture on the footy oval and in the Wildcats clubhouse. This past weekend vs. the Toronto Eagles, "Hilly" played in his 50th OAFL game, which is quite a feat for any player in this league. Your hard work has been an inspiration to all players on our club "Hilly", hopefully we’ll see 50 more mate!

This past weekend versus the Toronto Eagles, rookie winger Derek Rutten earned the coveted Wildcat "Hard Hat Award" for his courageous play and ferocious tackling against one of the top sides in the OAFL. All season long Rutten has been giving 110% every time he comes onto the field; no matter what quarter we're in or how tired he is, whether it's a game or even training, he always seems to push himself past the threshold to help give the 'Cats everything he's got. For most rookies, this can be an extremely tough game to pick up and learn, but Derek seems to be getting better with every second he plays. Congrats "Rut", well earned!

This past weekend in Toronto, the (3-1) Wildcats faced off against the upstart Lakeshore Rebels (2-1) at Humber College North. Both teams have had a pretty solid start to the 2007 campaign, and were looking to continue their winning ways. Hamilton was missing Head Coach/CHB Justin "Johnsy" Johns as well as import Luke "I'm Recovering From My Stag" Main, so intern coach Brett Hill stepped forward to provide his footy expertise for the game against the Rebels and hoped to leave the field with an unbeaten coaching record. The Wildcats did not disappoint as the game got underway, with ruckman Jeff Fish starting things off brilliantly; beating the opposing ruckman and helping rookie rover Derek Rutten pick up the footy off a terrific tap. Hamilton earned several early chances to put the club ahead in the 1st quarter, but some shocking kicks and inaccurate passing into the forward line prevented the 'Cats from taking the lead into quarter time. The Rebels held a slight edge on the scoreboard after the first 20 minutes, but Hamilton looked to bounce back as they did vs. Guelph the previous week, with an extremely high flying second frame to get themselves back into the game. Despite not having their most accurate goal kicking, the Wildcat forward line fought relentlessly for any loose footy, played the body well and were taking excellent marks in front of Lakeshores' goal all game long. Rookie Mark Laidman, 109 gamer Steve "I'm Getting Too Old For This S#*T" Gerryts & Daniel Crouch all potted goals before the half to help the visiting 'Cats sling-shot into the lead. It was a lead the Wildcats would not surrender for the remainder of the game, as the Hamilton backline tightened the screws and played some of their best football so far this season with 1st year recruit Justin "R.O.Y." Settle & veteran Sash Kuruc leading the way to a solid 8.14.62 to 5.7.37 victory on the day.. The (4-1) Wildcats will now head back to Hamilton for their first home game of the '07 season after starting their first 5 games on the road, to face the high flying (4-1) Toronto Eagles. The game will start @ 12noon on Saturday, June 16th at Mohawk Sports Park in Hamilton…be there!

HAMILTON GOALS: Daniel Crouch (5), Paul Lawson (1), Mark Laidman (1), Steve Gerryts (1)

HAMILTON BEST: Justin Settle, Mark Laidman, Charles Thompson, Paul Lawson, Sash Kuruc

Over the past few seasons, the Hamilton Wildcats have had a hard time finding a place they could call "home" after hard fought footy games. Well, thanks to the relentless sponsorship efforts of rookie Mario "Super Mario" Carrara, RAY’S PLACE THE BOATHOUSE (303 Dundurn St. S.) will be the new post-game destination for the Wildcats & friends to enjoy the nectar of the Gods. So, if you get a chance, whether it's game day or not...please try your best to get down to RAY's for a pint and some grub in support of our new sponsor. If you let them know that you are with the Hamilton Wildcats AFC, you receive a free pizza and order of wings for every purchase over $40.00. Bon Appetite!

For the second week in a row, one of the newest additions to the Hamilton Wildcats AFC has ended up with the coveted "Hardhat Award". This past weekend, Wildcats rookie Mark "Charlie Hustle" Laidman, hustled his way to the golden prize with his tenacious tackles, high flying marks and accurate kicks on the wing to the forward 30m. Mark not only chipped in defensively with his solid tagging and timely smothers, but even notched his 2nd goal on the season mid-way through the 3rd quarter to help the Wildcats take a strangle hold on the game vs. the Rebels. Congrats "Charlie Hustle"…we hope to see more of the same all season long!

After receiving their first loss of the 2007 season at the hands of the Broadview Hawks in Round #3, the (2-1) Hamilton Wildcats were hoping to get back on track against the Guelph Gargoyles this past weekend at Margaret Greene Park in Guelph. The 'Cats were hoping for big results and big numbers on the bench as Mother Nature always seemed to turn up the heat in Guelph, and the Wildcats would need a full bench of reserves if their were to keep up with the extremely fit Guelph side. With 22 players on-hand (4 reserves), Hamilton needed a quick start if they were to have any chance of picking up their 3rd win of the young season. The (0-2) Gargoyles, who are never a team to be taken lightly, were also keen for a victory on the day and come out hard in the 1st quarter with several impressive passages of play from the guts leading to 3 very early goals. Thanks to a pair of much needed goals in the final 35 seconds of the 1st quarter (Alex Thompson & Daniel Crouch), Guelph took a narrow 3.5.23 to 2.0.12 lead into the break and were flying high after the first 20 minutes of play. After receiving a verbal thrashing, from Coach Justin Johns for their lack of effort and obvious slow start, Hamilton made amends for their 1st quarter "brain-fart" with one of the strongest quarters this Wildcat reporter has seen in his 8 long years of playing for this club. The 'Cats grabbed the lead kicking 5.2.32 to 0 in the 2nd frame, with a hat-trick coming from rover Mike Nolan & padded their lead in the third quarter. Despite not playing their best footy in the 4th, and Guelph making a bit of a comeback with the help of the 200 year old Willow tree which overhangs one of the pockets (PS: apparently this tree is IN play); the Wildcats managed to hang on to their lead to defeat Guelph for the second time this year; 9.2.56 def. 5.13.43. The (3-1) Wildcats will now head to Toronto (Humber College North) to face a much improved (2-1) Lakeshore Rebels side on Saturday, June 9th starting at 2pm.

HAMILTON GOALS: Daniel Crouch (3), Mike Nolan (3), Paul Lawson (1), Alex Thompson (1), Josh Porter (1),

HAMILTON BEST: Mike "Abs" Nolan, Josh "Fooooooooottttyyyy" Porter, Brett "Hilly" Hill, Justin Johns, Sasha "Kocanovic" Kuruc

Everyone loves a party, but nobody parties harder than the Hamilton Wildcats. Hamilton 1st year Aussie mport Luke"Maino" Main & his fiancée Melissa Cacchietta are about to find out the hard way what partying in Hamilton is all about this weekend, when Luke will be celebrating his upcoming wedding. All are welcome to attend the Stag for "Maino" this Friday, June 8th at the Sons of Italy Hall (499 King St. East, downtown Hamilton) Tickets available from Luke at training this week or at the door. Lots of fun games & many great door prizes!

Six years ago, when Rich "Gumby" Burgess rocked up to training, I don't think there were many guys on the team that thought a 6'4" string-bean would last 5 seconds playing one of the toughest sports on the face of the earth unless he added about 100 pounds of lean muscle to his rickety frame. Rich definitely proved that theory wrong in a BIG way, as this past weekend he completed his 50th OAFL game for the Wildcats, all of which have been played either at fullback or at halfback. Congrats on your 50th match Richo, we hope for fifty more mate!

Most rookies tend to make their mark at some point in their first year of playing any sport, but it usually takes them half a season or more to get in the groove and start to find their game. The Wildcats have been blessed with 9 rookies this season, all of which are starting to make their presence felt and contribute very early on in their footy careers. Josh "I Don't Think That Guy Liked My Hat" Porter decided to step-up his game this past weekend vs. Guelph, with his never-say-die attitude, all-out attack for the footy, great clearing kicks from the back pocket as well as collecting his 1st goal when called upon to help out in the forward line. Excellent job Porter!

After starting the season (2-0) with wins over Guelph and the Central Blues, the Hamilton Wildcats headed into their Round #3 tilt vs. an extremely experienced Broadview Hawks side in what would be their toughest test of the 2007 season so far. The visiting Wildcats were hoping to send a message to the home field Hawks, as well as to the rest of the league, that their promising start to the new season was no fluke and that the boys from Steeltown were a force to be reckoned with this year. As the first quarter got underway, even though it had been 2 weeks since their last game, Hamilton seemed to pick-up where they left off versus the Blues; hitting hard and clearing the centre of the ground with ease. The hardnosed style of footy in the guts from veteran Brett "Hilly" Hill, Nick "2-goals" DiRago, replacement ruck Jeff Fish (filling-in for the absent Paul Lawson) and Mike "out for blood" Nolan looked to be the staple of the Wildcats attack right from the opening bounce. The quick passages of play up the wings and long accurate kicks from halfback flank Justin "Who Needs a Hammy" Johns, wingers Reuben Sculthorp & Josh "The Prodigal Son" Beaupre helped the Hamilton forwards lead into open space and put their club out front at the end of the first frame 2.2.14 to 1.4.10; with both goals coming from the big left foot of Daniel "4 behinds" Crouch. As the 'Cats looked to increase their lead in the second quarter, the Hawks offense came alive as they began to shower the Hamilton backline with an offensive barrage of their own. Despite punching hard from behind and extremely tight defensive coverage, the experience and sure hands of the Broadview forwards won many of the contests through out the second quarter, thus propelling the Hawks into the lead heading into the half. Broadview held the visitors from the scoreboard in the 2nd frame, but Hamilton looked to bounce back heading into the "Premiership Quarter" with hopes of regaining the lead. Though the Wildcats started strong in the 3rd, Broadview seemed to be gaining stream with every second that passed, shutting down the Hamilton offense and clearing their defensive zone time and time again. As time ticked away in the third, Hamilton battled hard leaving no Hawk played un-hit and making sure that Broadview earned every single point they posted on the scoreboard. Despite their valiant efforts both on offense and defense in the final frame, the Hawks were too much for Hamilton to handle on the day, eventually handing the 'Cats their 1st loss on the year 9.16.70 to 3.6.24. The (2-1) Wildcats will now head north to Guelph (@ Margaret Greene Park) to face the (0-2) Gargoyles for the second time this season on Saturday, June 2nd starting at 2pm.

HAMILTON GOALS: Daniel Crouch (3)
HAMILTON BEST: Brett Hill, Justin Johns, Charles Thompson, Jeff Fish, Mike Nolan

Despite being handed their 1st loss of the 2007 season on Saturday, the Hamilton Wildcats battled hard vs. a talented Broadview Hawks side with several players delivering stand-out performances all over the ground. Wildcats '07 Head Coach, Justin "Johnsy" Johns, definitely showed the club what leading by example is all about with his stellar defensive play and hardnosed style of football this past weekend. His relentless second efforts, strong clearances and consistent play earned "Johnsy" the "Hardhat Award" for Round #3.

Over the years, the Hamilton Wildcats have never been a team that follows treads, but there are some trends that are really hard to avoid...especially the "Facebook" phenomenon. It seems that over the past year or so, pretty much every single human being on the face of the earth has received an email about being added or invited to join "Facebook"...and thus, so have the Wildcats. As our webmaster has been extremely with personal matters for the last few months and had a hard time updating the club website as much as he and the rest of the team would probably like, the Wildcats have decided to create a profile page on the popular website, hoping to give family and friends and fun forum to chat about the club, it's players and discuss anything from our games to where we're going to finish on the OAFL ladder this season. Feel free to log on to our Facebook page to check out all the lastest club news, game/player photos and to keep up-to-date with all the upcoming club events/games and fundraisers. Don't get hooked! PAGE LINK: HERE or look up Hamilton Wildcats Australian Football Club under "Common Interests" & "Activities".

After coming off a fantastic fourth quarter win versus the Gargoyles in Round #1, the Hamilton Wildcats were looking to continue their winning ways as they faced off against the (0-1) Central Blues. Last season, the Blues had a tough go with numbers and with many of their players learning the game as the season progressed. 2007 would be a much different Blues side as many of their Canadian players have been training with the National Team as well as seeing an influx of new talent and experienced Aussies. The Wildcats could definitely could not afford to take their opponent lightly heading into Round #2, this past weekend at Humber College North. As they did in Round #1, the 'Cats come out hard, winning the taps in the ruck and pushing the footy up-field to the fleet footed forward line. Daniel "Crouchy" Crouch picked up from were he left off last week vs. Guelph by kicking 2 kick goals to give the Wildcats a solid lead against the Blues. The quickness of the Wildcats definitely caught Central off guard, as Hamilton began to pour on the offense in the 1st quarter as the Blues struggled to control the lose men in their backline. After the first 20mins, the 'Cats held a commanding 28-0 lead heading into the 2nd frame, and were looking for more of the same. Unfortunately for Hamilton, the Blues had a different game plan and came out hard, winning the centre taps and clearing the centre with courageous bursts of speed and long, accurate kicks through to their leading forwards. The Blues battled back with an offensive outbursts of their own in the 2nd quarter, posting 20 unanswered points before Hamilton awoke from it's afternoon nap to kick 1.1.7 as the first half came to a close. Despite leading the Blues, 5.5.35 to 3.2.20 after 40 minutes, Hamilton definitely needed a huge wake-up call in the second half if they were to have any chance of walking away with a victory. Rookie Wildcats Justin "The Leg" Wilson and Derek Rutten both had break-out games, especially during the 3rd quarter vs. the Blues; with the former heading hard, taking several high flying marks and launching the footy deep into the forward line, while the latter kicking his first (2) OAFL goals to help spark the Wildcats second half offensive charge. As the Wildcats scoring touch seemed to be coming back, the Hamilton backline began to play even tighter, especially in the fourth quarter. Fullback Greg "Plugger" Young, Justin "R.O.Y." Settle, Charles Thompson, Sasha "Kuruc" Kocanovic and Nick DiRago all looked like they had been playing together for years, punching hard from behind, out marking their opponents and clearing the footy up the wings to quell any hopes of the Blues comeback. Kudos to all Wildcats on the day, as many new faces made a name for themselves with solid play all over the ground. Rookie forward Dominic "Uter" Krill took a handful of great marks in the second half, while 2nd year 'Cat Terry "Screech" Brake worked hard up front to help the visitors to victory for the second week in a row. As the final horn sounded, Hamilton ran out winners 11.8.74 to 6.4.40 to improve their record to (2-0) as the Blues fell to (0-2) with the loss. The Wildcats will now face an extremely tough (1-1) Broadview Hawks side who are coming off a massive Rd. #2 victory over the Demons. All the clubs will be off for the Victoria Day long weekend, so Hamilton and Broadview will face-off on Saturday, May 26th starting @ 2pm at Humber College North in Toronto.

HAMILTON GOALS: Daniel Crouch (4), Paul Lawson (2), Derek Rutten (2), Brett Hill (1), Jeff Fish (1), Mike Nolan (1)

HAMILTON BEST: Charles Thompson, Daniel Crouch, Derek Rutten, Justin Wilson

If you've taken a look at the Wildcats website or stopped by Mohawk Sports Park to catch a game over the past 6 seasons, you’ll probably noticed #13 at the top of the Goal Kicking ladder or lazily patrolling the full forward position for Hamilton. This past weekend, veteran Wildcat and Club president Charles "Speckie" Thompson made an impact not on the scoreboard, but in the backline for Hamilton. Coach Justin Johns has decided to move "Speckie" onto the halfback flank for the '07 season, and so far his move has paid off; with Charles earning the "Hardhat Award" for his strong defensive play vs. the Blues in Round #2. Congrats Chuckie.

This past weekend, the Hamilton Wildcats opened their 2007 season against the Guelph Gargoyles, in what looked to be a very close battle between two perennial rivals at Humber College North in Toronto. Guelph has always been a very strong opponent for the 'Cats with their great speed, youth and toughness. The "new look" Wildcats were hoping to catch the Gargoyles off guard with their revamped backline, in addition to many new faces on the wings and in the forward line. Hamilton definitely sent a message early with a thunderous bump from 6'7'' Paul "The Law" Lawson on the opening bounce, leaving Guelphs ruckman sucking dirt for several minutes and giving the 'Cats plenty of possessions early on. The middle four of Lawson, Barry Crow, newcomer Derek Rutten and Mike Nolan worked well in the first quarter, with Hamilton winning 99% of the taps and their rovers working hard to clear the guts. First year Wildcat, Daniel "Crouchy" Crouch definitely made his mark in his first game with his new club, "uncorking the genie" from just outside the 40m arc to open the scoring for the visitors and helping Hamilton take a 2 point lead heading into the 2nd quarter. Guelph came out strong in the second frame, hitting hard and running in numbers. Their speed and new found energy looked to catch the Wildcats on their heels as the 'Cats tried to match their intensity for the entire quarter. The Gargoyles found their offensive touch as well, kicking 3 goals in the quarter and taking a 7 point lead into the half. Newly selected '07 Captain, Jeff Fish pumped up his mates during the break with some heartfelt words, hoping to inject some life back into the Hamilton as they took the field in the second half. His words definitely inspired as the 'Cats took control of the third quarter, kicking 3 unanswered goals from Justin Settle, Jeff Fish and Daniel Crouch respectively to pull the Wildcats even after 60 minutes. In years past, the Wildcats have had a hard time holding onto a lead, and this was a trend that Hamilton was definitely looking to buck in 2007. The 'Cats newly formed backline of Justin Johns, Charles Thompson, rookie Luke Main and Vice Captain Greg "Plugger" Young stood strong all day long, and their play during the 4th quarter definitely helped to preserve the lead for Hamilton as Guelph made a strong push for the win late in the game. With only seconds remaining, rookie forward Mark "Charlie Hustle" Laidman lived up to his nickname, working hard in the forward line for a loose ball, and kicking what turned out to the be the winning goal for the 'Cats on the day. As the final horn sounded, Hamilton ran out winners 9.9.63 to 8.9.57 to start the season (1-0) for the first time in 9 years. The Wildcats will now go on to face the (0-1) Central Blues next weekend Saturday, May 12th starting @ 4pm at Humber College North in Toronto. C'arn the Wildcats!

HAMILTON GOALS: Daniel Crouch (3), Jeff Fish (1), Nick DiRago (1), Mark Laidman (1), Justin Settle (1), Justin Wilson (1), Mike Nolan (1)

HAMILTON BEST: Mike Nolan, Justin Johns, Justin Settle, Paul Lawson

If he was hoping to make his mark in his first OAFL regular season game, he definitely accomplished what he set out to do. This past weekend Wildcats rookie, Justin "R.O.Y." Settle, earned the respect of his fellow teammates as well as the coveted "Hardhat Award" for hardest working player of the game vs. Guelph. Justin handled himself very well in his 1st game, running hard to the ball, tackling well, leading to space and punching from behind to shutdown the oppositions top offensive player all game. Kudos Justin...definitely a job well done.

On Saturday, March 31st, one of the newest Wildcats will be celebrating his last few days of freedom, before taking the "plunge". The Hamilton Wildcats AFC would like to congratulate Barry Crow on his upcoming weeding, and are pleased to announce an open invitation to his Stag & Doe this upcming weekend in Chatham. For those who would like to head down and help show the Chatham faithful what drinking and partying is all about, the club hopes to set-up a carpool for this road trip as well as reservations for anyone wanting to stay over night. Barry has been kind enough to send us directions to the Stag & Doe, but if you have any questions or need any extra directions/information, please don't hesitate to contact the club at: hamiltonwildcats@hotmail.com


Directions are pretty easy.
-Take 401W towards Windsor.
-Turn Right onto Exit 81 (Bloomfield Rd.)
-Turn Left onto Bloomfield Road.
-Turn Right onto Richmond (1st set of lights)
-Turn Left onto Merritt (3rd set of lights)


Address: 280 Merritt Ave. C.A.W. Hall Chatham, Ont.


Stag & Doe tickets are $10, and there will be a meal included, as well as the usual Stag & Doe games (blackjack, crown and anchor, toonie toss, raffle prizes). There will also be a DJ on hand, and near the end of the night there will be a food auction; where people can bid on different food/dessert items that they can throw/smash on Barry and/or Melissa (Barry's fiancee)...and of course, tons of drinks!! Please RSVP if you are interested in heading down to help show your support to Barry & Melissa, and hopefully we'll see you there this weekend!

The Hamilton Wildcats would like to wish rookie backman, Mike "the Kiwi" Bunce all the best as he's received an invitation to interview for a faculty position in Perth, Western Australia. The interview is scheduled for Friday, June 8th, but Mike will actually be leaving for Oz this Sunday and coming back the following Sunday; missing 2 games in the meanwhile. We'd love to have you in uniform to help the team out over the next two rounds, but we understand how important this opportunity is to you and helping to advance your career. The entire club is totally behind you mate and we hope to have you back for Round 5 in good health and good spirits. All the best Mike...congrats and good luck.

This past Sunday, May 29th in Hamilton, the (0-1) Wildcats hosted the (1-0) Mississauga Demons at Mohawk Sports Park to open a 2 game home stand. The Cats were looking to avenge a muddy loss from Round #1 and pick-up a victory early in the 2005 season against a perennial rival, while the Demons were looking to extend their winning streak to 2 games. The Demons pulled of a miraculous 4th quarter comeback to win 12.4.76 to 11.8.74

For the full game report Click Here >>

On a very wet and muddy Saturday afternoon, the Hamilton Wildcats made their way down to the Rose City to open the 2005 OAFL season. With 17 players in tow, the Wildcats were hoping to start their new season with a victory away from the friendly confines of Mohawk Sports Park. The Windsor Mariners were looking to start their new season where the left off in 2004, finishing 4th in the OAFL and making their first visit to the playoffs in their young three year history. End the end, after the mud had dried, The Mariners came out on top in a close match by a score of 8.10.58 to 6.6.42

For the full game report Click Here >>

This past weekend in London, the new look Hamilton Wildcats made the trek west down the 401 to compete in the 2005 Pre-Season Cup. With 21 able bodied players in tow (10 new recruits) and new jumpers on their backs the 'Cats were pitted to face the Windsor Mariners, Guelph Gargoyles and the host London Magpies in a 4 team warm-up tournament.

For a report on the day's results Click Here >>

A special thanks to all who made the trip to London last weekend, especially the clubs who made for a very exciting afternoon of footy. It was a great way to start the 2005 season, with great weather and with many positives to take with us, as we face the Windsor Mariners in Round 1 on Saturday, May 14th at Malden Park...in Windsor. The Hamilton Wildcats would like to wish all the teams in the OAFL a very successful 2005 season, as we look very forward to playing everyone this year as well as hosting the visiting clubs when they make the trip to the Steel City. Good luck!