As we reach the halfway point of the A-League Women season, the PFA has released its player pitch and atmosphere ratings.
PITCH RATINGS
Adelaide United’s Coopers Stadium has been voted by the A-League Women players as the best pitch among regular venues used in the competition as of the conclusion of Round 14.
The boutique stadium received an average of 4.8 on a scale from 1-5, from the four games where the PFA collected surveys from players who took part in said fixtures at the venue.
Wellington Phoenix’s Sky Stadium also received a perfect 5/5 score from players from the one game played at the venue back in Round 2 against Canberra United.
Away team players are asked to assess the pitch on four metrics, the atmosphere, and other aspects of matchday after each match. Usually, one player rates each match. On occasion, additional players are asked to provide feedback, including home team players, but scores shown weight all matches equally.
Players have provided feedback for all bar four matches in the 2025-26 season so far.
The three stadiums used in Melbourne; AAMI Park (4.7), Home of the Matildas (4.5) and ctrl:cyber Pitch (4.3) all scored exceptionally well, as did Central Coast’s polytec Stadium (4.6).
However, Adelaide United’s secondary home ground ServiceFM Stadium didn’t score nearly as strongly as Coopers Stadium, coming in at an average of 2.8.
But it was Brisbane’s Spencer Park (2.5) that was rated the worst pitch so far this campaign, while Newcastle’s No.2 Sportsground (2.7), Perth’s Sam Kerr Football Centre (2.8) and Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval (2.8) rounded out the bottom five.
One player said the length of the grass at Spencer Park caused a “slow pitch”, while another described it as “sticky”.
Meanwhile, one player raised concerns about No.2 Sportsground having “divots and an uneven surface” and another stated the pitch surface caused “significant foot pain” across the team.
ATMOSPHERE RATINGS
Wellington’s Porirua Park was voted the best atmosphere in the A-League Women thus far, receiving an average of 4.3 on a scale of 1-5 in the five games surveyed among the players.
The ‘Nix’s sole fixture at Sky Stadium also received a perfect 5/5 atmosphere from the players.
Sydney FC’s home games at Leichhardt Oval also scored strongly with an average of 4.1, as did Melbourne Victory’s matches at Home of the Matildas (3.8) and Adelaide United’s at Coopers Stadium (3.8)
Other stadiums to score better than the midpoint of 3.0 included Western Sydney Wanderers’ sole fixture at Marconi Stadium (4.0), the Wanderers’ primary fixtures at Wanderers Football Park (3.7), Brisbane’s Spencer Park (3.6) and Canberra’s McKellar Park (3.5).
However, among the regular venues to rate in the bottom section of the stadiums include Central Coast’s polytec Stadium (2.8), Adelaide’s ServiceFM Stadium (2.0), Melbourne’s ctrl:cyber Pitch (2.7) and HBF Park’s sole fixture receiving a 1.5.
About the PFA post-match surveys
Since 2009, the PFA has surveyed players after matches to assess the quality of the pitch and the match atmosphere. The survey has gradually expanded to cover more areas, including officiating, workplace standards, and weather conditions. The purpose of the surveys is to inform decision-making and improve the industry for players, clubs, and fans.
2025-26 A-League Women Stadium Ratings – Pitch Quality
* Single games played at the venue
| Stadium | Average | Games surveyed |
| Sky Stadium* | 5.0 | 1 |
| Coopers Stadium | 4.8 | 4 |
| AAMI Park | 4.7 | 3 |
| Home of the Matildas | 4.5 | 4 |
| polytec Stadium | 4.3 | 6 |
| ctrl:cyber Pitch | 4.3 | 3 |
| Marconi Stadium* | 4.0 | 1 |
| HBF Park* | 4.0 | 1 |
| Kayo Stadium* | 4.0 | 1 |
| Porirua Park | 3.8 | 4 |
| Wanderers Football Park | 3.7 | 6 |
| McKellar Park | 3.3 | 6 |
| Leichhardt Oval | 2.8 | 5 |
| ServiceFM Stadium | 2.8 | 2 |
| Sam Kerr Football Centre | 2.8 | 4 |
| No.2 Sportsground | 2.7 | 6 |
| Spencer Park | 2.5 | 4 |
2025-26 A-League Men Stadium Ratings – Atmosphere
| Stadium | Average | Games surveyed |
| Sky Stadium* | 5.0 | 1 |
| Porirua Park | 4.3 | 4 |
| Leichhardt Oval | 4.1 | 5 |
| Marconi Stadium* | 4.0 | 1 |
| Home of the Matildas | 3.8 | 4 |
| Coopers Stadum | 3.8 | 4 |
| Wanderers Football Park | 3.7 | 6 |
| Spencer Park | 3.6 | 4 |
| McKellar Park | 3.5 | 6 |
| AAMI Park | 3.3 | 3 |
| Sam Kerr Football Centre | 3.3 | 4 |
| No.2 Sportsground | 3.0 | 6 |
| Kayo Stadium* | 3.0 | 1 |
| polytec Stadium | 3.0 | 6 |
| ctrl:cyber Pitch | 2.7 | 3 |
| ServiceFM Stadium | 2.0 | 2 |
| HBF Park* | 1.5 | 1 |
