Monarchs defending champion Eric Seidel will hold the trophy once again

Dresden – There are a few players left from 2021 who know what a final with the Dresden monarchs feels. However, only two Royal players have had the experience of two finals.

In addition to offensive tackle Aaron Wahl (34), only Eric Seidel (34) was there eleven years ago. Both began playing in the Monarchs’ men’s division in 2010.

“He came along later when he was younger. “I probably have more years under my belt, although I had to take a break from August 2016 to the end of 2019,” jokes Seidel.

The 34-year-old is something of a multifunctional Monarchs Swiss Army knife. He started as a quarterback, later retrained as a receiver and is now the holder for kicker Florian Finke (28).

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“I’m still a receiver and trained like that until the summer break. Since the winter, however, I have been somewhat handicapped by a herniated disc and only have one role in the team. It was also clear that at least as a holder I was doing what I would still do. “If I can make my contribution like this, then I’m happy,” says Seidel.

How important his role is was only seen last weekend in the strongest league in the world, the NFL, in the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals, when a lack of concentration on the part of the Bengals holder botched the decisive kick in overtime.

Seidel is just “glad that I can do the work. It’s relatively easy for me. Maybe it’s because as a quarterback I always had to catch snaps,” he explains.

“Especially in the position of the holder, it arrives in a few seconds. I also have a very good connection with our kicker Florian Finke. We’re lucky to have each other.”

The special teams in particular could make the difference in the GFL Bowl against the Potsdam Royals tomorrow, Friday (5 p.m., live on DF1). The self-employed fitness coach is not afraid of his hands suddenly shaking.

“This final is why you get up every day, why you put in so much work every day. You’re always working towards that, especially as a German player who generally doesn’t earn any money in the sport. It’s just a way of recognizing your achievements. This is our wages and bread!

And that’s exactly why Seidel will lift the “bump”, as the trophy is affectionately called, into the air a second time after 2021 – the back would do the same:

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“If necessary, I’ll take a pill. But he’s so fit, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to do all of this. This is what we have been working towards!”