BAFA Midlands Division

The Midlands Division 1 Officially Returns! In a division that saw two teams promoted to the premiership after last season, the division has expanded! Featuring 3 teams that were at the national finals last year and some fresh faces to the division, this could be one of the hardest to predict with a massive 18 game season!

We have spoken to the teams on the off-season dramas and developments, most saying they have been recruiting well in the off season (how there are flag players left to find in the midlands we don’t know), We have also looked back on last season for stats and guidance and taken some big swings with predictions.

Lincolnshire Longhorns

Out of the teams in the division, the longhorns come in with the best record from 2022 and the highest seeding at finals. That along with a defence that gave up the least points per game, they have told us that they are looking to build of last year and make playoffs again! The team showed strong outings last year behind QB Cam Stewarts arm with a strong connection with WR Martin Walton.

The longhorns have also added to the squad in the off season with rookies that have increased the average hight of the team! And are “Looking forward to being in the div that we always felt we belonged.”

Our prediction is they will be in the fight for the top of the division!

Northants Phantoms

The Phantoms are looking to bounce back from a 2022 season that saw them start well but unfortunately was derailed a bit by availability and injuries. Jeremy Smith Returns for his 10th Season with the Phantoms at QB and looks to lead the Phantoms to some more wins. While the team have managed to keep the core squad together with safety such as Dani Waples also returning, they have kept under wraps the name of an experienced free agent pickup along with some rookies in the off season.

The team have said they are looking to forward to rekindling the (friendly) rivalries with Panthers and the two Nottingham teams!

With the phantoms entering multiple competitions this year, they are really going to have to rely on squad depth and bringing along those rookies if they want to improve on last year. This team could end up anywhere in the table but if they stay fit and healthy then they could challenge for the top.

Nottingham Bears

2022 saw the Bears play extremely well with a limited squad throughout the year. Finishing third in the division and are now the highest remaining team after the teams above them gained promotion. Out of the teams in the division this year the Bears had the best net point differential in 2022 so are a very balanced team.

Now the big story of the division this offseason, the Bears has seen their offensive player of the year move location and teams – to an division rival! From what we hear that means that star wide receiver Gareth Mullarkey will be stepping into QB, leading to a reshuffled offence this year.

The Bears have said that their huge recruitment drive has led to a pickup of rookies that has left their squad depth looking a lot healthier that it has in years but are a unknown quantity before the season starts!

With the Bears admitting that they thought last year was a development year and they performed above expectation we expect the bears to be in a load of close games as they develop the offence and rookies, but not challenging for the top this year.

Nottingham Honey Badgers

The record for the Honey Badgers last year was not a pretty one, but they improved massively within the season. The last few years have been tough with covid and a chunk of the core team being lost, leading to a few years of rebuilding. But the team is hopeful they are on the up.

The off season has seen the Badgers grow, as they have picked up some serious “rookie” talent, as they have drawn on their local connections to universities to add players, this is to add to returning players like Guillaum Eprinchard on the offensive side and Paul Teague on the defence.

The Honey Badgers celebrate their 10th anniversary this year and we expect them to be the most improved in the division and pick up more wins this season, but will still need the year to improve overall.

Sheffield Vipers

The Vipers come into the season very much an unknown. Only entering one team in BAFA this year, how much of the premiership talent has been retained into this division one squad? The answer to that will determine the type of season the Vipers have.

Looking at last year’s division 1 results their record is not so reflective of the team with a gameday of forfeits to many teams that finished around them. But the Vipers look to always been in 1 score games so will fit into this division nicely.

The vipers have been very secretive about there off season development so will be a big mystery to how they perform in the division but could put the cat amongst the pigeons. And with this off season going down to one team we are assuming this will be the start of a rebuild for the Vipers

South Yorkshire Roosters

The Roosters are joining the division after playing in the North East Division 1 last year. The team from everyone’s favourite kit supplier, struggled for players at times last season bringing in 1st and 15 familiar faces to play for them in some gamedays. But they have said that although inconsistent when the wheels are in motion they are a solid team. From some pre season results they look to be in good stead.

This team will be hard to predict in terms of standings, as they have outlined a new QB to start the season which can have its teething issues. They have also gone big with a completely new defensive system, which is being predicted to be boom or bust! The team are confident in their talent levels with some players really aiming for the top!

We expect them to be pushing the top end of the division if they get the attendance they need.

Coventry Panthers

The Panthers return again for their second year back in the league after a brief hiatus. Finishing 2022 with a positive record was a huge step forward for them and they look to build of that solid foundation. Out of teams in the division this year the Panthers were the highest scoring in 2022, with 3 receivers all getting 15+ touchdowns last year.

The Panthers have managed to retain all of their core players from the end of last season and recruit. Star wide receiver Mason Read returns for his 5th season with the Panthers, and they have gained experienced and former local rival player Richard Greaves.

The Panthers say they are looking to improve on last year that saw bright spots but also some losses that they hope to have learned from. They are excited to continue the rivalry with the teams from last year and also play some teams that they haven’t played in a while!

We expect the Panthers to improve on their record from last season but still have many unknowns and questions on both sides of the ball that we think will need to be developed before they make a challenge for the division.

Our Predicted Finishing Table

1.Lincolnshire Longhorns

2.South Yorkshire Roosters

3.Coventry Panthers

4.Northants Phantoms

5.Nottingham Bears

6.Nottingham Honey Badgers

7.Sheffield Vipers