The bye rounds are over, and it’s time for the second edition of The Rani Power Rankings.
The contenders have been separated from the pretenders, with a once tight league being diluted over the past month.
Let’s take a look at how the teams stand as we head towards finals.
12. Marc this down for a loss (3-12, 12th)
Coach: Rory Illman Average: 1,798 Ranking: 49,559th Last Four: LLWL
Coach Rory Illman only did one trade last week, that sums up Marc this down for a loss’ season.
Illman’s kitchen drawers must be rather large, as his side looks set to defend their 2017 wooden spoon.
Instead of saving their season, if they are to upset a few teams over the next five weeks, Marc this down for a loss will be able to spice things up as the league heads towards finals but unfortunately for Illman, his side will not.
11. Heppell me I’m Dyslexic (5-10, 11th)
Coach: Jon Crowhurst Average: 1,935th Ranking: 16,924th Last Four: LLLL
The only winless side over the past month, Heppell me I’m Dyslexic once seemed poised for a rise up the ladder, but some poor trades and unfortunate injuries have cost coach Jon Crowhurst dearly.
Expected to make a push over the bye rounds, Heppell me I’m Dyslexic ended up with some of the lowest scores in the league.
With their finals chances over, last year’s runner-up will have to quickly forget about 2018 and hope that they’ll be back to their best next season.
10. Mitch’s Masterclass (6-9, 9th)
Coach: Mitchell Marini Average: 1,896 Ranking: 27,407th Last Four: LWLL
A horror past month has left Mitch’s Masterclass’ finals chances hanging by a thread, after once sitting within fighting distance of most of the competition.
With their last win coming in round eleven, a one-point thriller over We’re the Millers, if Mitchell Marini’s side can’t find a win quickly then their finals chances are long gone.
They will need to pull off some upsets and recapture the form that they had once upon a time, but once again, the odds aren’t in their favour for 2018.
9. Hi I’m Clayton (6-9, 10th)
Coach: Matthew Wohling Average: 1,894 Ranking: 27,911th Last Four: WLWL
Just when their season seemed to be over, Hi I’m Clayton managed to pick up two important wins to keep their finals chances alive.
If coach Matthew Wohling is able to stay focused and make some sensible trades, then his side might just be able to sneak in to finals, but could they do anything if they made it?
A challenging draw for the next five rounds, Hi I’m Clayton might look at ruining others seasons instead of fighting for their own.
8. We’re the Millers (6-9, 8th)
Coach: Harry Roberts Average: 1,891 Ranking: 28,646th Last Four: WLLW
Despite some inconsistent form over the past four weeks We’re the Millers were able to jump from 11th to 8th and find themselves a game outside of finals contention.
Due to other teams around them dropping some easy games, Harry Roberts was able to keep his side alive but it was nothing too convincing, with a disappointing loss to Hi I’m Clayton preventing them from being in equal sixth.
A poor percentage could prove costly, as We’re the Millers will need some big wins if they are to make finals, and a tough draw certainly won’t help their cause.
7. It’s a Shaw-thing (7-8, 6th)
Coach: Sam Carruthers Average: 1,983 Ranking: 5,517th Last Four: WLLW
Sitting a game outside of the top five teams before the bye rounds, It’s a Shaw thing stumbled over the past month and now find themselves two games behind, with finals still not a certainty.
Some close losses including an eleven-point defeat to Gawn But Not Forgotten could haunt them later, with an incredibly difficult draw standing between them and the finals.
Next week’s matchup against 7th placed Grab ‘em by the Preussy could be one of the most important games of the year, as a loss for Sam Carruthers’ side could cost them their year.
6. Grab ‘em by the Preussy (7-8, 7th)
Coach: Jesse Fienemann Average: 1,915 Ranking: 22,146th Last Four: LWWL
The battle for sixth is heating up, with Grab ‘em by the Preussy sharing the same record as 6th placed It’s a Shaw Thing as well as splitting their past four games 2-2.
Once 2-5, Coach Jesse Fienemann has managed to get his side going in the right direction as his team looks the favourite to sit in sixth place come finals time.
After next week’s exciting matchup against Sam Carruthers’ team, Grab ‘em by the Preussy face 8th, 9th and 12th in games which will set up their finals run while ending the hopes of others.
5. Gabe’s Team (10-5, 2nd)
Coach: Gabe Fienemann Average: 1,946 Ranking: 13,813th Last Four: LWLW
Despite their hot start to the season which saw them go 6-1 through seven games, Gabe’s Team have only managed to go 4-4 over the past eight weeks.
Once two games clear of their nearest rival, Gabe’s Team now only hold a one-game cushion over three different teams all on the rise. Four weeks ago, it was said that the then current form-slump couldn’t be taken lightly, but now the alarm bells must be ringing for coach Gabe Fienemann.
Luckily for Gabe’s Team, a two-game gap from 5th to 6th means that they shouldn’t miss the finals, but they’d want to fix whatever the problem is and fix it quickly.
4. Vince U Been Gawn (9-6, 3rd)
Coach: Bear Holland Average: 1,925 Ranking: 19,538th Last Four: WWLW
A healthy record coming out of the bye rounds was exactly what coach Bear Holland was after, as he continued to play the breakeven game, making the most of the three weekly trades.
A close defeat to Gawn But Not Forgotten in round thirteen kept the league’s middle pack as tight as ever, while also preventing Vince U Been Gawn from rising higher on the ladder.
With three other teams sitting on 9-6, Vince U Been Gawn, who have the toughest draw out of the three, will need to pull of an upset somewhere if they are to stay in touch with the other two 9-6 teams. However, this team was written off after an 0-3 start, so anything truly is possible for Vince U Been Gawn.
3. Gawn But Not Forgotten (9-6, 5th)
Coach: Tyson Manthorpe Average: 1,958 Ranking: 10,774th Last Four: LWWW
Despite stumbling to We’re the Millers last week, Tyson Manthorpe’s Gawn But Not Forgotten were the only undefeated side through the bye rounds, knocking off some solid teams in thrilling fashion.
One game away from Gabe’s Team in second, Gawn But Not Forgotten do have the worst percentage of the top seven teams, but a relatively easy draw to finish the season could provide a few percentage boosters.
The easy run home should guarantee Manthorpe’s side a finals spot, but this side is poised for a much deeper run.
2. Mirra of Erised (9-6, 4th)
Coach: Max Read Average: 1,933 Ranking: 17,332nd Last Four: WWWL
A three-game winning streak with some important wins in the bye rounds has set up Mirra of Erised rather nicely for the remaining regular season rounds.
With their next three games against 9th, 12th and 10th on the ladder, a six-game win streak is certainly on the cards, which would propel them into second place if an inconsistent Gabe’s Team were to drop one.
A certainty for finals, if Max Read’s red-hot side can continue their stunning form, the rest of the league will have to take notice.
1. Kidney Sloanes (13-2, 1st)
Coach: Christopher Hedges Average: 1,985 Rank: 5,192nd Last Four: WLWW
Still comfortably ahead of the competition, Kidney Sloanes boast the best record, best percentage, but do have themselves a challenging finish to their season.
One more win would almost guarantee Christopher Hedges’ championship favourite team the minor premiership, but they know better than anyone that the season doesn’t end then.
Hedges, who often gets caught up in ranking rather than league, could spend the next couple weeks organising his team for a powerful Finals finish and if he does, back to back titles seem a certainty.
Power Rankings
1. Kidney Sloanes 2. Mirra of Erised 3. Gawn But Not Forgotten 4. Vince U Been Gawn 5. Gabe’s Team 6. Grab ‘em by the Preussy 7. It’s a Shaw thing 8. We’re the Millers 9. Hi I’m Clayton 10. Mitch’s Masterclass 11. Heppell Me I’m Dyslexic 12. Marc this down for a loss
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