Welcome to the mid-season AD Blood Bowl Power Rankings

The mid-season power rankings try to represent the strength of a team; will they reach the post season, will they have what it takes to compete with high performing teams from the other conferences, and do they have a chance of winning the 2005 title.

 

There are numerous changes compared with the pre-season rankings, we now have some idea of the relative strength of the Northern conference teams and thanks to the cross conference matches in week three we have some idea of how these new franchises will match up against the more established teams in the post season.
 
As with the pre-season rankings I hope some of you agree. If you disagree please feel free to contract me on the AD Blood Bowl forum. I will try to explain my reasoning, now that I have the results through the first four weeks, I might actually be able to put forward a coherent argument. The results so far this season have vindicated some of my more controversial placing but there are some big movers.
 
POWER RANKINGS
Current ranking
Team
Pre-Season Ranking
1
Junior Wildmen
2
The Wildmen are top of the regular season rankings with only two points dropped, in a match against fellow contenders the Mugaz. As a result, the Wildmen climb one place to the top of the power rankings! The Wildmen have recorded 17 casualties so far this season, significantly more than most teams in the league and 4 more than any of their rivals for the title of most violent team. This record goes some way to explain how the Wildmen are recording victories without the services of a recognised thrower. There are still question marks over whether the Wildmen can mix it with the other title contenders, they still have not recorded a single victory in 7 matches against the Mutineers and the Mugaz but a strong performance resulting in an away draw against the Mugaz in the opening week of the season shows that this could change before the 2005 title is decided.
2
Tempo Ray Mutineers
1
Current title holders, the Mutineers, remain unbeaten in 12 matches and are still one of the favourites for the 2005 title. However, 2 draws from 4 games indicates that the team are not firing on all cylinders. Some commentators have questioned the drive of the head coach following success last season but in prior years the Mutineers have shown an ability to step up their game when it really matters in the post season, and it still looks like it will take a miracle to prevent them qualifying for it.
3
Revengers' Tragedy
3
Tragedy's third place in the pre-season power rankings caused more controversy than any other. The mid-season power rankings see Tragedy retain their position thanks to a series of strong performances, possibly the most significant of which resulted in a draw against the Mutineers. I said at the beginning of the season to expect the Tragedy to be dominant in the South with the cross conference matches providing insight into their absolute strength and a draw against the Mutineers indicates that they can compete with the strongest of teams. Tragedy are currently second in the overall rankings and are the season's highest scorers. If they can continue this form it should put them in a strong position going into the post season where their result against the Mutineers shows suggests they have a fighting chance.
4
KoPite MuGaz
4
This season, the Mugaz have performed in line with expectation. Nothing really surprising has happened all season and as a result they remain in 4th spot in the power rankings. The Mugaz showed in the first week of the season that they can live with the highly rated Wildmen and wins against the All-Stars and the Savages, who were both on a roll at the time, shows that their re-shaped team should make the post season but what they will do there is unclear.
5
The Darkstalkers
6
The Darkstalkers have performed strongly against their conference rivals with convincing victories against the Dolts and Fabienettes and only a narrow loss in their match with the Mutineers. The Darkstalkers' target of post season post-season qualification looks achievable but the Darkstalkers don't have a good record against the calibre of teams that they will encounter there. However, anything can happen once a team is into the post season.
6
Revenue Stealers
13=
With two wins and a draw in their three conference matches the Stealers are the outstanding team in the North and are therefore the power rankings "biggest climbers". The Stealers have coped very well with the death of Nerys their star dwarf blitzer and with clean sheets in every conference match they have displayed excellent defence. In prior years the new teams have struggled in the post season against opponents from more established conferences but the Stealers draw away at the Darkstalkers has given the coach hope that his team is the real deal. Post season qualification seems likely for the Stealers, any progress into the later rounds will be considered an excellent result for this first season team.
7
No Talent All-Stars
5
The All-Stars started the season with very high hopes, these were quickly dashed by a loss at the hands of the Savages followed by losses against their other two conference rivals. However in between these two defeats, the All Stars recorded their first win of the season against the Panzerbourne and followed this up with a week five victory against the Savages which pushes them just above their West coast rivals in the rankings. Post season qualification remains a possibility but will require good results against the West's two stronger teams, the Mugaz and the Wildmen.
8
Scarbringer Savages
7
The Savages started the season very strongly with an impressive victory over there close rivals the All-Stars which demonstrated the awesome attacking force that the coaching staff can call on. However, losses against conference rivals Mugaz, Wildmen and an early week 5 match against the All-Stars has upset those who were calling this "The year of the Savages". The Savages still have a very strong team and are capable of qualifying for the post season but it no longer looks likely.
9
In D.A. N/a Police Dolts
8
It is very difficult to predict the Dolts performances and results. The Dolts have secured points against both the Mutineers and the Mugaz but lost to their main rivals the Darkstalkers and unless the Dolts can reverse this result in their week 8 match-up it will be difficult for them to qualify for the post season. Look for the real Dolts to emerge in the second half of the season with qualification for the post season possible.
10
New England Patriot Missiles
12
The Missiles currently hold second place in the Southern conference and are in the race for the playoffs. The Tragedy are showing that the second year teams can be right up at the top, in contention for the title and the Missiles look like they could be ready to compete with teams like the Darkstalkers, the All Stars, the Savages and the Dolts. In fact the Missiles second cross conference match of the season pits them against the Savages. The result of that match will provide a strong indication of whether the South has two teams that can really bring it.
11
The Panzerbourne
11
Despite their obvious strength the Panzerbourne did not perform well in early 2005, and have now lost their head coach for the rest of the season. There are several rumours about what has happened to the out going coach and what sort of terms have been agreed with the new coach but a debut win for the new man against the Principals lifts them up the rankings. Like all the teams ranked immediately above them the Panzerbourne have a chance to reach the post season where they could prove to be the surprise package.
12
Arkasha Principals
10
In the pre-season power rankings, I discussed the unpredictable nature of rookie coaches in established leagues. Unfortunately for the Principals they find themselves at the bottom of the Southern conference despite an excellent draw against the Tragedy in the first week of the season. Last year's rookie coaches have performed much better this season showing the importance of experience. The Principals face the Mugaz in their second cross conference match of the new season and any kind of result in that match would show that the coach has learnt from their early season encounters and indicate that the Principals are ready to climb up the rankings.
13
Bomb Squad
13=
The Northern conference is being dominated by the Stealers who have left the three other teams without a victory between them and it will be a struggle for the Bomb squad to qualify for the post season from their current position. However, the Bomb squad are so far the only team in the North to take points from the impressive Stealers so there maybe hope but qualification will probably require a victory in week 6 versus the Dolts and victory in their final game of the season against the Stealers.
14
PAIN Corp
13=
PAIN Corp started the season true to their mission statement by inflicting the first fatality of the season in their match against the Stealers. Unfortunately for the Corp the match also saw the death of Leydon Ezra who had been one of their main pre-season scoring threats. Since the opening week of the season the Corp have continued to inflict damage on whoever they are matched up against but a lack of touchdowns scored and a convincing defeat in their cross conference match against the Savages shows that the Corp are probably not ready for the post season this year. The Corp should look towards recording their first victory in the second half of the season possibly in their remaining cross conference match against the Fabienettes.
15
The Gadfathers
13=
Like the Squad and the Corp, the Gadfathers are yet to record a victory. The Gadfathers have shown more scoring ability than their Northern rivals but have also displayed a worrying lack of defensive co-ordination, they are the only team to have conceded more than one touchdown against the efficient Stealers offence and have the worst defensive record in the North. The Gadfathers will have to improve their defensive play in the second half of the season and should look to claim their first victory. However, with their second cross conference match being a tricky tie against title contenders the Tragedy, the Gadfathers must aim for victory against one of their Northern rivals.
16
Fabienettes
10
The Fabienettes have been unable to build on their good results at the end of last season and have not yet recorded a single point in the 2005 season. This leaves them at the bottom of these, the mid-season, power rankings. The Fabienettes have the worst defence in the league and must try to improve this aspect of their play in order to rescue this season, which has seen them become the power rankings' "furthest fallers". The Fabienettes position in the Eastern conference, which is probably the second strongest, does make their task difficult. The Fabienettes second cross conference match against a team from a weaker conference, a match up against the PAIN Corp, should indicate whether the Fabienettes are truly deserving of their lowly ranking.