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Port Malmö hosting the first DAFL GF outside Denmark

  • Saturday, September 19 2009 @ 06:31 am ACST
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The Port Malmö Maulers will tomorrow aim to become the first-ever Swedish team to win the Danish Australian Football League premiership when they host the North Copenhagen Barracudas at Limhamnsfältet, Malmö.

The match marks the first time the DAFL Grand Final has been outside Denmark, with the Maulers red-hot favourites going into the match after the dominant Farum Cats bowed out of the finals series in straight sets.

Thanks to Ingmar 'Terry' Lundquist for this match preview.

After the Maulers' gritty and miracle win against Farum away secured a home grad finals, the second shock of the season occurred as North Copenhagen Barracudas put away the unlucky Cats in the preliminary.

The Barracudas have never won at the Maulers' home ground in Limhamn, and added to recent form, the Swedish powerhouse club will pose a tough challenge for the Cudas.

Under the DAFL's Australian player quota rules, the Maulers can play seven Aussies, while the Barracudas can play six. Both teams have a couple of veterans, so it should be pretty even on that department.

The Maulers will have the extra edge of their Irish contingent, which could mean the difference between the sides.

Both teams full-backs will have plenty of head-aches, against their full-forwards opponents, Matt McMahon of Port Malmö and Danish footy pioneer Erik Krolmark.

North Copenhagen will have the bigger advantage in experience, having won several DAFL Grand Finals. On the other hand, the Maulers have lost two grand finals and will be eager to finally break through. Adding to this, many of their players lost with the Saints in 2005.

In the ruck the Barras also have the advantage, but the Maulers still should win in the centre. Both teams backs will be under pressure as both teams are very attacking.

The Skåne AFL’s favourite son, Mark Rattigan, has timed it perfectly to play his 50th game, and a Premiership would mean double celebrations. Congratulations Rat!

Here in Sweden we've got the nagging suspicions that the Maulers will do it easily, despite whatever the big bad Barras throw at them.

A brave prediction - Port Malmö by 56 points, to become the first Swedish DAFL Premiers and finally put and end to the long reign of Danish Premiership clubs.