In the off-season, the APL increased its ladder sorting rules from a 5 step to an 11 step criteria to reduce the chance of clubs being tied at the end of the regular season.
The A-Leagues regulations are reviewed annually to make sure we put the most compelling product on the pitch. We consult with stakeholders and look at similarly constructed leagues around the world before making decisions.
Communicated to clubs before the start of the season, the new criteria places a greater emphasis on a club’s total number of wins to encourage more attacking football and to increase the number of matches that matter through the season.
The new criteria shown below details total number of wins and then highest goal difference as the top two determining factors used as a tie-breaker when teams have the same points tally.
All A-Leagues Competition Regulations and Policies go through a robust review and approval process and final documentation is circulated to parties involved including A-League Clubs.
A technical error – which has now been rectified – had led to the league tables showing incorrectly on aleagues.com.au for the opening rounds of the 2023-24 season.
Procedures to Determine Placings after Regular Season
At the completion of the Regular Season Clubs are ranked from one (1) through to twelve (12), with the first six (6) Clubs progressing to the Finals Series. The position of each Club will be determined based on the following criteria:
- Highest number of points accumulated during the Regular Season;
if two (2) or more Clubs are level on points accumulated, the following criteria will be applied, in order, until all Clubs can be separated and ranked in order:
- Total number of wins;
- Highest goal difference;
- Highest number of goals scored;
- Highest number of points accumulated in Matches between the Clubs concerned;
- Highest goal difference in Matches between the Clubs concerned;
- Lowest number of Fair Play Points accumulated;
- Away goals difference (being the number of goals scored by the Club in away Matches minus the number of goals scored against the Club in away Matches);
- Away goals per away Match;
- Home goals difference (being the number of goals scored by the Club in home Matches minus the number of goals scored against the Club in home Matches);
- Home goals for per home Match; and
- Toss of a coin (tie of two clubs) or drawing of lots (tie of three or more clubs).
