Sharks take over top spot in final AFLWA poll of 2010

Wednesday August 4, 2010

After being the No. 1 since June 16, the Spokane Shock dropped to No. 2 in the final Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA) Top 8 Poll.

The Shock (13-3) evenly split the 12 first-place votes with No. 1 Jacksonville (12-4) after losing at the Sharks 64-49. Jacksonville edged Spokane 90-89 in points because one voter ranked the Shock No. 3 on his ballot. Jacksonville and Spokane were Nos. 1 and 2 in some form on every other ballot.

There was movement throughout most of the poll, with the Milwaukee Iron (11-5) advancing two places to No. 3 and the Tulsa Talons (10-6) two spots to No. 5. The biggest drop was by the Arizona Rattlers (10-6), who fell three places to No. 7.

The AFLWA, founded at the start of the 2004 season, is a national organization made up of media members who cover the Arena Football League. Mark Anderson of Pro Football Weekly and the Las Vegas Review-Journal is the AFLWA's founder and executive director. The website is www.aflwa.com.

AFLWA TOP 8 POLL (Week 1)
Rk.         Team (1st Place)                 W-L         Pts.         Pvs.         This week
1.         Jacksonville Sharks (6)        12-4 90         2         vs. Orlando
2.         Spokane Shock (6)                13-3 89         1         vs. Arizona
3.         Milwaukee Iron                11-5 68         5         vs. Chicago
4.        Tampa Bay Storm                11-5        60        3        at Tulsa
5.         Tulsa Talons                        10-6 38         7         vs. Tampa Bay
6.         Chicago Rush                 10-6 37         6         at Milwaukee
7.         Arizona Rattlers                10-6 32         4        at Spokane
8.         Orlando Predators                8-8         18         8        at Jacksonville
Others receiving votes: None.
Dropped out: None.