Storylines to watch in the ELF’s South Division
Florian Puth
Every year in the European League of Football, big changes happen during the off-season. Teams build new rosters, hire new coaches, and prepare for a long, tough season. Now, with only a day until the start of the 2025 ELF season, one thing is clear: the South Division is stacked with talent and full of exciting storylines.
Have the Helvetic Mercenaries managed the rebuild?
The Helvetic Mercenaries have shown a lot of potential in their first season under a new name. However, they also showed that the team still has a lot of work to do. That's why those responsible have stepped up their game in the offseason. Isaiah Weed is a talented quarterback who has shown his playmaking qualities, but needs the right environment to bring it to the pitch. That's why they signed Keelan Cole, an NFL veteran and therefore a contender for the best receiver in the league. A statement that the Mercenaries need to turn into some wins.
Are the Bravos a one-season wonder?
In 2024, the Madrid Bravos joined the European League of Football and made an immediate impression. They snatched the Spanish crown from the Barcelona Dragons and won their first game in the league and against their rivals comfortably. They finished the season in third place in the Western Conference and went straight into the play-offs with eight wins and four defeats. Here they were beaten by the later champions Rhein Fire.
However, they proved their value. The Madrid Bravos are legit. In their second season in the ELF, they have to prove that it wasn't luck. The Spanish team definitely have the squad for that, thanks to strong signings.
Will Munich have another champion?
In their first year, the Munich Ravens narrowly missed out on the playoffs. In the second, they failed in the wildcard round despite some big wins. In contrast to soccer, where both the men's and women's teams of FC Bayern Munich were crowned champions, the city still lacks a major American football champion. The Ravens want to change that. The squad certainly gives hope. Will they get any further than the wildcard this season?
Will the Raiders learn from the previous season and finally secure the playoffs?
The Raiders Tirol played a solid to good 2024 season. The hard end came on the last matchday, when the Austrians lost 3:30 to their direct rivals, the Munich Ravens, in what was probably the most important game of the season. As a result, they missed out on the playoffs at the last minute. Something that should change this season.