The bye rounds are upon us, and with them, come the inaugural power rankings for The Rani.
The league is as even as ever, with four points separating a total of seven teams from third to ninth, leaving no room for mistakes this season.
But as we head into the second half of the season, ladder position is not important whereas power rankings are vital.
Let’s take a look at how this season’s power rankings are shaping up.
12. Marc this down for a loss (2-9, 12th)
Coach: Rory Illman Average: 1,889 Ranking: 51,298th
Still fighting for their first win since Round 6, last year’s wooden spooners look destined to add some more cutlery to their kitchen as they currently sit two games behind on the bottom of the ladder.
Averaging 1,888 points per game, Marc this down for a loss is believed to have a healthy amount of money to spend however, coach Rory Illman will need to act soon if he is to begin his climb into the tightly contested top eight.
The extra trades over the bye rounds combined with the salary cap space could set them up for a strong second half of the season, but it could also be too little too late and more of the same for Marc this down for a loss.
11. Mitch’s Masterclass (5-6, 8th)
Coach: Mitchell Marini Average: 1,971 Ranking: 31,475th
An inconsistent Mitch’s Masterclass has only managed a longest-winning streak of 2 games this season, but the tightly contested midfield of The Rani means that despite the inconsistencies, this team is only four points off third place.
Although, when you are trying to find positives, it’s never smart to try to use a positive that four other teams are also using as motivation.
Marini has proven that his team’s best is certainly competitive, but with low scores in the 1700’s far too often, his team has some work to do over the bye rounds.
10. Hi I’m Clayton (4-7, 10th)
Coach: Matthew Wohling Average: 1,970 Ranking: 31,516th
After a promising start to the season, Hi I’m Clayton has only managed to win one of their last five games and now find themselves in tenth place.
For Matthew Wohling to still be active in the league this deep in the season is an achievement in its own, but the question is does he have the fantasy smarts to keep his team in the hunt for a finals spot throughout the bye rounds?
Some interesting trade choices have been made already this season and there’ll be plenty more in store that could make or break Hi I’m Clayton’s finals chances in an instant.
9. We’re the Millers (4-7, 11th)
Coach: Harry Roberts Average: 1,964 Ranking: 33,439th
In a similar position to Hi I’m Clayton, who also hold a 4-7 record, a four-game losing streak saw We’re the Millers slip from fourth to eleventh in a month of football.
The form-slump ended last round with a thrilling one-point win over Mitch’s Masterclass, but coach Harry Roberts shouldn’t look to celebrate too much, as his team has some serious work to do over the bye rounds.
With a handsome amount of money to spend over the bye rounds, We’re the Millers are poised nicely for a charge back into the eight, and who knows what could happen once they’re in.
8. Grab ‘em by the Preussy (5-6, 7th)
Coach: Jesse Fienemann Average: 1,989 Ranking: 25,936th
An important win over a talented Mirra of Erised last week meant that Grab ‘em by the Preussy kept themselves in the midfield battle and don’t have to worry about making up spots over the bye rounds.
Grab ‘em by the Preussy will be hoping there’s more where last week came from, as a challenging bye fixture is the main reason they aren’t higher on the power rankings.
If Jesse Fienemann’s boys can manage to escape the bye rounds with a .500 record or above, then they might just turn themselves from another filler-team, into a contender.
7. Gawn But Not Forgotten (6-5, 4th)
Coach: Tyson Manthorpe Average: 2,040 Ranking: 10,458th
Ladder position can be misleading, that’s what power rankings are for, and Tyson Manthorpe’s Gawn But Not Forgotten will certainly be feeling the pressure over the bye rounds.
Currently on a three-game losing streak, Manthorpe’s side should consider themselves lucky for only dropping one ladder spot since they held a 6-2 record.
The extra trade should do wonders for Gawn But Not Forgotten, who have made some blunders with rookies this season, but back then they had a few wins up their sleeve, this time if they get it wrong it could send them out of the eight.
6. Vince U Been Gawn (6-5, 5th)
Coach: Bear Holland Average: 1,966 Ranking: 32,837th
After an 0-3 start, Vince U Been Gawn closely analysed their fixture to play the breakeven game and have now won six of their last eight games.
Despite a poor average, Vince U Been Gawn boast large salary cap space, and the extra trade over the next three weeks should be enough to form an impressive line-up.
Coach Bear Holland has earnt a reputation for falling in love with the breakeven approach and only time will tell if this is the year it pays off for him.
5. Mirra of Erised (6-5, 3rd)
Coach: Max Read Average: 1,998 Ranking: 23,270th
In such a tightly contested league, third place offers a false sense of security when even one loss could drop Mirra of Erised out of the eight.
The bye rounds will determine whether coach Max Read must chase for the rest of the season or whether he can hold ladder position and remain confident in his team.
Some tough matchups loom for Mirra of Erised over the next month and Read will have to make these extra trades worth it as nothing, certainly not finals, is a sure-thing in this league.
4. Heppell me I’m Dyslexic (5-6, 9th)
Coach: Jon Crowhurst Average: 2,032 Ranking: 10,458th
Although they sit outside the eight at the moment, Jon Crowhurst’s Heppell me I’m Dyslexic cannot be slept on over the next few weeks.
Ranked fifth overall in the league for average, heavy losses hurt their percentage and have hidden just how good this team may be.
The moves Crowhurst makes over the bye rounds will be very interesting to watch, if he pulls them off then we have ourselves another contender, if not, then finals might not even be in the picture for this team.
3. Gabe’s Team (8-3, 2nd)
Coach: Gabe Fienemann Average: 2,045 Ranking: 9,259th
A hot start to the season saw Gabe’s Team go 6-1 through their first seven games however, since then they seem to have fallen back to earth with some inconsistent performances.
Despite sitting two games clear of their nearest competitor, It’s a Shaw-thing, Fienemann’s squad were once four games clear of Carruthers’ line-up, meaning this current form slump cannot be taken lightly.
An easy fixture on paper throughout the bye rounds should see Gabe’s Team hold their advantage over the middle of the pack, but nothing is a Shaw-thing over the bye rounds and Fienemann’s two-game lead could easily become zero if he isn’t careful.
2. It’s a Shaw-thing (5-6, 6th)
Coach: Sam Carruthers Average: 2,048 Ranking: 8,489th
You can only play the team fixtured to play you and unfortunately for It’s a Shaw-thing, far too often this season their best games have been wasted on easy opponents.
Although they hold the second-best percentage in the league, Sam Carruthers’ finds his team sitting in sixth place stuck in the midfield battle when they could easily be battling it out against heavyweights Fienemann and Hedges.
If It’s a Shaw-thing makes the right moves and has a healthy bye structure then due to the closeness of this league, Carruthers’ could easily find himself involved in that heavyweight battle in no time, which is where his team belongs.
1. Kidney Sloanes (10-1, 1st)
Coach: Christopher Hedges Average: 2,064 Rank: 5,063rd
These rankings were never going to finish any other way, Hedges’ Kidney Sloanes are the undisputed number one team in the competition right now.
Despite dropping their first game of the season, Kidney Sloanes have run rampant on the league, winning ten straight to soar to first on the ladder with two wins as a safety net as well.
Known for his dedication to having the perfect bye structure right from opening night, Hedges could easily increase that winning streak even further and guarantee himself the minor premiership in no time.
A miracle is what it will take to upset this team, who look destined to take home another title in The Rani.
Power Rankings
1. Kidney Sloanes 2. It’s a Shaw-thing 3. Gabe’s Team 4. Heppell me I’m Dyslexic 5. Mirra of Erised 6. Vince U Been Gawn 7. Gawn But Not Forgotten 8. Grab ‘em by the Preussy 9. We’re the Millers 10. Hi I’m Clayton 11. Mitch’s Masterclass 12. Marc this down for a loss
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