AIHL Week 5 Power Rankings

James Lane

A couple of big results this week, but only one change in our power rankings. After dismantling both Canberra and their crosstown rivals, the Ice have remain top and now occupy the same place on the league table. Elsewhere, the Mustangs stumbled, Adelaide’s struggles deepened, and Newcastle finally woke up.

1. Melbourne Ice (Last Week: 1)

W 5–2 vs Mustangs, W 10–2 vs Brave

There’s no doubt anymore: the Ice are rolling. Friday’s derby win over the Mustangs was already impressive to cement their status at the top, but they followed it up by putting ten past Canberra, with nine different players scoring. That kind of depth is terrifying for the rest of the league.

2. Perth Thunder (Last Week: 3)

Bye

Perth had the week off, and while they drop behind the Ice in points, they rise to second in the power rankings thanks to the Mustangs’ mixed weekend. Next round will be telling.

3. Melbourne Mustangs (Last Week: 2)

L 2–5 vs Ice, W 10–2 vs Brave

Friday’s derby loss to the Ice was a wake-up call, but the Mustangs roared back on Sunday, pummelling Canberra behind a hat-trick from Mac Roy. It’s the kind of response you expect from a top team. They fall to third, and there’s no denying they’ve lost a bit of ground on their crosstown rivals. The good news? They’ve still got games in hand, and Roy looks lethal.

4. Brisbane Lightning (Last Week: 4)

Bye

A week off for the Lightning keeps them in fourth, though the gap between them and Canberra has widened following the Brave suffering two 10-2 thumpings.

5. Canberra Brave (Last Week: 5)

L 2–10 vs Ice, L 2–10 vs Mustangs

This was a brutal weekend for the Brave, who conceded 20 goals across two games. After some gutsy performances that seemed to have them poised to surge up the power rankings, this was a serious step back.

6. Central Coast Rhinos (Last Week: 6)

W 5–4 (OT) vs Adelaide

It wasn’t pretty, but it was a win. However, they were pushed to overtime by the league's sole winless team. Their ceiling remains unclear, but they’ve been competitive in most game they’ve played, evidenced by half of their losses being in overtime. If they can tidy up defensively, they might just climb.

7. Newcastle Northstars (Last Week: 7)

W 6–1 vs Adelaide

The Northstars dominated Adelaide from start to finish and looked like a completely different team from the one that fell apart in Round 4. It was the kind of scoreline that can jumpstart a season, but let’s see if they can back it up against tougher opposition. For now, they stay seventh, but the door is open.

8. Adelaide Adrenaline (Last Week: 8)

L 4–5 (OT) vs Rhinos, L 1–6 vs Newcastle

The Adrenaline are still searching for their first win, and they’re running out of time. Saturday’s overtime loss to the Rhinos was heartbreaking, especially after leading at the first break and firghting back to force overtime in the third period. But Sunday was flat. Without a serious turnaround, this season risks slipping away entirely.