Catch up on the Ninja A-League Team of the Week, powered by Opta.
The Ninja A-League 2025-26 season returned from it’s mid-season break at the weekend and there was plenty of entertainment and drama as ever.
Round 19 featured plenty of top individual performances but it was Newcastle Jets attacker Sophie Hoban who stole the show with her two-goal haul against Sydney FC.
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*Editor’s Note: The Team of the Week features matches played from Monday to Sunday, meaning several teams may have played multiple matches during the allotted window.
Team of the Week
Joining Hoban in the forward line this week is fellow Newcastle Jets star Melina Ayres, who bagged the crucial equaliser against Sydney FC before Hoban then sealed the win with her double whilst Adelaide United goalscorer Fiona Worts also earned selection.
The midfield is made up of three players who all got themselves on the scoresheet in Round 19 with Sydney FC’s Mackenzie Hawkesby, Adelaide United’s Sarah Hunter and Wellington Phoenix’s Emma Pijnenburg all earning selection.
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In defence it’s a back four dominated by a trio of Wellington Phoenix defenders who all kept a clean sheet at the weekend as Mackenzie Barry, Marissa van der Meer and Ellie Walker all feature alongside Melbourne City skipper Rebekah Stott.
And finally your goalkeeper this week is a player who’s no stranger to selection when it comes to Team of the Week honours – Perth Glory’s Teresa Morrissey.
What is the Opta Points system?
Opta Points is a system where points are given to players for certain on-field actions. Players who complete the full game duration on the field typically end up with a point total ranging from 10 to 40 points. (View the full breakdown of Opta Points below).
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Explained: Opta’s Team of the Week using Opta Points
The scoring system distinguishes only between field players and goalkeepers, assigning the same number of points to all field players for corresponding actions. A distinctive feature of this system is its exclusive focus on in-game actions, refraining from awarding points for post-game performances, such as securing a victory or allocating bonus points for maintaining a clean sheet.
Positive actions (goals, passes, tackles, etc…) will add to a player’s score and, conversely, negative actions (cards, own goals, goals conceded) will reduce a player’s points total. Theoretically, a player’s points value is unlimited, and players can conclude a game with negative points. However, players who complete the full game duration on the field typically end up with a point total ranging from 10 to 40 points.
Goals, Shots on target, shots off target, blocked shots, own goal, assists, passes, crosses, tackles, interceptions, fouls won, fouls conceded, offsides, yellow cards, red cards, goals conceded, penalty won, saves, penalty saved are included in Opta Points.
