The league is the closest it has been all season and now, with twenty straight days of action, there's no room for error from the head coaches as we head towards finals.
Early season favourites have fallen, the youthful teams have flowered but more surprisingly, some passionate coaches have seemingly fallen out of love with the league.
Here's how the Power Rankings look amidst all the chaos of the carnival.
1. The Catholic Church (6-3)
Last 5 weeks: 4-1
After finding themselves outside the finals picture not too long ago, The Catholic Church have rocketed to second place on the ladder and look destined for their first finals appearance in team history.
Their young players have well and truly capitalised on the shortened quarters, shortened breaks and unfamiliar season, with Hedges' squad going 4-1 over their last five weeks.
They'll likely record their seventh win of 2020 this week against The UUFFT, but all eyes are focused on their mouth watering matchup in Round 11, which could decide the minor premiership.
2. Beat Jesse (7-2)
Last 5 weeks: 4-1
Beat Jesse have barely put a foot wrong over the past five weeks as they too boast a 4-1 record, putting them a game clear atop the table after nine rounds.
However, despite the league-best record, the attention span from coach Roberts is still lacking, with the coach often forgetting to alter his talented lineup until Sunday.
It's a testament to how good Beat Jesse are, with Roberts' side yet to show their full potential but still sit comfortably in first place.
3. NANA Winner (5-4)
Last 5 weeks: 2-3
One of four sides with a 5-4 record, NANA Winner has struggled over the past five weeks, including two shock losses to Max's Team.
Once top of the table, it seems as though Tyson Manthorpe has started to follow the footsteps of the infamous Harry Roberts, with the reigning premier not immune to brain-fades regarding his lineup.
Similarly to Beat Jesse, there's enough talent on NANA Winner's list that they can away with forgetting to alter it, which is why they still sit third on the rankings.
4. BOO (5-4)
Last 5 weeks: 3-2
BOO sit out of the finals picture on points scored, but are one of only four sides in the league with a winning record over the last five weeks, finding themselves in the top four in the Power Rankings.
Two of BOO's three wins in July were against the struggling Heeney Some Milk, but with their fellow 5-4 rivals dropping games they shouldn't, Carruthers' will certainly take those two wins that keep them in the race.
Whether they have the talent to make finals this season remains to be seen, there's every chance it comes down to points scored, which is bad news for last year's runner-ups.
5. Gabe's Team (5-4)
Last 5 weeks: 1-4
They were once 4-0 and seemed a class above the rest of the competition, but now they find themselves battling to stay in the finals picture.
Gabe's Team became the first side to lose to Nana's easy-beats Heeney Some Milk, with their first win since Round 4 coming last week over the struggling UUFFT.
Unfortunately for Gabe's Team, their recent form hasn't been due to inactivity, but rather injuries and form slumps, however with some players making their long-awaited return to the lineup, perhaps the Gabe's Team of old will also return.
6. Max's Team (4-5)
Last 5 weeks: 3-2
Max's Team suddenly find themselves a game under .500, in eerily similar fashion to last year, when Read's side went on a winning frenzy in the middle of the season.
After starting the 2019 season 1-5, Read's side won six of seven games in the middle of the season, but still fell short of finals action.
Just like last year, everyone had written them off throughout the first few weeks of the season, but if they can build on this recent momentum, we could have a six-team squeeze for 2020 finals football.
7. The UUFFT (3-6)
Last 5 weeks: 2-3
If you're going to leave the captaincy on a player and forget about your team for two months, Max Gawn is very much the player for the job.
In a plot twist the league never saw coming, the head coach who was so passionate in the loan-gate fiasco, has now seemingly lost passion for the league.
Perhaps it was loan-gate that changed everything for Jesse Fienemann, or maybe it was his side being out of the finals picture in 2020, either way, the league is better with a passionate Jesse, and we miss him dearly.
Except in Round 12, where he is allowed to forget about The UUFFT. Thanks.
8. Heeney Some Milk (1-8)
Last 5 weeks: 1-4
The miracle somehow happened, as Heeney Some Milk recorded their first - and likely their last - win in 2020 over Gabe's Team back in Round 7.
They'll need to pull off another win this season if they are to match their greatest season win tally in their team's history: two (2) wins.
But for now, they'll just be happy to avoid enduring a winless season, and maybe try and ruin some finals chances while they're at it.
Comentários