Who is the Liberty A-League signing of the season?
That is the question set to be answered via a-leagues.com.au’s eToro Transfer Power Rankings, in 2023-24, ranking the best performers of all the off-season signings every month.
Each player’s place in the eToro Transfer Power Rankings is based off their Opta Index score for the season – and the rankings will shift month to month based on performance until we can crown the signing of the season.
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What is the Opta Index?
Opta defines it as follows: The Player Index is based on totals in a variety of statistics for each player. The index score uses subcomponents (such as shooting, passing, defending), corresponding to different qualitative aspects of a player’s performance.
These component scores are combined to create an overall rating for each player. The formula that works out the overall match rating have been developed by Opta’s own team of data scientists in conjunction with our award-winning Data Editorial team.
Read on for the top 10 signings in the eToro Transfer Power Rankings after ten rounds of the Liberty A-League season.
OCT/NOV RANKINGS: Where Van Egmond ranks after immediate A-Leagues impact
Who dropped out of October/November’s Top 10? Jordan Silkowitz (2), Emily van Egmond (6), Grace Jale (8), Vicky Bruce (9), Fiona Worts (10)
eToro Transfer Power Rankings – Top 10 (December value): Millie Farrow (87.3), Emina Ekic (81.8), Rylee Foster (76.6), Wurgimula (75.7), Kurea Okino (74.9), Mia Corbin (74.4), Sarina Bolden (69.9), Rola Badawiya (69.6), Isobel Nino (69.3), Coco Majstorovic (68.7)
eToro Transfer Power Rankings – Top 10
10. Ella O’Grady
- Ranking last month: 7 (dropped three places)
- Opta index: 66.1
- Transfer: Football Queensland Academy QAS -> Melbourne Victory
Ella O’Grady’s minutes tapered throughout December, making only two appearances off the bench for Melbourne Victory throughout the month.
The attacker also went on international duty with the Young Matildas early in the month, scoring a stunning goal in their 3-1 win over China.
9. Sarina Bolden
- Ranking last month: N/A
- Opta index: 68.3
- Transfer: Free Agent -> Newcastle Jets
Sarina Bolden rockets into the top 10 after an impressive first month at Newcastle Jets.
Bolden joined the Jets in late November, scoring a brace in her debut against Canberra United before adding goals against both Western United and Adelaide United to round out a sensational first few weeks at the club.
The Philippines international looks set to go from strength to strength this season, even after the departure of Emily van Egmond, especially if her and fellow attacker Melina Ayres can forge a solid tandem up-front.
8. Rachel Lowe
- Ranking last month: 1 (dropped seven places)
- Opta index: 68.4
- Transfer: Sydney FC -> Melbourne Victory
Rachel Lowe started life at Melbourne Victory like a house on fire, but her performances have dipped since, resulting in losing top spot in the eToro Power Rankings.
Despite not scoring or getting an assist throughout December, Lowe still created a number of chances for herself, registering 14 shots in her four matches last month, with six of those on target.
It will be a fascinating watch to see how Jeff Hopkins looks to utilise both Lowe and Alex Chidiac in the side, after the latter returned to Victory last week.
7. Wurigumula
- Ranking last month: N/A
- Opta index: 68.6
- Transfer: Changchun Jiuyin Loans -> Central Coast Mariners
Wurigumula lands in the top 10 after a solid month leading Central Coast’s attack, headlined by her performance in their 3-0 win against Canberra United.
The China international scored a brace – including a brilliant long range strike to open the scoring – in the Mariners’ win in the capital, taking her tally to three goals for the season.
6. Courtney Newbon
- Ranking last month: 3 (dropped three rankings)
- Opta index: 69.4
- Transfer: Sydney Olympic -> Central Coast Mariners
Courtney Newbon’s four-game stint as Central Coast goalkeeper was so impressive that she remains in the top 10 long after her departure.
Newbon kept one clean sheet, made 17 saves and conceded just three goals across two wins, one draw and one defeat.
Her time in Gosford came to an end in early December after the return of Sarah Langman and arrival of Casey Dumont spelled the end of Newbon’s injury replacement contract.
5. Rebekah Stott
- Ranking last month: N/A
- Opta index: 70.0
- Transfer: Brighton & Hove Albion -> Melbourne City
It’s no surprise the only game Melbourne City have lost this season was when Rebekah Stott was missing.
Stott has helped City sit top of the ladder heading into 2024, with a series of masterful performances at the back, particularly in their Melbourne Derby triumph over Victory.
The Football Fern also scored an absolute cracker in their 1-1 draw with Central Coast Mariners, her first goal since March 2020.
4. Mia Corbin
- Ranking last month: N/A
- Opta index: 70.1
- Transfer: Parma -> Brisbane Roar
American attacker Mia Corbin’s form has been a shining light throughout a tough period for Brisbane Roar. Corbin scored three goals in December, including a brace against Melbourne City, taking her tally to five for the season – to go with two assists.
3. Millie Farrow
- Ranking last month: N/A
- Opta index: 75.7
- Transfer: North Carolina Courage -> Perth Glory
It seemed as if all Millie Farrow needed was one goal before the avalanche begun.
Ever since opening up her account in Perth Glory’s loss to Wellington Phoenix in late November, Farrow has scored five goals in four games, including a hat-trick against Melbourne City and brace in their win over Central Coast.
The English striker currently sits equal first with Canberra United’s Vesna Milivojevic for goals and assists this season with nine (five goals, four assists).
2. Rylee Foster
- Ranking last month: 5 (rose three rankings)
- Opta index: 77.0
- Transfer: Free Agent -> Wellington Phoenix
Rylee Foster’s inspirational comeback continued in December.
The Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper was integral to their performances throughout the month, namely in their 2-0 win over Newcastle Jets, where she made a string of quality saves to keep her side ahead.
Foster missed the 1-0 loss to Sydney FC due to suffering a mild concussion in the clash against Newcastle.
1. Emina Ekic
- Ranking last month: 4 (rose three rankings)
- Opta index: 80.0
- Transfer: Racing Louisville -> Melbourne City
Emina Ekic picked up right where she left off in her first stint at Melbourne City, stringing together a brilliant run of performances to help her side sit top of the standings.
The Bosnia-Herzegovina international has been on fire, scoring four goals in her last two matches, headlined by a hat-trick in City’s 5-3 win over Brisbane Roar. Her first stint was cut short by injury, where she started in a similar vein of form, scoring four goals in six appearances for City last season.
Ekic has already bettered that total in seven appearances, scoring five goals and tallying two assists throughout a borderline unstoppable run of form.
This run of form comes at a time where City were desperately looking for someone to step up and fill the huge void left by injured star Holly McNamara, which Ekic has done to aplomb.
