World Footy News

The second AFL Middle East season is drawing to a close. The last round is still to be completed, but the Grand Finalists have already been determined. Ironically these two clubs, reigning champions the Dubai Heat and their neighbours the Abu Dhabi Falcons, will also face off in the final round.

It's been a successful season with all scheduled matches played, although one match needed to be postponed due to three days of heavy rain, something Cameron Hotton, the league’s Football Operations Manager rightfully described as, “unheard of in AFL Middle East’s short history.”

The Heat and the Falcons have had solid seasons, both going into the final round undefeated. Perennial winners the Dubai Heat are the envy of many football clubs, once again breezing through the season. Abu Dhabi have made a big improvement on their fourth place finish in 2008-09.

Another big improver is the Dubai Dragons, who have three wins so far this season and are third on the ladder. Bahrain have been impressive in their first season. World Footy News reported on their first win in November 2009. They’ve since won another match and currently sit fourth of seven clubs on the ladder. They have a bye scheduled for the last round. Not so impressive are Muscat, who came very close to clinching last year’s Premiership. They are yet to win a game this year, and languish at the bottom of the ladder.

AFL Middle East has now had its first female player. Lisa Castle pulled on the boots for Doha for a few games during the season. Both Doha and the Dingoes have had relatively quiet seasons, with a solitary win each after six rounds.

Two individual awards, the Aussie Property MVP Player of the Year and the Rider Levett Bucknall Leading Goal Kicker of the Year, have been introduced this season. So far Ben Williams of Abu Dhabi looks set to take out the MVP and Marc Peterson, also of the Falcons, leads the goal kicking. Peterson is four majors clear of Bahrain’s Stewart Hunt.

The Grand Final will be held on 19 March 2010. The league’s Gala Ball and Presentation Night will be held the following Friday in the Great Room at Le Meridien Dubai. Tickets are 350 Dirhams each and need to be pre-purchased. Contact Mel on +971 50 240 3486 for more details.