Hertha: “I guess we have certain responsibilities that we need to fulfil, Günther?”

Günther: “Indeed we do. And this season we start with SHC and it’s North division. Hertha?”

Hertha: “Before season started, it looked to be a fight between a rejuvenated Grizzlies team at 1830tv and last years divisional champ, Vikings, at 1760. Grizzlies was the team in DLE that improved the most from season 8 to season 9. CCC was firmly set for third place and with a Wolfskins team in reconstruction taking fourth place. However, while Vikings came out of the SoS games with their team intact and three points, the Grizzlies suffered 18 cas over three matches and lost key players like Draken, Upshaw and Hasslebeck. It’s unlikely that they now will be able to give the Vikings much of a fight for the division. Possiby not even versus the CCC for the second place. So I judge this division an easy win for the Vikings, with CCC in second place, Grizzlies third and Wolfskins fourth. And I agree with Inga, CCC will hardly make playoff, not even as a wildcard.”

Günther: “Right. Turning to the East division, it looked to be a three-way fight between last years runner-ups Greenskins at 1780tv, the always dangerous Rangers at 1680tv and a strengthened Legion at 1650tv. All three teams took losses in the first matches, though. Legion’s newly drafted big man Vernon Butler was killed by Jerrey Riggs at the end of his first match, and quarterback talent Eric Parr died in the next game. Rangers lost one of three killer blitzers, first season veteran Mick Kabluski, in their third match against the Legion and Greenskins did fairly well in their first match against the Bucs before they got their blitzer corps obliterated by the Vikings in their second game. With Trotter and Abdullah dead and Carradine retired, Grandad is the only remaining blitzer with DLE experience, and as a season 8 rookie with 17 games for the Greenskins, it’s not even much experience. Even more important, while Legion has 6 points after three matches and is the League leader, Rangers and Greenskins have only 2 points each, although Greenskins still hasn’t played their week 3 match. I think Legion will be divisional winners for sure, and expect Rangers to edge in just ahead of the Greenskins, but none will get enough points for a wildcard spot. Manticores will take the 4th place.”

Hertha: “In the South division, it looked even tighter. Last years play-off teams were at 1860 (Buccaneers) and 1700 (Avalanche), Wreckers, who had 20 points last season and still didn’t make play-offs were at 1700tv as well, and Bruisers, now under new management, were at a strong 1730. After three matches, all four teams have lost one player, and Bruisers is at the top of the division with 5 points, followed by Buccaneers with 3 points, Avalanche with 1 point and Wreckers with zilch. We suspect that this may also be the end result in the division, with Bruisers at the top and Buccaneers and Avalanche fighting for the second spot, but with Buccaneers getting it in the end. Last year’s sensation, Wreckers, will take the fourth place. We also think that Buccaneers will have a good chance at one of the wildcards.”

Günther: “Indeed. In the West division, last season’s divisional winner was the highest-ranked team in DLE at the start of the season with 1900tv. White Wolves and Marauders were pretty close at 1680tv and 1630tv, while Sharks was lagging behind at 1270tv, the lowest-ranked team in DLE. There have been some losses in this division as well, in particular for the Marauders who has lost a number of middleweight players, and of course the losses of Team captain and Franchise player Bish Bosh of the Knights, backup quarterback Renate Dedekind of the Sharks and sceond-round draftee lineman Stephane Nembot of the White Wolves. The teams have done well for themselves, though, with White Wolves and Sharks at four points and Knights and Marauders at three points so far. We believe that this situation will continue until the end of the season, and it will be very hard to judge who will come out on top. White Wolves, perhaps? And then Sharks, Knights and Marauders? The second team from this division will likely also get a wild-card, perhaps even the third, as is currently the situation. Most likely, perms to, and losses of, key players in the next weeks willbe the deciding factor in this race.”

Hertha: “Right. So we have Vikings, Legion, Bruisers and White Wolves as favorites for the divisional titles, with Buccaneers, Avalanche, Sharks and Knights fighting for the two available wild-card spots. What else should we comment on, Günther?””

Günther: “Well. There has been a much higher attrition this season than last season…”

Hertha: “Tell me about it! You know, I met Eric Wirnsberger in town a couple of days ago, and he offered to pay for us at the restaurant! I mean, Eric must be the most tightfisted man ever to be placed in a high position, so he must surely have been in an absurdly good mood!”

Günther: “For sure. So my point is, if this attrition rate continues, and hits unevenly, almost any team can quickly find itself out of its key players and thus see its chances take a nosedive.”

Hertha: “Which only serves to make this season the most exciting one so far. Anything can happen, and at any time! So follow us tomorrow as we take a look at the KFC!”

Brought to you by Hertha Wendlinger and Günther Schiele, Carroburg Tageszeitung