The top 10 centre-backs in the Liberty A-League, according to the numbers

“Charlotte Mclean has been the best defender in the league for two or three years.”

Sydney FC head coach Ante Juric sparked conversation around the Liberty A-League and the Matildas with praise for his Sky Blues defender.

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“She needs to get an opportunity,” Juric said during his appearance on Dub Zone. “I don’t know what else she needs to do. There’s players there that should be in, even other teams obviously have players progressing and doing well.

“… there needs to be changes down the track to rejuvenate the team.”

Uncapped Western Sydney Wanderers star Clare Hunt has since been called into the Matildas’ squad for this month’s Cup of Nations against Spain, Czechia and Jamaica.

With so much talk about the talent in the Liberty A-League, KEEPUP – with the help of Opta – looks at the best centre-backs in the competition, based on the numbers!

The Liberty A-League’s best

Our friends at Opta have crunched the numbers to pick out the best centre-backs in the competition this season.

There is a top 10 based on the Opta Index, which is an algorithm that looks at a players contribution in statistics and calculates a score out of 100.

Western United’s 23-year-old American import Sydney Cummings ranks first amid the club’s league-leading campaign, Mclean comes in at third, while Melbourne City have the most players in the top 10.

PlayerTeamGamesMinutesIndex Score
Sydney CummingsWestern United1090073.2
Clare HuntWestern Sydney Wanderers1199065.5
Charlotte McleanSydney FC981063.1
Alana CerneWestern United981062.6
Naomi Thomas-ChinnamaMelbourne City1176562.3
Ella TonkinAdelaide United325361.4
Emma CheckerMelbourne City745860.1
Katie BowenMelbourne City1198959.8
Natalie TobinSydney FC866658.4
Maruschka WaldusAdelaide United1199055.9

The newest face in the Matildas squad

Clare Hunt.

She is in the Australia squad that will continue their preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with a four-team tournament in New South Wales this month.

The Western Sydney Wanderers centre-back is one of six Liberty A-League players in the squad, alongside Katrina Gorry and Larissa Crummer (both Brisbane Roar), Alex Chidiac and Elise Kellond-Knight (both Melbourne Victory), and Sydney FC forward Cortnee Vine.

Western Sydney have enjoyed a resurgence after a difficult start to the season and Hunt has been an influential figure in that run.

There has been so much to like about the 23-year-old, who is not only comfortable with the ball at her feet but happy to do the dirty work.

Just look at some of the numbers in 2022-23: Hunt has won possession 116 times for the Wanderers, recorded 43 clearances, 22 of those with her head, 20 interceptions, 12 blocks, 20 tackles… all while boasting a passing accuracy of 79%.

Hunt goes up against Melbourne City’s Hannah Wilkinson.

The intercept queen

Charlotte Mclean – she has been an integral part of Sydney FC’s run of back-to-back Liberty A-League Premierships.

Sydney have built their foundations on a solid back four, with Mclean a mainstay.

The 23-year-old first emerged in 2020-21, having impressed Juric with Sydney’s NPL side and Mclean has not looked back.

A standout area this season has been her anticipation, with the centre-back tallying a league-high 30 interceptions.

A former Young Matilda, Mclean has also helped keep four clean sheets, while winning possession on 96 occasions in 2022-23.

Mclean controls the ball for Sydney in their Derby showdown with Western Sydney Wanderers this season.

Victory’s goalscoring defender

Kayla Morrison has overcome some significant hurdles in her career, having worked her way back from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

But Morrison is flying high and is one of the most acclaimed players currently playing in the top flight.

The 26-year-old American, who dreams of representing the Matildas, has enjoyed a wonderful return to the field with Melbourne Victory this term.

Morrison isn’t just a ball-winning defender – she has won possession 127 times in 11 games, to go with 26 clearances, 15 interceptions and seven blocks.

She can score goals, too. Look no further than December’s fixture at AAMI Park, where Morrison bagged a hat-trick in Victory’s 5-2 rout of Newcastle Jets.

Her tally for 2022-23 stands at four goals – no other defender has found the back of the net more than Morrison.

Morrison celebrates scoring a hat-trick for Victory earlier this season.

Try getting past this ‘Nix centre-back

When she isn’t coming up against the world’s best – the United States – Mackenzie Barry is fighting tooth and nail for Wellington Phoenix.

The two-time New Zealand international has been part of Wellington’s team since their inception in 2021 and she has consolidated herself in Phoenix’s back four.

Barry stands alone when it comes to tackles. Her 55 tackles rank first among all players in the Liberty A-League this season.

The 21-year-old has also registered 66 clearances to help Wellington amid their two-game unbeaten streak.

Barry wins the ball against the Wanderers in Wellington this term.

City’s pass master

Emma Checker is no stranger to the Liberty A-League and Australia’s national set-up.

The 26-year-old made her league debut with Adelaide United in 2011 before stints with Melbourne Victory, Canberra United and another spell with the Reds.

Since joining Melbourne City in 2019, Checker has won the Premiership and Championship, and captained the club while taking her talents abroad.

This season, as City fight for more silverware, Checker has showcased her passing ability.

She boasts a passing accuracy of 88% from 402 passes – the highest accuracy of any player to have attempted at least 50 passes.

Checker plays the ball out from the back for City.

Good luck beating this Reds defender in the air!

While Adelaide United’s season has not gone according to plan following last season’s drought-ending semi-final appearance, Maruschka Waldus has impressed in South Australia.

The 30-year-old is in her second stint with Adelaide, having also previously played for Western Sydney Wanderers.

Waldus has showed her experience throughout a testing campaign for the Reds, who are fifth and five points outside the final play-off berth.

She has made 24 headed clearances in 2022-23; it is the second-most of any player in the Liberty A-League – only behind Wellington’s Marisa van der Meer (28).

Waldus (L) heads the ball clear for Adelaide.