DOES THE A-LEAGUE REWARD AGGRESSION?

Short answer, no. While some leagues around the world still play into the hands of hard-tackling, elbowing, crotch-grabbing skinheads, with VAR and Chris Griffiths-Jones keeping a hawkeye on proceedings, Australia is the land of little opportunity.

The most aggressive out of the big three was surprisingly Sydney, fourth overall. While their mix of experienced heads may lend themselves to a little argy bargy, perhaps there's a stiffer side to Bimbi than many would have expected.

Perth were the fairest of them all with over 100 less fouls than Rudan's Nix and Joyce's City sides, while Muscat, for all his reputation, presided over the third nicest team on the park.

Fouls conceded

1

Wellington Phoenix

414

2

Melbourne City FC

406

3

Western Sydney Wanderers FC

399

4

Sydney FC

395

5

Brisbane Roar FC

392

6

Central Coast Mariners

389

7

Adelaide United

382

8

Melbourne Victory

380

9

Newcastle Jets

331

10

Perth Glory

308

OR ARE YOU JUST GETTING AWAY WITH IT...

They may have been one of the highest-foulers, but Sydney clearly knew when to step in and when to step back - the only side to avoid a red card all season and very low on the yellow card spectrum as well.

We can already see the 'Sydney referee bias' comments coming now - hey, maybe they have a point?

Yellow Cards

1

Wellington Phoenix

65

2

Melbourne City FC

64

3

Brisbane Roar FC

62

4=

Central Coast Mariners

58

4=

Western Sydney Wanderers FC

58

6

Perth Glory

55

7

Melbourne Victory

54

8

Sydney FC

52

9

Adelaide United

47

10

Newcastle Jets

42

Red Cards

1

Central Coast Mariners

7

2

Brisbane Roar FC

6

3=

Adelaide United

4

3=

Wellington Phoenix

4

5=

Melbourne City FC

2

5=

Melbourne Victory

2

5=

Newcastle Jets

2

5=

Western Sydney Wanderers FC

2

9

Perth Glory

1

10

Sydney FC

0