The New South Wales Wolfpack accomplished an unprecedented achievement of five consecutive Gridiron Australia National championship titles this April largely in due to the very productive legs of running back Matt Croasdaile.

 

The NSW Wolfpack defeated the Victoria Eagles 28-7 in the championship game on April 16 at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Melbourne, Australia becoming the 2010 Gridiron Australia National Champions.  This is the fourth successive year the Wolfpack met Victoria in the finals. 

 

Head coach of seven straight NSW State championships with the Sydney University Lions, Stephen Dunne led NSW Wolfpack to victory.

 

The tournament featured six state teams from across Australia – Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and the ACT.

 

During NSW’s championship campaign - which included a 46-0 opening game shut-out victory against South Australia – Croasdaile led the Wolfpack in an explosive no huddle spread offense with five touchdowns and had 100 plus yard games in all three games of the tournament running behind a very strong offensive line.

 

The ground game was a key component to NSW’s success and the load fell on Croasdaile’s shoulders as the feature running back. The team ran the ball in half of their offensive plays setting up the team’s play action passes which ultimately produced two touchdowns in the championship game.

 

The Wolfpack received strong performances across the entire team including quarterback Kiernan Dorney, offensive lineman Nathan D’Cunha, wide receiver Tristan Cauhepe, defensive lineman Shannon Lynch, linebacker Joe Lim, and defensive back Jordan Cook.

 

During Croasdaile and the Wolfpack’s road to victory, the team held off a determined WA Raiders and a last minute drive down the field to win 31-27 and a place in the championship game.

 

Croasdaile plays for the Sydney University Lions and has been named MVP during three NSW State championship games in 2006, 2008, and 2009 becoming one of the top rushers in the nation.

 

He was also one of the strongest players during the pre-tournament speed and strength testing.

 

Gridiron Australia will select the outstanding players from the tournament to represent the Australian National Team that will compete in the IFAF Senior World Championship held in Austria in 2011.

 

With running back Matt Croasdaile performance throughout the tournament he surely made his case as to why he should be considered for a spot on the Australian National team.

 

And IFAF.org would also like to honor his impressive work on the football field by naming him the IFAF.org April Player of the Month.