Although the playoff participants have been determined, there’s one thing remaining before the playoffs kickoff and that is the end of the regular season. Exactly that will happen after the Kragujevac Wild Boars and the ASVÖ Gladiators play their match on Saturday at FK Sušice stadium.
Last year, the season ending game was decisive for their eventual triumph. As only a win against the rival Belgrade guaranteed them a place in the final, the Wild Boars had much to play for back then.
But 2007 was a season of dramatic fall for the Wild Boars, who are on the verge of becoming the first team to stay winless for the whole season. The champions of 2006 recorded six losses to date, doubling the number of losses they recorded in three seasons before this one.
The Wild Boars game was always to score early and than suffocate the opponent defensively, a tactic particularly successful against Belgrade, and also in years when scoring early was half a win. But, as they currently rank last in practically every offensive category, from rushing to passing, it’s not hard to understand why their season unfolded like it did.
The competition stiffened as well, not just from the inclusion of two experienced and competent teams, but primarily for them within the newly formed conference South. And of course, their own losses in player personnel were maybe the most important. After the loss in the season opener to Novi Sad, all doubts that it might have been a fluke were erased when they lost in Ljubljana, which is the only win for the Silverhawks this year.
Season for the Gladiators’ wasn’t as depressing, but certainly not what they signed up for. They hardly challenged the Wolves’ in both of their games, and had no success against Serbian teams either, losing to both Belgrade and Novi Sad. The second part of the season loss in Novi Sad was especially bad, and probably holds the key for this one. If they show up with the number of players like they the last time they came to Serbia, the Boars might have a chance to record their first W. In the last week’s game against the Wolves, they already showed they can match up with a weakened team.
Showing up with the whole team might be in the Gladiators’ best interest. With the semi finals just a week away, another chance to get the rust off from the summer break is useful for them. And besides, their chances might look better if they show up with a win against a team not named the Silverhawks.
The game starts at 1PM.