The Al Ain Desert Foxes will once again be resigned to the stands as the EAFL crowns a new champion at Dubai Sports City on Friday night, when the Dubai Barracudas search for their first title against two-time winners Abu Dhabi Wildcats.
Al Ain’s campaign ended in the first round of the playoffs with a 33-0 loss to the Barracudas, and with it, their two-year search for a victory was put on hold.
There were signs of life, most notably a narrow 16-6 loss to the Dubai Stallions in February, but ultimately the Desert Foxes were hampered by a lack of bodies which forced them to constantly play undermanned.
Relief could be on the way beginning next season, however, with the EAFL weighing options on how to balance out the teams’ rosters.
The league has tossed around ideas such as a draft and considered lowering the fees to play for those who join Al Ain, giving more incentive to suit up for the bottom-placed squad.
“The league is coming up with some really nice ideas to try and balance it out so no team has a numbers issue and to balance everyone out with 20 to 25 players,” Desert Foxes coach Johnny Sharp said.
“Once we get there, Al Ain is going to look very good.”
His job may get easier, but Sharp has continued to stay positive even through Al Ain’s struggles and at the moment, expects to return to build on what he believes was improvement this season.
“The biggest part of this season is the men allowed themselves to be coached,” Sharp said.
“For the men to be as patient as they were and for them to be as resilient as they were through all the things we dealt with, it was a plus. That’s what I’ll take from it.”
