AIHL Week 10 Power Rankings

James Lane

1. Melbourne Ice (Last Week: 1)

Business as usual for the Ice, and the rest of the league’s running out of answers. Two more wins, including a jaw-dropping 12-5 dismantling of the second-placed Lightning, and their forward group looks borderline unfair.

2. Brisbane Lightning (Last Week: 2)

Yes, they got exposed defensively on Sunday, and badly. But there’s no shame in losing to this Ice team, and they pushed them to overtime the night before, leading after two periods. Defensive concerns? Absolutely. But based on the full body of work and the opponent, Brisbane deserve to hold their ground, at least for now.

3. Newcastle Northstars (Last Week: 6)

The big movers this week, and deservedly so. Beating both the Thunder and Mustangs is no small feat, especially in a single weekend . Aside from the Ice, they’re the only team to win twice this weekend. They sit fifth on the ladder now, just a single point behind the Mustangs, and will back themselves to climb higher in the coming weeks.

4. Perth Thunder (Last Week: 4)

A solid weekend, but that OT loss to Newcastle stings in more ways than one. They’ve been steady, swapping spots with the Mustangs constantly, but with Newcastle surging, the Thunder need to find another gear to stay comfortably in the top four conversation.

5. Melbourne Mustangs (Last Week: 3)

It’s unraveling fast for the Mustangs. A loss to the Northstars is one thing, but dropping a game to the last-placed Rhinos is a worrying sign. Defence looks shaky, momentum’s gone, and they slip deservedly down the rankings.

6. Canberra Brave (Last Week: 5)

Idle this week, but others around them made noise, and the Brave drop a spot accordingly. Their place in the mid-table shuffle feels anything but secure.

7. Adelaide Adrenaline (Last Week: 7)

No games this weekend, but their recent turnaround keeps them clear of the bottom.

8. Central Coast Rhinos (Last Week: 8)

Certainly showing signs of life with a comeback attempt and a much-needed win over the Mustangs. But they remain in the basement for now.