Derby News Network Power Rankings - December 2009
| DNN | WFTDA | W/L | Next | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 W | 2009 12-0 2008 6-2 |
3/27 vs Madison | There's no question about the new queens of the sport, who capped their sparkling undefeated rookie WFTDA season by dealing sport originators Texas their biggest defeat ever in the final game of Nationals. Now 12-0 since their admission to WFTDA with a championship under their belts, the only remaining challenges for Oly will be attempts to better Gotham's record 18-game winning streak and become the first WFTDA champ to repeat in 2010. |
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2 E | 2009 7-2 2008 10-0 |
TBD | Though Gotham didn't make it to the final four of Nationals, we're putting them at #2 for being the only team to hang with Oly for the full 60 minutes in the tournament cycle -- they led at halftime, and although they lost by 31 in the end, they were just 11 points behind before back-to-back jammer penalties in the final two jams killed their chances. Two rare tastes of defeat may make them more dangerous than ever next year. | ||||
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1 SC | 2009 11-2 2008 10-4 |
TBD | They're officially #2 in the nation after reaching the finals of Nationals, but they were quickly overmatched by an Oly team that was shockingly effective at asserting their will on them. Though it's been nearly half a year since the narrow, thrilling 84-76 loss to Gotham that was one of the best bouts of 2009, there's not yet any significant reason to believe that a rematch would have a different outcome. |
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3 W | 2009 12-3 2008 4-8 |
6/19 @ Boston | The most polarizing team of the Nationals is also arguably the most improved team of 2009, featuring tremendously demoralizing defense, spectacular pack awareness and a killer jammer attack -- but Oly found an effective way to short-circuit this very dangerous team. Staying in the stratosphere will be tough in 2010, with many teams no doubt already strategizing on how to handle their unique approach. |
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2 W | 2009 7-7 2008 12-4 |
12/5 vs Detroit | Like their crosstown rivals in Denver, Rocky Mountain is hugely improved since their 2008 season and shocked DNN's November #1 team Philly with a first-round defeat at Nationals. Though they benefitted greatly from late-season additions and blossoming rookies in the tournament cycle, it was a double-edged sword -- after losing multiple-threat linchpin DeRanged during Nationals, they could not replicate their narrow Westerns defeat of Denver and were soundly beaten. |
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1 E | 2009 9-2 2008 10-4 |
4/17 @ Boston | Philly takes a tumble from #1 to #6 as a result of the Rocky Mountain game, but with that one having gone to overtime, they remain just one break out of the top five and are still a potential threat to defeat any team at any time. | ||||
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1 NC | 2009 10-2 2008 12-4 |
TBD | WCR was favored to go deep in Nationals but joined Philly in the one-and-done to Colorado club when they couldn't adjust to Denver's game quickly enough. Windy did solidly win their second half with Denver, suggesting that a rematch might be a different story -- but until then we'll have to wait and see. WCR does lose two major forces in the offseason, Malice with Chains and Megan Formor, but the 2010 team has a particular inspiration to step up, as Chicago will be hosting next year's Nationals. |
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5 W | 2009 5-3 2008 6-4 |
TBD | Given Rocky Mountain's defeat of previous #1 Philly and eventual fourth-place finish at Nationals, Rose City's 24 point loss to RMRG at Westerns isn't looking all that bad at all. They move up a notch based on a tough draw in what seems to be the strongest WFTDA region again. | ||||
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4 W | 2009 5-7 2008 3-3 |
1/31 @ [TBA] To Be Announced | Like Rose City right above them, Rat City's Westerns loss looks better given the results of Nationals -- Rat City lost to Oly 127-90, not too shabby considering eventual champs Oly went on to defeat Denver, Texas and Rocky Mountain by considerably more. | ||||
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3 E | 2009 10-9 2008 9-2 |
2/27 vs Providence | Had a tough time with Madison at Nationals, and was again bitten by lengthy scoring slumps when they took on Texas -- while the final score there was a reasonable 111-72, the majority of that was scored in a late comeback long after the outcome was determined. | ||||
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2 NC | 2009 7-4 2008 9-7 |
3/26 @ Rat City | Given the close Nationals bout with Boston, Madison's harrowing 275-76 loss to Detroit in October looks like it was pointing up a momentary lack of roster depth rather than a complete collapse. Madison pops up 3 slots. | ||||
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4 E | 2009 13-5 2008 9-2 |
7/24 vs Denver | No action since last ranking, but loses their #11 spot to Madison based on Madison's considerably more even tournament showing against Boston. | ||||
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3 NC | 2009 8-5 2008 8-3 |
12/5 @ Rocky Mountain | It's extremely tough to pin down Detroit this month, with their only action being swamped by Gotham and immediately eliminated from Nationals. Although Detroit admittedly did defeat Boston and Madison in their last two head to head encounters, the Madison outcome looks like an outlier and Boston's results against shared opponents Madison and Gotham tend to make us think that Boston has become stronger since the last time Detroit and Boston met. | ||||
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2 SC | 2009 9-4 2008 5-2 |
TBD | Taking a two-slot drop after getting roughed up by Denver, KCRW still seems to have trouble adjusting to the slow game that's been used to great effect on them by multiple teams. | ||||
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6 W | 2009 5-5 2008 13-3 |
5/1 vs [TBA] To Be Announced | No action or movement since last ranking. | ||||
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7 W | 2009 5-8 2008 6-3 |
6/5 @ Arch Rivals | No action or movement since last ranking. Their respectable showing against eventual WFTDA champs Oly at Westerns remains offset by their narrow loss to Bay Area. | ||||
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4 NC | 2009 10-5 2008 12-7 |
4/17 vs Arch Rivals | No action since last ranking, but moves up two spaces into Houston's old slot after Houston's shellacking at Nationals. |
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3 SC | 2009 6-3 2008 4-10 |
TBD | Houston was on the wrong side of the most lopsided bout at Nationals, behind by 137 points at halftime before losing to Rocky Mountain 239-46; they take a one-slot hit on that. | ||||
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4 SC | 2009 7-3 2008 3-8 |
5/15 @ Northwest Arkansas | No action since last ranking, but comes down one notch with the Houston team that barely edged them out in the third-place bout of the South Central tournament. | ||||
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7 E | 2009 11-3 2008 1-3 |
TBD | Finally returns to the top 25 after a one-month appearance back in March on the strength of a mixed SCDD team taking a 143-142 loss against Carolina. With Carolina not taking the lead in that bout until the very end, and Steel City bringing a mix of A and B teamers to the show, we're inclined to think that the Steel City all-stars would take a rematch. | ||||
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5 E | 2009 5-8 2008 7-5 |
3/20 @ Boston | Drops one slot to Steel City after the aforementioned 143-142 bout. 2010 may see the return of Roxy Rockett to a Carolina roster that could really use a jolt after a rough 2009; they've dropped from a DNN high of #6 early this year. | ||||
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- | 2009 8-3 2008 5-7 |
1/23 vs Arizona | No action since last ranking, drops a slot on Steel City's debut. |
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6 NC | 2009 6-4 2008 2-5 |
2/20 @ Arch Rivals | No action since last ranking, drops a slot on Steel City's debut. |
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5 NC | 2009 9-3 2008 6-0 |
4/19 @ Sioux Falls | Whipped developing league Hammer City 140-18 in November, but also goes down one slot from November on the Steel City debut. | ||||
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9 NC | 2009 6-3 2008 7-7 |
12/19 vs Sioux Falls | Like North Star, got a big win against Hammer City (195-46 in their case) but still is bumped down a bit by Steel City's entry. | ||||
| Key: | |
| E | WFTDA East region |
| W | WFTDA West region |
| NC | WFTDA North Central region |
| SC | WFTDA South Central region |
Comments
WTG! Western Region!
5 in the top 10 and Rose and Rat getting some recognition that the Western Region is tough as nails. What a nationals that would have been to see those 12 teams in the tourney. OMFG
totally agree wtih G. No-Evil
amen, and i don't see Duke or BAD being that far behind ... can't wait for 2010.
What a difference a year makes.
I love seeing the power shift ... West, East, West, East?
Yay roller derby!
WHAT??? IT'S AN OUTRAGE I
WHAT??? IT'S AN OUTRAGE I TELL YOU!!! HOW MANY DIFFERENT TIMES DO I HAVE TO WRITE THIS TODAY???
TBD Again?
Minnesota plays Sioux Falls on the 19th. Sioux Falls are also NSRG's next bout on April 19th.
I know you're super-excited to debut your new top ten, but there are fifteen others to think about as well.
NSRG plays Sioux Falls on the 17th
Thanks for the mention Apron but actually, we play Sioux Falls on April 17th not the 19th. Close enough though. :)
Righteous Indignation
One of the rules of the Internet is when you emotively try to correct someone, you'll usually make your own error in the process.
Congrats to Oly, and to all
Congrats to Oly, and to all the teams who made the ranking, I can't wait for next season.
West SIDE
The most exciting thing about this set of rankings to me? Seeing that next year DRD will be playing Texas, Oly, Charm City, and Boston. Now that's some competition! We'll be keeping the DNN crew on their toes.
Also, what G. No-Evil said.
2010 bouts
I may have been slightly too hasty with entering some of those bouts in Derbymatic ... it appears they weren't all completely finalized. Sorry, journalism fail on my part. But the Charm and Boston bouts are confirmed, the others are tentative for the time being.
WEST WEST, YA'LL!
WEST WEST, YA'LL!
Minnesota's Next Bout
Is against Sioux Falls, not Sioux City - easy to mix up, I know.
Thank you Justice and DNN
Great summary and notes! Thanks for all you do, DNNers!
-Sweet Alyce 3.14
http://sweetalyce.blogspot.com
http://mountainderbygirls.org
Madison at 11th
Moooooo!
Steel City 2010
Steel City's next bout will be against the DC Roller Girls on February 13th
Home or away?
Is that game in Pittsburgh or DC?
Away
in DC. Thanks, Justice!
Queen of the Hive?
Any chance we'll see recaps or scores here? I know Val Capone is at the tourney...
Queen of the Hive
With the exception of two teams of Dallas Derby Devils, QOOH is all one-shot teams rather than established teams, but here's what we've heard so far:
Death Stars have gone 3-1 with their only loss to Dallas, 56-29 (all bouts are 30 minutes long) ... Death Star Rice Rocket injured (no, we don't know how badly, will try to follow up) ... Dallas Black 195, Misfits 5 (in 30 minutes, yeesh) ... if I understand the format correctly, Death Stars and Dallas will play again tomorrow for the title.
QotH
Championship bout had the Death Stars over Dallas Black, 110-77. Excellent bout all around - Dallas held the lead throughout most of the first half until the very last jam, when a 10 point jam from Rice Rocket put Death Star over. They held the lead through the second half, but it was a consistently intense bout, and definitely the best of the weekend.
Gang Green beat the Buzzkillers 76 to 58 in the third place bout.
In the men's and co-ed portions, team Co-Red beat Co-Dead 65 to 31. Team Hot Damn beat team Fire Ass 169 to 47.
Any update on Rice's injury?
Any update on Rice's injury?
Rice Rocket is ok
Played in a game later today, so it looks like everything is fine. Phew!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Incredible
Thanks DNN for the Power Rankings. Very helpful, five stars!
Also, QotH was pretty intense roller derby. The skill challenges and the band were a nice touch. Thanks to the vendors and everyone who participated and came to watch. It was an honor to have everyone, but a shpecial thanks goes to Val Capone for the props on the mic!
Best games of the 2009
Just a stab at it
I can't rank em, but damn there were a lot of good ones.
Texas vs Gotham
Philly at Windy City
Philly vs Gotham
Madison vs Detroit (regional)
North Star vs MNRG
Brew City vs Burning River (regional)
Rocky vs Denver (regional)
Boston vs Madison
Rocky vs Philly
Oly vs Gotham
Charm vs Rat
Ohio vs Montreal
Carolina vs Boston (ECE)
Houston vs Dallas
add, discuss, help me out South....
Check back Monday!
Let's just say we've been thinking about this topic too...
In Person?
I don't quite what to make of the fact that I got to see all but two of those you listed. You're right, they're impossible to rank. But I'm damn glad I was there for most of 'em.
Some others...
Oly vs. Denver (in Oly)
Oly vs. Rose City (in Oly)
Rat vs. Duke City (in Duke)
Rat vs. BAD (regionals)
Burning River vs. Brewcity (ECE)
Duke vs. BAD (regionals)
When are the new rankings posted?
Pins and needles since December, man! Pins and needles!
Soon.
We didn't rank in January and February because no action came even close to impacting the rankings. Now, clearly, that is no longer the case. We always aim to have Power Rankings out within the first week of the month, so definitely stay tuned!
Sweeeeeeeet
:)