Football kick-off

Tyroleans want to get off to a fresh start after a failed season

The derby is always hotly contested.(Bild: Angelo Sarabia)

The egg is flying again - the Austrian Football League season starts on Saturday for the Raiders Tirol and the Telfs Patriots. After the Styrian Bears and Steelsharks Traun withdrew to Division 1, there are only eight clubs left. But the excitement should increase.

Last season was a season to forget for both Tyrolean teams. The Raiders missed out on the play-offs once again and the Patriots were in a mess. They were unable to play their final game due to a lack of personnel, and four games were subsequently penalized for the use of an ineligible player.

All water under the bridge. New game, new luck. And new head coaches!

Home opener against Rangers
Dominik Bauer took over for Florian Grein at the Raiders. "We want to win, that's our mentality. I want to put us back in a light worthy of the Raiders," said the German, who has been with the organization since 2013.

The level in Europe is very high. I played high school in Texas and I think I have a good feel for what good football is. It's really nice to see how much the people and players here love the sport.

Raiders-Quarterback Kason Martin

Great expectations are placed on US quarterback Kason Martin, and imports Cannon Grinner and Jens Walter are also new. They should make an immediate impact in the home opener against Rangers Mödling.

Patriots and Raiders will face each other for the first time on April 28.(Bild: Angelo Sarabia)

Telfs start at the Vikings
Hunter Schmidt is the new head coach at Telfs. The US-American was the Patriots' first legionnaire years ago. "He knows the environment, which was also a decisive factor," said playing chairman David Mariani: "We want to stabilize ourselves and stay in the league." The game starts with a tough visit to the Vienna Vikings.

Austrian Football League

• Raiders Tyrol
• Telfs Patriots
• Vienna Vikings
• Graz Giants
• Rangers Mödling
• Salzburg Ducks
• Danube Dragons
• Prague Black Panthers

AFL: Saturday: Raiders Tirol - Rangers Mödling (Football Center Innsbruck, 15), Vienna Vikings - Telfs Patriots (16). Sunday: Graz Giants - Prague Blach Panthers (14).