Following the recent release of the Annual W-League Report, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has published its Annual A-League Report.
The 40-page Report is the PFA’s second annual evaluation of Australia’s domestic men’s league, with the latest edition providing a review and analysis of the 2017/18 season.
The Report delivers an evidence-based examination of the A-League Employment Framework, an assessment of competition benchmarks, and features player analysis, a technical overview and the long-standing injury report.
The Report further examines the impact of scheduling, comparative match minutes from across the globe, stadium atmosphere and pitch ratings. Within the Report, methodology and data from Opta compares the A-League to other global competitions including the Bundesliga, MLS and the J1 League.
Importantly, it critically examines emerging issues such as competitive balance and the concerning increase in, and impact of, player churn.
Click here to read the PFA Annual A-League Report
In the same manner as the W-League 2017/18 Report, the A-League Report, for the first time, incorporates direct feedback from players via the PFA’s Annual Player Survey on a range of topics impacting their A-League careers.
PFA Chief Executive, John Didulica, welcomed the release of the Report.
“The 2017/18 A-League season was compelling for a number of reasons. Sydney FC continued to set the benchmark with another record-setting season, Melbourne Victory showed incredible character to become the first A-League team to win the Championship from outside the top two and Newcastle’s resurgence captured the imagination.
“The season catapulted the likes of Andrew Nabbout, Josh Risdon, Daniel Arzani and Dimitri Petratos to the World Cup, and the A-League played a foundational role in the careers of the majority of the Socceroos squad.
“Despite these achievements, this report reveals a number of pressing challenges facing the A-League. Attendance and TV figures are down. Player churn is at historic highs, with some 63% of players coming off contract in the middle of last season. Competitive balance and financial robustness are myths, yet players – and clubs through the inability to build value in their squads – continue to endure significant adverse side effects of a broken Salary Cap that was supposed to promote those outcomes.
“The A-League is at this critical intersection of challenge and opportunity. The report highlights that, by global measures, we have an attractive competition. It is all-action, entertaining and high-scoring. As we move into another phase of growth on-and-off the pitch, positive outcomes for players, fans, clubs and the broader game can be achieved through considered and collaborative decision-making.”
