“David vs. Goliath: Steelsharks Traun take on Graz Giants in AFL Week 6 showdown”

The Traun sports center will experience a David versus Goliath duel next Saturday when the Graz Giants, the undefeated leaders of the AFL, make a guest appearance in the Steelshark Traun shark tank.

AFL WEEK 6

Steelsharks Traun (1-4) vs. Graz Giants (5-0)
SAT May 20, 2023 5:00 p.m. Sports Center Traun

Preview: The giants are coming to Traun

Strengthened by a win last weekend, the Stahlhaie footballers are up to the challenge and want to shake the current leader in the top domestic league.

After it last weekend with a 50:21-The victory over the Styrian Bears was the first win of the season, the Bundesliga footballers from Traun want to transfer the positive momentum into the next game. The only snag is that last weekend we faced the bottom team without a win in the league, but exactly the opposite awaits the Sharks next Saturday from 5:00 p.m. The Trauner go into the first of two duels with the current leaders in the league, the Graz Giants, as clear outsiders.

Clear division of roles

The Styrians want to maintain their perfect season. A defeat in the penultimate division of the league is by no means planned. The situation is reversed with the Steelsharks, who as blatant underdogs don’t have much to lose. “The duty was fulfilled last weekend with the victory over the Bears. Now the freestyle can come.”acts head coach Jure Bezica calm and doesn’t see the pressure on his team. “The Giants will also want to bring their dominant game to our field. Defensively, we need a flawless performance.”the Steelsharks coach and defensive coordinator knows his defenses are in for an intense afternoon.

Steelshark strengthened by victory

On the other side of the ball, on offense, there’s more reason to be optimistic after the Styrian Bears’ recent performance. Because the Haie’s offensive engine faltered in the first four games, so the men around Quarterback could Slade Jarman Score 50 points in the last game. On the one hand, the Upper Austrians’ passing game improved, and it was above all Jarman’s combination with a wide receiver Kenzo Mandlwho produced four touchdowns against the Bears.

On the other hand, there is for Jarman with And Doucek a second pass station that provides offensive yards. The Czech newcomer sits second in the league rankings at the halfway point of the season with 473 pass yards caught. But he remains self-critical and knows that it could be significantly more yards if the number of unnecessary drops is reduced. Also in the running game one recognized last Saturday with the increased use of running back Tobias Schlager new and fresh impulses. The youngster in the position of running back should continue to be built up carefully and continuously by the coaches, but emphasized against the Bears that he can be expected to make more carries.

Perfect Grazers want to remain dominant

While the Steelshark are still looking for the finishing touches, the Graz Giants’ own game works like a well-oiled machine. After five wins in a row, the Giants are looking for their sixth win of the season in the Haifischbecken in Traun. Quarterback holds offensively Wyatt Smith after five games with already 19 thrown touchdown passes. More than any other quarterback in the league. Favorite pass station is there for him Julian Capellari, who holds on seven touchdowns caught, making him one of the top receivers in the league. And as if that wasn’t dangerous enough, the Styrians have a running back for the running game Fritz Bleckmann also have the man of the hour and currently the best rusher in the league in their ranks.

The Giants’ perfect performance so far this season is garnished with a confident defensive line, which was able to keep the opposing offensive players below ten points in three of the five games. For the Steelshark it is therefore important to pay attention to Graz’s running and passing game on the defensive and, conversely, to act bitingly with your own ideas on the offensive, but not to aimlessly bite into the Graz defense.

The current weather report predicts that spring could stray into the country again next Saturday. So nothing stands in the way of a football festival in the Traun sports center over the long weekend. The Steelshark Fan Fest, the Steel City, opens its doors at 3:00 p.m. and invites football fans from both camps to warm up. The kickoff for the game is then scheduled for 5:00 p.m.