The importance of playing at home has been evident throughout football history. In the first installment of our new weekly Statistical Analysis, available in the Stats Centre, Opta uncovers the influence this has had over the first ten seasons of the Hyundai A-League.
The familiar environment, the support of the crowd and the occasional opportunity to make life difficult for the opposition (“I’m sorry, the hot water isn’t working today, and yes, the away dressing room is a little cramped”) have all combined to give football teams a healthy advantage.
Just how advantageous is illustrated by the fact that in the history of the Hyundai A-League’s regular season the home team has won 45% of matches, a quarter of matches have been drawn, leaving 30% as victories for the visitors.
Round 1 this season saw the usual trend bucked with only one home win, two draws and two away wins; perhaps an indication of opening round jitters on display for the teams playing with the pressure of being in front of their home fans.
Hyundai A-League Home Record by Season
|
Home Wins |
Draws |
Away Wins |
|
|
2006 |
33% |
25% |
42% |
|
2007 |
45% |
24% |
31% |
|
2008 |
32% |
33% |
35% |
|
2009 |
52% |
24% |
24% |
|
2010 |
50% |
24% |
27% |
|
2011 |
45% |
28% |
26% |
|
2012 |
44% |
27% |
29% |
|
2013 |
53% |
19% |
28% |
|
2014 |
49% |
24% |
27% |
|
2015 |
40% |
24% |
36% |
|
2016 |
20% |
40% |
40% |
|
Overall |
45% |
25% |
30% |
Whilst the averages show a trend towards the home team, if we look at this team-by-team we can see there are some teams which thrive in the home environment. Melbourne Victory have had a 52% success rate at home in the history of the Hyundai A-League; significantly contributing to their success over the first ten campaigns. Whilst all teams maintain a home winning percentage over 39% there are teams on the list that have had to defy modest home form to qualify for the season ending Finals Series.
Team-by-Team All Time
|
Team |
Home Wins |
Home Draws |
Home Losses |
|
Melbourne Victory |
52% |
28% |
21% |
|
Central Coast Mariners |
50% |
24% |
26% |
|
Adelaide United |
49% |
24% |
27% |
|
Sydney FC |
47% |
25% |
29% |
|
Brisbane Roar |
46% |
21% |
33% |
|
Wellington Phoenix |
45% |
28% |
28% |
|
Perth Glory |
44% |
26% |
31% |
|
Western Sydney Wanderers |
40% |
29% |
31% |
|
Melbourne City FC |
39% |
30% |
30% |
|
Newcastle Jets |
39% |
24% |
37% |
Whilst the history books are interesting if we look at last season in isolation we can see that home performance is indicative of final ladder positioning. Last season’s Premiers’ Plate winner Victory won a huge 64% of all home matches. Sydney are the anomaly by finishing second despite a 29% home win ratio, the third lowest record of its kind last term. This is explained by the Sky Blues being the only side to go the season unbeaten on the road (W10 D4 L0) to well and truly buck the notion of home matches being must-wins.
Team by Team Recent Form (2014/15 Season Only)
|
Team |
Home Wins |
Home Draws |
Home Losses |
|
Melbourne Victory |
64% |
14% |
21% |
|
Perth Glory |
57% |
14% |
29% |
|
Adelaide United |
47% |
33% |
20% |
|
Wellington Phoenix |
47% |
20% |
33% |
|
Melbourne City FC |
46% |
38% |
15% |
|
Central Coast Mariners |
43% |
14% |
43% |
|
Brisbane Roar |
31% |
15% |
54% |
|
Sydney FC |
29% |
36% |
36% |
|
Western Sydney Wanderers |
20% |
33% |
47% |
|
Newcastle Jets |
8% |
31% |
62% |
