USAFL Top 20 Poll Returns for 2016

After a successful inaugural season, the USAFL Top 20 poll returns in 2016, beginning with the first set of rankings to be released on May 4th.

The poll is used by the league as a system to rank the teams by performance, as all 34 clubs play different schedules and opponents.  Different factors such as opponent strength, travel, and other factors are taken into account by the panelists.

Every three weeks during the 2016 season, a panel of anonymous experts from across the country will each select who they think the best twenty footy clubs are up to that point in the season.  Each first-place vote is worth 20 points, second place votes are worth 19 points, and so on.  The results will be tallied, and the listing will be published, along with commentary from USAFL.com’s Brian Barrish.

There will be a total of eight polls, with the final ranking will be published on September 28th.  The ranking will be used as a guide by the Nationals seeding committee to determine the divisions and pools for this year’s National Championships in Sarasota, Florida.  While the seeding committee will have complete and final say as to Nationals divisions and pool seedings, the Top 20 will factor into their decisions.

“The poll was received well by players and clubs alike,” said Barrish, “and there was a good deal of buzz generated by fans on social media, as well.  Teams could see tangible affects from their performances during the season and how it affected who they would play Nationals weekend.”

Aside from the removal of the pre-season poll, the only other change for this year’s polling procedure is the addition of a tiebreaker procedure for teams tied for a poll position.  If that happens, the teams will be separated by head-to-head voting, followed by previous polling position.

“The tiebreaker is a relatively minor addition,” explained Barrish.  “There were a number of tied positions last year, and this method allows them to be broken down against each other, which adds further importance to head-to-head matchups.”

Last season, the panel predicted the Division 1 Grand Final match spot on, with the Austin Crows and Orange County Bombers finishing 1-2 in the final ranking.  The Crows, who defeated O.C. to win their second D1 title in three years, finished 2015 in the #1 position after ascending there in late August.

2015 Final Regular Season Rankings (1st Place Votes in Parenthesis)

1. Austin Crows (7) -- 177 points
2. New York Magpies (2) -- 162
3. Los Angeles Dragons -- 160
4. Orange County Bombers -- 153
5. Denver Bulldogs -- 143
6. Dallas Magpies -- 134
7. Calgary Kangaroos -- 122
8. Golden Gate Roos -- 110
t9. Columbus Jackaroos -- 104
t9. Minnesota Freeze -- 104
11. Houston Lonestars -- 100
12. Nashville Kangaroos -- 74
13. Sacramento Suns -- 68
14. Chicago Swans -- 63
15. Boston Demons -- 57
16. Quebec Saints -- 41
17. Philadelphia Hawks -- 28
18. Fort Lauderdale Fighting Squids -- 27
19. Portland Steelheads -- 25
20. Baltimore-Washington Eagles -- 15