GFL playoff race: Everything still to play for on final weekend

| Allgau Comets | 09/02/2021

As the final weekend of the German Football League approaches, both playoff seedings and playoff berths are still at stake – apart from the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns who have the number one position in the South firmly secured.

But with only three points separating the other eight teams, whose futures are not decided, it can be tough to make sense of the playoff implications presenting themselves. It is for this reason we have broken each game and its consequences down for you.

Allgäu Comets (6-2) at Munich Cowboys (5-4)

The Comets game against the Frankfurt Universe was canceled on July 27 due to Covid-19 and leaves them with, what most would assume, is one less win. Despite this, the Comets are in prime position to take a playoff spot even if the Munich Cowboys (5-4) and Ravensburg Razorbacks (5-4) both win their games due to the head-to-headsituation. In what looks like the most likely of outcomes – the Comets at number three and Potsdam Royals (7-2) at number two in the North – Allgäu would be traveling to Potsdam in the first round of playoffs.

Cologne Crocodiles (5-4) at Braunschweig New Yorker Lions (5-4)

These two have comfortably made the playoffs regardless of a win or loss. The only thing up for grabs is the number three playoff spot. Usually, this wouldn’t be too much of a concern, but when the team you will have to travel to and play is the number one Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (9-0) over the number two Saarland Hurricanes (7-2), it matters.

Potsdam Royals (7-2) at Dresden Monarchs (8-1)

Without a doubt the two top teams in the North. The Royals started the season hot, sweeping opponents aside with ease. But as the season has progressed cracks have begun to appear in their one-dimensional offense. Their first loss of the season was to the Monarchs, and their second and more recently to a revamped New Yorker Lions squad. The Monarchs on the other hand have gone from strength to strength, and with a number of notable acquisitions late in the season now look set to challenge for the title. For Potsdam to take the number one spot they need to beat Dresden by more than 16 points.

Ravensburg Razorbacks (5-4) at Saarland Hurricanes (7-2)

The Razorbacks are currently sitting on the wrong side of the playoffs due to head-to-head losses. To even stand a chance they will need to beat the number two Hurricanes and hope that the number four Munich Cowboys (5-4) lose to the number three Allgäu Comets (6-2). This is not an unlikely scenario and will leave the Razorbacks feeling that their playoff fate, for the most part, is still in their own hands. Saarland will remain at number two and play the winner of the Cologne Crocodiles and Braunschweig New Yorker Lions matchup.

Playoff berths are secure for all but two teams – the Razorbacks and Cowboys – but that first step into the postseason is still undecided. Still, for two unlucky teams, the arduous bus journey to Schwäbisch Hall or Dresden will feel like the long walk up to the gallows as the two seem unbeatable. 

Make sure to catch all the action of AFI.tv this weekend.

 

Daniel Mackenzie is a Press Association graduate who works in journalism and communications in the third sector. Daniel began playing football for the London Warriors and Team Great Britain and has since played across Europe.