July 12, 2013 by Charlie Eisenhood in Preview with 0 comments
The AUDL’s regular season will come to a close on Sunday evening in this final weekend of games before the playoffs in two weeks. The playoff field is already set, but there are some grudge matches still to play out and some exciting playoff previews, including a final look at Indianapolis against Madison.
Here’s a look around the league this weekend.
MIDWESTERN DIVSION
Detroit Mechanix @ Windy City Wildfire
The Windy City Wildfire may be a heavy favorite in this game, but the Mechanix are looking to play spoiler and prevent Chicago from clinching a first round bye with a win.
Windy City is just a game ahead of the Radicals in the Midwestern standings. Detroit has yet to beat the Wildfire this season.
The Mechanix won’t have a shot at the playoffs even with a win, but there’s nothing like ending the season on a high note with a win on the road.
Expect to see Windy City working on final tweaks as the Mechanix go all out in their final game of the season.
Indianapolis Alleycats @ Minnesota Wind Chill
This is the kind of game that could get chippy. The Alleycats eliminated the Wind Chill from playoff contention with a blowout 29-9 win last week to seal their spot in the postseason.
The teams face off again in a much less meaningful game. The Wind Chill have been the underperforming surprise of the AUDL season, never finding ways to win games despite a talented roster.
The Alleycats may well rest up in this game as they prepare for a much bigger game on Sunday.
Indianapolis Alleycats @ Madison Radicals
Playoff preview? Check. Team with something to prove? Check. Great game potential? Check.
The Alleycats and Radicals are very likely to face off in the first round of the Midwestern Conference playoffs — this is their final look at each other before that game. The Alleycats have not beaten the Radicals all season.
With two weeks until the playoffs, the teams have little incentive to hold back, when a statement win could do much more for their confidence heading into the postseason.
EASTERN DIVISION
Toronto Rush @ DC Breeze
The Rush head on the long road trip south for the first time since the very early part of the season; they face off first against the Breeze. They won’t have much to worry about in this game, as they have consistently dominated DC all season.
This road trip is mostly a final tuneup for the undefeated Rush, but they’ll need to be careful they don’t come into Philadelphia too relaxed.
New Jersey Hammerheads @ New York Empire
The Empire dominated the Hammerheads two weeks ago in Brooklyn; this week, they’ll face off in Manhattan as the Empire get a final game in before their meeting with the Philadelphia Phoenix in the playoffs in two weeks.
A number of Empire players were out last weekend for various commitments, but the squad should be at full strength this week.
The Hammerheads will look to get their third win of the year to close out their poor season.
Toronto Rush @ Philadelphia Phoenix
The Phoenix gave the Rush quite a game the last time Toronto came to town. Philadephia hopes to replicate that game and give something for the Rush to think about heading into the postseason.
Certainly, Philly will also be hoping to end the Rush’s undefeated season in the last AUDL game of the year.
The Phoenix, though, have bigger priorities. They are already thinking about how to prepare for the Empire — a team they did not beat during the season — in the playoffs. Expect to see Philly running some sets they will try against New York.
