Supporting the Players Building the Game

The

Supporting the Players Building the Game From the The 9th season of the W-League - 2016/17 - As a snapshot, it is fascinating to compare will be remembered for many reasons. and contrast the style being developed Chief Executive within the W-League to, for example, Firstly, Melbourne City became the first the A-League. The data indicates that team to win back to back Championships. the W-League is developing a distinctive Secondly, the Grand Final hosted by Perth character, for example: Glory was the highest attended match in W-League Grand Final history as well as the • It is a far more direct competition, with most watched, with over 440,000 viewers just over 15% fewer passes per match tuning in. Thirdly, it will be the final but with 15% more of its passes being season of players not being remunerated as forward and 20% more of its passes professional footballers; the new Collective played long Bargaining Agreement which kicks in • There were more goals per match and for season 2017/18 ensures that from this far fewer scoreless draws that in men’s season on, every W-League player is paid as professional football. For example, 12% a professional. of last season’s J-League matches and Historically, this document will be a 5% of A-League matches finished in valuable sign-post in measuring and a scoreless draw whilst only 1.75% of tracking the transition from an amateur or W-League matches did last season semi-professional framework into a new • There were also far fewer disciplinary world of striving for professionalism within matters, with significantly less fouls, the W-League. yellow cards and red cards within the The inaugural W-League Report has tracked W-League as compared within the areas that we believe are hugely relevant A-League last season. in building the W-League into the best Tracking these numbers as the possible competition, both as a domestic professionalism of the W-League evolves sporting proposition and on the global will be a fascinating exercise and hopefully stage. These areas include: player payments, enhance all components of what is a player match minutes, competitiveness of wonderful competition. the competition, technical components of the game, injury reporting and the quality of the match day.

As this is the first season of the W-League Report, we can only guess as to whether the W-League is improving in these critical areas.

2 3 CONTENTS

Employment Framework 6

Economics 8

Player Findings 10

Match Minutes 14

Competitiveness 16

Coaching Stability 18 Performance Standards 20

Technical Report 22

Injury Report 32

Stadium Ratings 42

4 5 SNAPSHOT EMPLOYMENT 29% of players were in their 18-20 first W-League season FRAMEWORK players in each squad 5.7 average number of matches played per player 187 total number of contracted players 23.6 average age league wide 39% of foreign players were internationally $50,000 capped minimum total player payments spend

The W-League remains one of the least lucrative sports for players on a national level and boasts the least number of professional players and matches when compared to international competitors. 6 7 Minimum Salary: Economics A National Comparison

Minimum salary compared across local competitions 2016/17 W-League total player payments

$27,375 150000 150000 150000

$8,500 $7,000 50000 50000 50000 $2,500 40000 35000 0 W-League Women’s Big Bash Suncorp Super AFLW League Netball

2008/15 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17

Salary Floor Salary Cap FFA Club Grant

The W-League has the lowest Minimum Remuneration of the sports analysed. 2016/17 was the first season that the clubs were required to spend their entire $50,000 FFA grant on player payments. Amateur allowance of $60-$115 per week was also introduced.

8 9 Player Findings Professional Players: An International Comparision

layer bre e p akd gu ow ea n -L 2 Number of professionals in 0 W 1 6 international leagues 2016/17 / 1 33 7

150

120 average Australian 154 90 Foreign

0 187 players were contracted in the 2016/17 W-League season To improve its standing, the W-League needs more professional players

Professional players includes foreign players and national team players in each of the respective leagues

10 11 PLAYERS CONTRACTED PER CLUB Number of foreign players in the W-League

The 2016/17 Season Players 35

used per club 30

e United ne Roar ra Unit 20 id : 2 ba : er ed a 3 s 19 b : l ri n 2 e a 1 15 d B C

A number of foreign players

2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17

urne Cit e Victor astle Je o y n y: c ts lb : 1 r 2 w : 2 e 9 u 2 e 1 o N b M l e

M 2016/17 W-League season, 33 foreign players from 9 different countries

Glory ey FC: ney W th : 2 dn 21 d an er 0 y Sy d P S e n r ope e meric r r h A a u e r t E t r s o s : N

e 2 sia 1 A

W 26 2 1

f A 1 S ou t h ia an A ce

m O

i 1 c

Average number of players a 2 20.7 used per club of players were in their first 29% W-League season of players were in their first 40% year at their 2016/17 club 12 13 Match Minutes

Match minutes played in 2016/17, by age

No. of players Total minutes Average minutes Age who made an Total appearances played per player appearance Players who played every minute in 2016/17

<17 23 10,442 179 454

18-24 98 58,283 806 595

25-29 42 33,348 419 794

30+ 8 5,013 62 627

Total 171 107,086 1,466 618

The average player

played 5.7 matches Foriegn Australian

29 players played every minute (1,080 minutes) of all 12 games in the 2016/17 W-League regular season. 49 players played in all 12 regular season games.

14 15 Competitiveness

International comparison of clubs, seasons & matches across professional leagues 2016/17 Average league position, Championships, Premierships,

150 Grand Final and Finals Series appearances # of matches

120

90 1

60 2

30 3

0 Average League Position League Average

4 Sweden USA England France Germany South Korea Japan Australia

30 6

7 15

0 9

Sweden USA England France Germany South Korea Japan Australia

Length of Season (months) # of Rounds # of Teams # Finals series appearances

The W-League has the shortest Three clubs have won seven out of the season and number of matches of the nine Premierships in the W-League. professional football leagues analysed. Those clubs have qualified for the Grand Final 12 times out of possible 18 places.

Top tier leagues only. Sweden, England, France, Germany and Japan have second divisions with promotion and relegation. 16 17 Coaching StabilitY

Number of W-League coaches per club since 2008

average 4 number of coaches of number

Seasons in W-League Coaches

There is a high degree of churn amongst W-League coaches, with an average number of four coaches at each club since the start of the W-League.

18 19 PERFORMANCE SNAPSHOT

STANDARDS 130 1.4 matches missed players missing due due to injury to injury on average each match per club

27% of matches missed 3.8 as a result of knee average injuries per club injuries in 2016/17

Melbourne City were the W-League’s The W-League most dominant averaged 3.49 goals team in terms of per match. Adelaide ball possession, United averaged the averaging 59% per highest with 2.58 match goals per match.

20 21 Technical Report Goals Goa Tota % of ls l g go pe o a r a l ls le m s s a d t

h a

3.49 199 1.75% w s

About the Scoring breakdown PFA W-League Technical Report 25

This report identifies tactical, technical and statistical trends for the 20 2016/17 W-League season, which is the first season covered by Opta data.

The PFA believes a better informed game leads to more impactful football 15 education, analysis and decision-making. s % of goal 10

0-15 16-30 31-HT 46-60 61-75 76-FT minute

Creation

ts conve ts on ta ots per o r ho r sh ga h te S ge l m S d t a : % : t e % o : T 12.3% 37.2% 26.1

m e m outsid fro set es p r m ro e ls p ss at f t a i o c s h o e r h t e c G e C : o a s h

r % : S e

42% a 27% 34.5

: %

22 23 Scoring | club by club Adelaide United Brisbane Roar Canberra United

Melbourne City Melbourne Victory Newcastle Jets

Perth Glory Sydney FC Western Sydney Wanderers

24 25 Passing and Passing and possession | club by club possession Adelaide United Brisbane Roar Canberra United league averages Average possession % 60 Pass

letion % e p 55 s

m pe 5 co 8 00 r 2 g a 50 43 m 4 5 osses 2 e Cr 37 0 0 2 45 3 0 6 1 5 Total passes per match: 1 0 5 6

14 57 70 % n 5 io 18 7 t e Cr 62 0 l 2 8 p os 2 745.14 s m e s co p e 67 r g Pass a m e 72

Pass completion % % Passes completed: in opp half 69.1% Melbourne City Melbourne Victory Newcastle Jets

% Passes long: 17.8%

% Passes forward: 42.4% Perth Glory Sydney FC Western Sydney Wanderers

% Passes in opposition half: 50.9%

26 27 Defending | club by club

Adelaide United Brisbane Roar Canberra United Goals conceded per game Goals conceded per game S S 2.4 ho 2.4 ho ts t s

n co n co n n wo 2.05 ce wo 2.05 ce s s de de e le kl 2 2 c 0 d 0 d 78 p 78 p 1.7 e tack 1.7 e 18 18 % ta r % 6 r 76 g 7 g a a 16 m 1 m 6 74 1.35 e 74 1.35 e

14 1 4 72 72

17 17 74 74

2 47.5 2 47.5 0 0 80 0 8

6 e e 2 8 2 86 Ta 3 m Ta 3 m a 2 a 50 g 50 c 2 92 c 2 9 g k 6 r k 6 r le e le e s p s p p p e ls e ls r 52.5 e r 52.5 e g u g u a a m D m D e e 55 55

% Duels won % Duels won

Melbourne City Melbourne Victory Newcastle Jets Goals conceded per game Goals conceded per game Goals conceded per game S S S ho ho h 2.4 2.4 2.4 o ts t t s s

n co n co n co n n n wo 2.05 ce wo 2.05 ce wo 2.05 ce s s s e d de e d e le e 2 2 2 ckl 0 d 0 d ckl 0 d 78 p 78 p 78 p 1.7 e tack 1.7 e 1.7 e 18 18 18 % ta r % r % ta 6 r 76 g 76 g 7 g a a a 16 m 16 m 16 m 74 1.35 e 74 1.35 e 74 1.35 e

1 14 1 4 4 72 72 72

17 17 17 74 74 74

2 47.5 2 47.5 0 2 47.5 0 80 0 8 0 80

6 e e 6 e 2 8 2 86 2 8 Ta 3 m Ta 3 m Ta 3 m 2 a 2 a 2 a 50 g 50 g 50 g c 2 9 c 2 9 c 2 9 k 6 r k 6 r k 6 r le e le e le e s p s p s p p p p e ls e ls e ls r 52.5 e r 52.5 e r 52.5 e g u g u g u a a a m D m D m D e e e 55 55 55

% Duels won % Duels won % Duels won

Perth Glory Sydney FC Western Sydney Wanderers Goals conceded per game Goals conceded per game Goals conceded per game S S S h h h 2.4 o 2.4 o 2.4 o t t t s s s

n c n c n co o o n n n wo wo wo 2.05 ce 2.05 ce 2.05 ce s d e de d e l e 2 k 2 d 2 d ckles 0 d 8 0 ckles 0 78 pe ac 7 p a 78 p 1.7 t 1.7 e t 1.7 e 18 18 1 % ta 6 r % r % 8 r 7 g 76 g 76 g am am am 1 1 16 6 6 74 1.35 e 74 1.35 e 74 1.35 e 14 1 14 4 72 72 72

1 1 1 7 4 7 7 7 74 74

2 47.5 0 2 47.5 0 2 47.5 0 0 8 0 8 0 8

6 e 6 e 6 e 2 8 2 8 2 8 3 m Ta 3 m Ta 3 m Ta a a a 50 50 50 2 g c 92 c 9 g c 2 92 2 g 2 k 6 r k 6 r k 6 r le e le e le e s p s s p p p p p e ls e ls e ls r 52.5 e r 52.5 e r 52.5 e g u g u g u a a a m D m D m D e e e 55 55 55

% Duels won % Duels won % Duels won 28 29 Refereeing – league averages

19.2 0.4 3.33 Fouls per Penalties Yellows cards match per match per match

8.44 0.09 Fouls per Reds per yellow card match

Discipline

AU BR CU MC MV NJ PG SFC WSW

Fouls per 11.3 11.7 8.2 7.5 9.8 10 10.4 9 8.1 game

Yellow 7 17 12 10 15 12 17 16 17 Cards

Red 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 Cards

30 31 Injury report Methodology During the 2016/17 W-League season, the PFA collected and recorded the occurrence of all injuries causing players to miss matches.

The PFA Injury Report was formulated from publicly available injury data accessible through the following key sources:

Football Federation About the Official media releases Australia (FFA) weekly PFA W-League injury Report W-League match previews Established in 2013, and now in its 4th edition, the PFA W-League Official websites Injury Report is a fundamental tool in the PFA’s efforts to ensure the health and safety of its members through the constant monitoring of Official W-League the occurrence of injury. The information contained within this report Club match previews/ Direct communication describes the latest trends of injury occurrence in the W-League and reviews with W-League players identifies potential injury patterns. The findings of the report are utilised to inform the PFA’s discussions with the game’s stakeholders regarding the measures and regulations necessary to ensure the health and safety of the players.

The report will play a significant role in forming the foundations for the implementation of the Minimum Medical Standards, to be incorporated During the 2016/17 W-League Season in a player being unable to take part in, into a W-League Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the (excluding the W-League Finals Series), the at a minimum, the player’s next official PFA and Football Federation Australia (FFA). PFA monitored all players (N = 187) of all W-League game.” Based on the data clubs. collected about injury occurrence and related games missed, descriptive analyses The collection of the data included: were conducted. Important Note: The accuracy of the PFA W-League Injury Report’s results and Number of injuries analysis is dependent upon the accuracy of the sources of information from which Injury location it is derived. Accordingly, the PFA does not warrant that the results are an exact and Official games missed complete record of player injuries. They are, due to injury however, an accurate summation of the publicly available information provided by FFA and club sources.

In this report, injury is defined as “any This report does not include injuries players physical complaint sustained during a received while playing for the Australian competitive game or training that resulted National Women’s Team.

32 33 Injury report continued... Location of injuries Concussion Total 2 matches missed 130 matches missed 2 injuries 2016/17 W-League season overview 35 injuries

m Wrist Injuries issed du hes iss Sick/Virus 1 matches missed m e tc ed es to a p 15 matches missed 1 injury h i m e 4 injuries c n e r t j u g i a n a r

r j

u M y

r Hand v

y Hip

35 130 A 3.7 6 matches missed 3 matches missed 2 injuries 1 injury

Groin Hamstring 4 matches missed 21 matches missed 2 injuries 5 injuries Club-by-club breakdown of matches missed through injury Quad Knee 11 matches missed 35 matches missed 5 injuries 5 injuries

Club A Calf Leg Club B 5 matches missed 8 matches missed 1 injury Club C 1 injury

Club D Foot Club E 5 matches missed 2 injuries Club F Ankle 14 matches missed Club G 4 injuries

Club H

Club I Games missed as a result of quadricep and hamstring injuries have risen by 43% compared to the previous season

34 35 Injury report continued... Comparison of the W-League to the A-League

Average % Average Average of players % of matches % of matches number of number of unavailable missed due League missed due to Number of injuries matches missed players used per each week per to hamstring knee injuries per injury team club due to injuries comparison to previous seasons injury

A-League 4.29 25.9 9.65% 30.19% 16.03% 2016/17 W-League Season Number of Injuries W-League 3.7 20.7 1.03% 14.4% 14.4% 2015/16 13/14 42 W-League 3.8 20.1 1.38% 19.6% 10.9% 2016/17 2014 29

15/16 46

16/17 35

Note: *13/14 & 2014 W-League Season calculations based on 8 teams and 12 games *15/16 & 16/17 W-League Season calculations based on 9 teams and 12 games

Average number of players unavailable each match per club due to injury

2.0

1.5

1.0 number of players unavailable players of number

0.5

13/14 2014 15/16 16/17 Season

Note: *13/14 & 2014 W-League Season calculations based on 8 teams and 12 games *15/16 & 16/17 W-League Season calculations based on 9 teams and 12 games 36 37 Injury report continued...

Recommendations

Based on the past three editions of the PFA W-League Injury Report, scientific knowledge and the PFA’s experience gathered through a decade of A-League injury reporting, several recommendations must be considered in order to protect players’ health and safety in future W-League seasons:

• A healthy and safe working (training and competition) environment should be prioritised in all Clubs, especially those where Players are not exposed to a consistent standard/type of training and playing surfaces;

• Introduction of Minimum Medical Standards through a W-League collective bargaining agreement, which has been shown effective in the A-League for the reduction of musculoskeletal injuries;

• Introduction of a pre and post-competition medical assessment for all Players. Assessments should be the same from one club to another;

• A more consistent approach to the number of pitches the Players are required to perform on; and

• A proper balance between the domestic competition schedule and the international competition schedule in order to avoid game congestion and overload.

Recommendations made by FIFPro, the world players’ association, Chief Medical Officer Vincent Gouttebarge.

38 39 Injury report continued...

Proposed W-League minimum medical standards The PFA proposes the introduction of the following W-League Minimum Medical Standards.

Club physician Medical testing Club Club medical Player’s right to Player’s right to a Each Club will have a physiotherapist records a surgeon of her second opinion. Prior to the certified specialist sports commencement and choice A Player will have the physician. Each Club shall have a Club doctors, after the completion of right to a second medical registered physiotherapist physiotherapists, and A Player will have the each season, each Club opinion by a medical available to Players trainers shall keep right to choose the surgeon shall complete a Medical practitioner of her immediately prior to and accurate records of Players’ who will perform surgery Assessment (incorporating choosing. after training and at all injuries, illnesses, physical provided that: (a) if possible, the Lausanne matches. complaints, diagnostic tests, the Player will consult Recommendations or medical advice provided with the Club physician, equivalent) on all Players in and treatment. and (b) the Player will their squad. give due consideration Club trainers to the Club physician’s recommendations. All trainers shall hold a Sports Trainer Level 2 certification from Sports Medicine Australia or a tertiary qualification in Sports Conditioning.

40 41 Stadium Ratings PFA W-League Pitch Ratings

Club averages 2016/17

About the PFA W-League 4 Stadium Ratings 3

2 In 2014 the PFA introduced the PFA W-League Stadium Ratings System. Designed to measure the quality of football pitches on match day across 1 the W-League, it measures four key criteria of the playing surface: overall 0 quality, hardness, pace and smoothness. Additionally, it recognises fans as a key pillar for the growth of the W-League. The facilities provided to the players are also recognised as an integral part of the players’ match day experience.

The PFA W-League Stadium Ratings are voted on by selected players at the end of each match, who rate each criteria from one to five, with five being the highest. Weekly average pitch rating 2016/17 Due to Clubs having numerous home pitches, the data has been averaged to provide a Club rating for pitch quality, atmosphere, player facilities

and overall rating. 5

R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 SF GF

R5 - Lakeside Stadium and A. J. Kelly Field rating: 2 R12 - McDonald Jones Stadium rating: 5

42 43 PFA W-League Atmosphere Ratings Stadium Ratings continued...

Weekly average atmosphere rating for 2016/17 PFA W-League Pitch Ratings

5 Number of pitches used season by season comparison

4 25

20 average number of pitches used 2 by each club in R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 SF GF 3 2016/17 15 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 R2 - Sydney Derby Allianz Stadium rating: 4 R12 - Melbourne Derby Epping Stadium rating: 1 PFA W-League Atmosphere Ratings Atmosphere rating season by Overall average 2016/17 season comparison

4.0

3.5 3.5 3.0 2016/17 A-League season 2.5 average: 3.14 2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

3.0

2014/15 2015/16 2016/17

44 45 Stadium Ratings continued...

PFA W-League Facility Ratings

Club averages 2016/17

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

PFA W-League Overall Club Ratings

Club averages 2016/17

46 47 COURAGE WORLD CLASS INTELLIGENCE TRUST RESPECT

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