Sydney FC ends Storm reign

Analysis of performances over the past five years – presented by Platinum Asset Management and Gain Line Analytics – shows the Sky Blues top the rankings for 2021 for winning three A-League titles and finishing runners-up once from 2017 to this year.

The Storm, who headed the rankings in 2019 and 2020, dropped to fourth after failing to reach this year’s NRL grand final.

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And in further good news for Sydney FC, the club’s women’s side placed fifth overall, a ranking which earnt the title of Australasia’s best female sporting team.

“To have the highest-rated men’s and women’s teams of all codes in Australia and New Zealand is a huge achievement,” Sydney FC CEO Danny Townsend said.

“Over the last five years our men’s and women’s teams have competed in eight out of 10 grand finals and it is this consistency that has delivered this accolade.

“I’d like to congratulate everyone at the club, from our owners David Traktovenko and Scott Barlow, to our board of directors, to our coaching staff and players, as well as our members who have stuck by us during a difficult time through displacement from our home stadium and the global pandemic.

“It is an outstanding achievement to celebrate and we will look to challenge for the title again next year.”

Sydney’s men’s coach, Steve Corica, was proud and delighted about his team being recognised as Australasia’s best.

“Much credit must go to our players, who have achieved some great things and the staff, who prepare our players to achieve that success,” Corica said.

“We have every intention of ensuring we stay firmly in top place with our performances this season.”

Sky Blues women’s coach, Ante Juric, also paid tribute to his players, as well staff and the whole club.

“We have had a policy of believing in and promoting our excellent young Australian female players and it has paid off,” Juric said.

“It was fantastic to win last season’s premiership and go so close in the grand final. We look forward to going one better this year.”

Runner-up to Sydney FC was the Crusaders Super Rugby team, while the Sydney Sixers BBL team finished third.

The analysis takes in every game in every Australasian sporting competition conducting a home/away or equivalent competition, including Australian teams.

Based on rolling five-year outcomes, 16 competitions – including six women’s competitions, and the Esports unisex League of Legends Oceania circuit Oceania – are analysed.

Brisbane

Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked fo… Read more

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