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2014 USAFL Season Preview: Southeast Division

  • Friday, May 16 2014 @ 06:31 am ACST
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This is part two of the six part series on the USAFL Season Preview as we preview the Southeast Division.

Southeast Region

The southeast regional has the most dynamic teams in the nation as three of the top ten teams in the nation Nashville (#5), North Carolina (#9) and Fort Lauderdale (#10) are in this region. This is a potent region and will have a big say in the Divisional makeup on the road to Columbus.

Atlanta Kookaburras (3-5, 12 points, Finish Rank:  20th)
Atlanta comes into 2014 with a lot of questions after the team combined with Baton Rouge and was delegated to Division Four for the first time in their history.  After the blowout losses that highlighted the season against their archrival Nashville and a close loss to North Carolina as well, what will be the fate of the Kookaburras? A tell tale sign of what the season will be told in their first match, ironically at Nashville (their longtime arch rivals) on June 28th.  If they come with the tenacity of the seasons before 2013, expect a battle.  I am not sure if that'll happen.  First analysis for Nationals:  Division 4 as the 4th seed. (Atlanta has just appointed Mick Keough as their 2014 coach and I would expect a turn around in fortunes for the Kookaburras. Ed.) 
 
Florida Redbacks (2-3. 6 points, Finish Rank:  26th)
The Florida Redbacks have been on the improve in recent times as a separate entity away from Fort Lauderdale.  Will this be the season that they will field a standalone team for the Nationals?  With a 2-3 record last season, there is hope for them.  First analysis for Nationals:  Most likely not to field a team.
 
Fort Lauderdale Fighting Squids (6-2, 18 points, Finish Rank:  10th)
The Squids were somewhat of a surprise packet as they went against some tough opposition and prevailed.  Coming within ten points of winning the Pool B in Division Two, I expect this team to fight for the title in Division Two.  Their road won't be easy, however, as their schedule is one of the tougher ones in the league.  Expect a lot from them this upcoming season.  First analysis for Nationals:  Division 2 as the #2 seed.
 
Nashville Kangaroos (8-3, 30 points, Finish Rank:  5th)
The Kangaroos are coming into 2014 with a lot to prove as they were somewhat disappointing in the Nationals, finishing 5th in Division 1 after being picked by several teams to win it all.  They have a new coach this season and a younger team than it has fielded in several years after several players retired at the end of 2013.  However, their core is still strong with Captain Luke Nemeth, a perennial USA Revolution player.  The fork in the road for them this season may be the first Central Regional in Indianapolis on July 26-27 which will decide if they have the chops for a 4th run in a row in Division 1.  Also with a home-and-home clash with both Columbus and Atlanta, plus a doubleheader with Division One Champion Austin...this will be a watershed year.  The team is definitely a borderline Division 1/2, but I am hopeful.  First analysis for Nationals:  Division 1 as the 6th seed.
 
North Carolina Tigers (5-3, 20 points, Finish Rank:  9th)
North Carolina comes into the 2014 season with a lot of questions as they dropped down to Division 4 at last year's Nationals, but won their Pool A side of the draw, only to lose mightily to the Cincinnati Dockers in the Division 4 Grand Final.  Their regular season results of just 2-3 is not flattering but when you consider their EAFL competition is pretty much the cream of the crop in the USAFL last season they don't look so bad.  I think another year in Division 4 could season them up for a run in Division 3 in 2015, but don't be surprised if they move to Division 3 this year.  First analysis for Nationals:  Division 4 as the top seed.

A new team has recently been announced in the Southeast with the St Petersburg Starfish FC forming in St Petersburg Florida.  At this stage St Pete will spend 2014 preparing to kickoff their footy in the 2015 season.  You can also catch up with the Starfish at their Facebook page.

Please check us out Alex's work online via usaflweeklyreport.com and watch the USAFL Weekly show, Fridays @ 7:30 pm USA Central Time on UStream.tv.  (Please check his USAFL Weekly Report Facebook page (and give it a Like) for any schedule changes).