Some teams have their defence to thank for their position on the A-League table, while it’s clear others need to make adjustments.

It has always been a question of whether the defence or the attack is most important for football fans. In some cases, it will not matter for the great teams and the inferior teams, but for most it can be the difference between finishing cellar dwellers or top-of-the-table.

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For some clubs the data will not be surprising based on where they sit on the A-League table. However, for a few teams, the data will reveal how fortunate teams are to be in their league position.

In some arguments, fans take only a narrow look at the defensive records of teams, pointing to the number of goals conceded as an accurate measure of the best defence.

To indeed find out which teams have the strongest and weakest defence, we crunched the numbers based on:

• Average amount of goals conceded based on shots allowed
• Average minutes per goal
• Cleansheets to games ratio
• Shots saved by their keepers

All data is correct as of February 24. Below is a graph showing each side’s defensive record:

The best of the best:

Newcastle Jets, Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers, Brisbane Roar

When it comes to the best defensive teams in the league, these teams are the crème de la crème. Their league standing may vary but it is their defence that will win them a title or keep them from being cellar dwellers.

For the Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers, it is no surprise to see them here as they also rank in the top half of the league table. The Roar rank fourth overall when combing all significant categories, and the Wanderers rank equal second with Sydney. They are the best teams because they do not rely heavily on one major department to inflate their overall defensive rankings.

They also ranked in the top five for all categories we analysed.

The group’s most impressive defensive team has to be the Newcastle Jets, having played the highest number of games and if it was not for their defence, they would be sitting much lower on the league table.

Mediocre middle:

Central Coast Mariners, Macarthur FC, Western United, Adelaide United

When it comes to these teams defence, the data shows there is usually one statistical category helping their overall defensive rating, or hurts it for the Mariners.

The Mariners rank in the top five for almost every statistic except one. When it comes to the number of goals they concede based on shots attempted, they are one of the worst, ranking ninth overall.

The data is somewhat surprising when it comes to the remaining three, having almost identical scores. Both Western United and Macarthur FC got the same combined score, however, they sit opposites on the table. Suggesting that their defensive structure is not the reason for their success or failure.

Teams in panic mode:

Melbourne City, Wellington Phoenix, Melbourne Victory, Perth Glory

When it comes to these sides, their defence need some work if they have any chance of winning the premier’s plate.

For these teams, unfortunately, their defences do not cut it. The most startling statistic for these teams is that they all rank in the bottom five in save percentage.

Meaning they not only give up a large number of chances, but when they do, they are relatively easy chances for their opponents.

City is the worst when it comes to goals to goal attempt ratio. They allowed in almost 50 per cent of the chances that hit the target, with their save percentage at 56 per cent. Ironically, City is the best of these teams, with Perth being the worst. The only factor that works in their favour is that they have only played five games this season, the lowest of any team in the league.

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Summary:

For the teams at the bottom of the league table, their defensive ratings almost always indicate their league table position. This is obvious when looking at teams like Victory and the Phoenix.

However, for teams at the top of the table like Macarthur and the Mariners, their relatively average defensive performances do not hinder them. Due to all the firepower they have going forward.

The best defensive team overall is the Jets, who may be sixth overall, due to their stellar defensive efforts and the goalkeeping ability of Jack Duncan.

On average, the numbers suggest the teams that are clinging to the hopes of making finals have more reliance on their defence than any of their opponents.

Adelaide United: 8th 

• Goals ratio: 7^th
• MPG: 9^th
• Clean Sheet Ratio: 2^nd
• Save ratio: 6th

Brisbane Roar: 4th 

• Goals ratio: 4^th
• MPG: 2^nd
• Clean Sheet Ratio: 5^th
• Save ratio: 5th

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Central Coast Mariners: 5th 

• Goals ratio: 9^th
• MPG: 3^rd
• Clean Sheet Ratio: 1^st
• Save ratio: 4th

Macarthur FC: Tied 6th 

• Goals ratio: 6^th
• MPG: 5^th
• Clean Sheet Ratio: 3^rd
• Save ratio: 7th

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Melbourne City: Tied 9th 

• Goals ratio: 11^th
• MPG: 6^th
• Clean Sheet Ratio: 6^th
• Save ratio:12th

Melbourne Victory: 11th 

• Goals ratio: 10^th
• MPG: 8^th
• Clean Sheet Ratio: 7^th
• Save ratio: 10th

Newcastle Jets: 1st 

• Goals ratio: 3^rd
• MPG: 1^st
• Clean Sheet Ratio: 3^rd
• Save ratio: 3rd

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Perth Glory: 12th 

• Goals ratio: 12^th
• MPG: 10^th
• Clean Sheet Ratio: 8^th
• Save ratio: 11th

Sydney FC: 2nd 

• Goals ratio: 1^st
• MPG: 4^th
• Clean Sheet Ratio: 4^th
• Save ratio: 2nd

Wellington Phoenix: Tied 9th

• Goals ratio: 8^th
• MPG: 7^th
• Clean Sheet Ratio: 8^th
• Save ratio: 8th

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Western Sydney Wanderers: Tied 2nd 

• Goals ratio: 2^nd
• MPG: 2^nd
• Clean Sheet Ratio: 5^th
• Save ratio: 1st

Western United: Tied 6th 

• Goals ratio: 5^th
• MPG: 6^th
• Clean Sheet Ratio: 3^rd
• Save ratio: 9th

Feature Image Credit: Supplied