Opta data has trawled through the numbers to credit not only the Liberty A-League’s standout players, but also those unsung heroes making their teams tick.
There is still plenty to play for as the Liberty A-League regular season approaches its climax.
Central Coast Mariners became the latest side to punch their ticket to the Finals with Sunday’s 4-1 rout of Canberra United, while Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers are in pole position to join them with just two rounds of fixtures remaining.
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As the post-season comes into view, so too does awards season, as fans debate which individuals are most worthy of being honoured for their performances.
In our bid to highlight some of 2023-24’s top performers, we have enlisted Opta data as our ally, trawling through the numbers to credit not only the league’s standout players, but also those unsung heroes making their teams tick.
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Mackenzie Hawkesby (Sydney FC)
Where else to start but with the league leaders? Sydney are on course to clinch the Premiership title after putting together a seven-match unbeaten run at the ideal time, and the creativity of Hawkesby has been a key weapon in their armoury.
Hawkesby leads all players in the Liberty A-League for chances created (53) and passes played into the opposing penalty area (120) this season.
What makes those figures all the more remarkable is the fact she has only made 13 appearances – totalling 1,079 minutes – since re-joining from Brighton and Hove Albion in December. That means the 23-year-old has averaged one chance created every 20 minutes of game time.
While much of Sydney’s success can be attributed to them possessing the league’s meanest defence, conceding a mere 15 goals in 20 games, they can also call upon the league’s most proficient creative midfielder.
Michelle Heyman (Canberra United)
We now move from the top of the standings to the bottom, with Canberra United languishing in 12th with just three wins from 19 matches this campaign.
Their shortcomings have had nothing to do with a lack of firepower, though, with the Liberty A-League’s all-time leading scorer Heyman on course to capture her third Golden Boot.
Heyman has a league-high 14 goals to her name this season, with that return coming from a total of 9.28 expected goals (xG). Her overperformance of +4.72 marks her out as the league’s most clinical finisher, with no other player exceeding their underlying figures to that extent.
Displaying immaculate hold-up play and remaining a physical threat in her mid-30s, Heyman has also contested (163) and won (66) the third most duels of any Canberra player this term, also posting a joint-high six assists for Njegosh Popovich’s team, alongside Nickoletta Flannery.
If only Canberra could keep teams out at the other end.
Rebekah Stott (Melbourne City)
Melbourne City are the undisputed pass-masters of the Liberty A-league, averaging a 62.25% possession share this season. The competition’s next-highest figure is just 51.69%, from local rivals Melbourne Victory.
New Zealand stalwart Stott is the definition of a ball-playing defender, attempting (1,384) and completing (1,190) more passes than any other player in the league.
Centre-back partner Taylor Otto ranks second for both of those metrics, and the duo’s 408 passes between one another are the most of any pair in the competition.
Seven of City’s 10 wins this term have come by a one-goal margin, and Stott has also excelled when their backs have been to the wall, leading all her team-mates for interceptions (42) and clearances (60).
Sharn Freier (Brisbane Roar)
Brisbane’s 3-4-3 system places huge emphasis on the wing-backs to contribute at both ends of the pitch, and Freier has relished that responsibility, rampaging up and down the left flank to great effect.
Freier has become one of the Liberty A-League’s most potent creators, recording a league-high 5.96 expected assists (xA) this term and teeing up five goals for team-mates – only Holly Caspers (seven), Flannery and Heyman (six apiece) have more.
Freier also leads all players in the division for successful dribbles (45) and progressive carries of 10 or more yards, with her tally of 137 putting her 49 clear of Stott in second (88).
The 22-year-old is also not afraid to do the dirty work, leading all Brisbane players for duels contested (222) and won (113), while her 37 interceptions have only been bettered by Jenna McCormick among her Roar team-mates (49).
Isabel Gomez (Central Coast Mariners)
The Mariners will compete for their first Liberty A-League Championship in the Finals, and with young midfielder Gomez enjoying a breakout campaign, they may just fancy their chances of glory.
The 21-year-old, who formerly represented the Wellington Phoenix, has brought tenacity to Emily Husband’s midfield; her 243 duels contested are at least 46 more than any other Mariners player (Bianca Galic has 197), with 136 of those being successful.
Gomez also leads all Mariners players for interceptions with 38, while she has also made a valuable contribution in possession, with only Annabel Martin (four) bettering her three assists for the team.
Sarina Bolden (Newcastle Jets)
Bolden hit the big time when she netted the Philippines’ first-ever World Cup goal in a 1-0 triumph over New Zealand last July, and she has gone from strength to strength since joining Newcastle.
The United States-born forward has 17 goal involvements (12 goals, five assists) in just 15 appearances this term. With no other Newcastle player registering more than four goals or three assists, it’s fair to say Bolden has dragged her team into Finals contention.
Bolden has also earned a reputation as a player who steps up when the going gets tough, scoring seven of her goals when the scores have been tied.
With the Jets requiring a big end to the regular season to make the Finals, there may still be more to come from Bolden.
Alexia Apostolakis (Western Sydney Wanderers)
This list would not be complete without a mention of breakout star Apostolakis, with the 17-year-old playing a key role in Western Sydney Wanderers’ emergence as Finals contenders.
Apostolakis has shone on both sides of the ball, leading all her team-mates for chances created (34) despite only starting 14 of their 20 games, while she has also been willing to get involved in the midfield battle.
Winning 62 of her 120 duels, Apostolakis also ranks second among Wanderers players for interceptions (36) and joint-third for tackles won (25). They look to have unearthed a real gem.
