Week Five Preview
Approaching Mid-Season and the DAL is really shaping up. The Vikings of Valor squad from Norsca have a strangle hold on the league, defeating a rival division leader in each of their first four games and currently are leading the league in offensive touchdowns, and are seemingly unstoppable having also the leagues best defense, so far only surrendering a single score to the high flying offense of the Westeros Wanderers.
It is likely we are looking at a run-away favorite to claim the D.A.L's inaugural season's league title and Overlord Trophy.
The Orc squad, the Southside Squigs have recently disbanded due to funding issues, and their tribe declaring a Waaaaghh against some dwarven settlements in the World Edge Mountains. Taking their place are the Fort Wayne Mad Orcz; and are they ever. The Mad Orcz have been unaffected by taking the Squigs loss on their record; ripping three consecutive wins to start their season, deposing of a couple of number one seeds in their wake.
The Killer Kossacks continue to suffer setback after setback; and other than some offensive woes; havent looked to impressive with leading the league in turnovers suffered with 41 balls given away. Their coaching staff is under serious pressure to make corrections nearing the season's half-way point; unfortunately they will have to attempt it facing the leagues best defense, the Vikings of Valor.
The biggest news so far of the season was inclusion of a sixth division, (The Mountain division) and 4 additional teams. From the cold unforgiving hinterlands come two teams of the recently departed, the Legion of Tomb and the Raging Dead Quitters, and poxon laden Nurgle team the Fitz-Slurg Squealers and the somewhat random but always fun Ridiculous Rangers of Athel Loren.
So far the new teams have adjusted as predicted to the league based off the Pre-season League questionnaire (shit works dog.) With the Legion of Tomb living up to their expectations racking up an impressive 12 casualties in 4 games and leading the league in delivering injuries! Meanwhile the Fitz-Slurg Squealers settled a long outstanding debt to their Khorne rivals in the realm of chaos, the Brass Citadel Berzerkers 2-0 in week 4.
Unfortunately some teams hadnt found as much success in the league as the others, with so many infamous teams and coaches converging and joining the Dauntless Athletic League, with the Goblin-side Runt Runners, the elven Raging Pompadours from the CAGE league; the Ridiculous Rangers and in a league shock..the early season favorite the Black Mountain Thunderers all remaining winless!
The half-way point is here, and Week Five starts now!
Feature Match(es) of the week!
The feature matches of week 5 both feature two divisional games that could be an early predictor of who makes the play-offs.
The Westeros Wanderers take on the Nogstafarian Krashers for the lead of the East division. While both teams sit at tied at 16 points, the Krashers have yet to be defeated this season, with winning 2 games and tying 2. Their opponent, the plucky humans from Westeros have been more impressive in their victories with their high powered Air Raid offense, but also have been decimated by injuries. The only knock on the Krashers is that they share the leagues second worst Strength of opponents percentage with a dismal 13.12 rating. Could the Krashers be a paper-champion? Will the depleted Wanderers steal a win, and escape with their lives?
Prediction:
Krashers 2 Wanderers 1
The next feature match with have a battle for the West, with division leaders the Skaven-side the Border Princes taking on the resurgent and not entirely appropriately named The Underwerld Underdogs for a drag out, knock out bout for the divisional reins. Where the Border Princes have only managed to drop one game, and share one of the highest TD +/- ratios with a +3, their opponents are tied for second in the league with for most casualties with 10, largely in part to their star Werewolves. The fragile armor value of the skaven could be a risk, but it remains unclear if the Underdogs can truly capitalize as their record can be deemed also questionable, as they hold the league WORST Strength of schedule for opponents through the first 4 weeks with a cringe worthy 9.86 rating. Can the Underdogs claim their spot rightfully amongst the leagues best and prove themselves over the sly and swift Border Princes? Or will the experience of years playing together be too much for the Underdogs resulting in a win for the rats?
Prediction
Border Princes 3 Underdogs 1
