World Footy News

With just three games to be played in the home and away rounds for 2013/4, the AFL Middle East competition is beginning to take on an air of a Dragon three peat. Whilst the Doha Kangaroos are certainly in a position to spoil the Dragon’s party, there is something quite compelling which says the Dragons are on the cusp of something special.

With the Dubai Dragons having completed their six home and away games, it falls on the other teams to scramble for positions over coming weeks. The Dragons managed to win five of their six encounters, many by large margins. Their only blemish was a shock loss to fellow Dubai team, the Dingoes. At the moment the Dragons hold firm on top of the ladder.

The Doha Kangaroos sit second. With three wins from four outings, the boys from Qatar now have two matches left (one postponed from last weekend) against third placed Abu Dhabi Falcons and fourth placed Dubai Dingoes. Both matches are winnable, and if they win both by large enough margins they could actually topple the Dragons from top place. Time will tell.

But were that scenario to occur, the Dragons would still be favourites to take the flag against Doha. Their last two meetings were last year’s grand final, won by the Dragons, and their recent clash in early February won comfortably by the Dragons to the tune of 34 points. If that form line holds true, the Dragons will win their third flag in a row after enjoying success in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons.

But history is a funny old thing, and the Doha Kangaroos will no doubt have glory on their mind also. They will be keen to make their own history, and the Dragons would be making an awful mistake to underestimate a determined Kangaroo outfit playing in their own second consecutive grand final: they are a team keen to make amends for a lost opportunity last season.

The Abu Dhabi Falcons and Dubai Dingoes will fight it out for third and fourth places this season. The Dingoes have two games to play, whilst the Falcons have just the one. Laws of averages should see them finish on 2 wins apiece, with for and against deciding their finishing order.

The Muscat Magpies may have only one win, knocking over the Dubai Dingoes, but they have given cheek in all other games despite some unflattering scorelines.

Despite the Bahrain Blues leaving the competition indefinitely, the expanded season has made up for that loss, providing more matches and seeing all clubs winning games, and no team remaining undefeated. Let’s hope that the finals series later in March brings an exciting end to what has been an exciting AFL Middle East season.