Grand Final week is always full of big statements and expert opinions as the build-up to the biggest game of the Westfield W-League 2018/19 Season gets fully underway.
But it’s not just the players and pundits doing the talking with some key stats making for interesting reading ahead of Saturday’s match-up between Sydney FC and Perth Glory.
Thanks to Opta let’s take a look at the numbers behind the Westfield W-League Grand Final!
Head-to-head
History would suggest that the Glory have the upper hand in this encounter, winning eight of their last 12 Westfield W-League games against Sydney FC.
Their only meeting this season also ended in a victory for the Glory, a 2-1 result in Perth back in December.
In fact, you have to go back to 2015 to find the last time the Sky Blues won two consecutive games against their Western Australian opponents.
Must. Score. Goals
Perth may have dominated this fixture down the years but they have been on the receiving end of some horrible losses.
Back in 2011 Sydney set the Westfield W-League record for biggest margin of victory when they annihilated Perth 11-0.
Three years later they were at it again, this time tearing the Glory apart 8-2.
Nestled in between those thumping results, the sides set the record for most goals scored in a game when the Glory edged Sydney 7-5 in 2012.
Perth have since won back a bit of pride, recording 5-0 and 5-1 results against the Sky Blues in 2014 and 2017 respectively.
With 39 goals scored in Sydney FC’s last five home games against Perth Glory we could be well-placed to see at least a few at Netstarta Jubilee Stadium.
HOW TO WATCH: The Westfield W-League 2018/19 Grand Final
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WESTFIELD MATILDAS: Foord and Kerr light up the Westfield W-League finals
https://players.brightcove.net/5472387882001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5982435903001
League-leading attackers
They may not have finished one and two on the Westfield W-League ladder but both sides certainly topped the player rankings.
Glory marquee Sam Kerr won the battle for combined goals and assists with 16 strikes and four assists while second place went to Sydney FC’s Caitlin Foord with 10 goals and 4 assists.
Foord also finished with a conversion rate of 30% this campaign, the highest of any player to have scored more than one goal this season.
READ: Breaking down the battle between Kerr and Foord
Meanwhile, Rachel Hill and Kerr have provided nine assists to one another this season, more than twice as many as any other duo.
Their partnership also leads the league for shot attempts, Kerr with 72 and Hill with 56.
https://players.brightcove.net/5472387882001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6000425745001
