A lot has been made of the effect of COVID on the A-League in 2020-21, much in particular about the beneficial effect it has had on young Australian players who have received greater opportunity to play with a reduced salary cap, travel restrictions and the departure of many foreigners. How much of a difference has it actually made? I wanted to compare this season to last season numerically and see the real effect. 

2019-20 A-League season (for this season Australian youth should be considered players born in 1996 or later) 

Matches played: 148 

Minutes played by Australian youth: 55454 (18.9% of all available minutes) 

Matches started by Australian youth: 592 (16.9% of all available starts)

Goals and assists from Australian youth: 113

Players who played more than 1000 minutes: (minutes - name, club - birth year) 2116 - Matthew Millar (NEW - 1996), 1158 - Aaron Calver (WUN - 1996), 1707 - Louis D’Arrigo (ADL - 2001), 1894 - Ryan Strain (ADL - 1997), 1996 - Riley McGree (ADL - 1998), 1264 - George Blackwood (ADL - 1997), 1318 - Aiden O’Neill (BRI - 1998), 1698 - Kye Rowles (CCM - 1998), 1485 - Danny de Silva (CCM - 1997), 1086 - Sam Silvera (CCM - 2000), 1340 - Lewis Miller (CCM - 2000), 1149 - Lachie Wales (MCI - 1997), 1170 - Tom Glover (MCI - 1998), 1220 - Nathaniel Atkinson (MCI - 1999), 1907 - John Koutroumbis (NEW - 1998), 1386 - Angus Thurgate (NEW - 2000), 1039 - Jake Brimmer (PER - 1998), 1650 - Joel King (SFC - 2000), 1330 - Reno Piscopo (WEL - 1998), 1507 - Cam Devlin (WEL - 1998), 1048 - Jerry Skotadis (WUN - 2000), 1735 - Keanu Baccus (WSW - 1998)

Therefore, there were 22 Australian youth players who played more than 1000 minutes last season. There was only 1 player who played more than 2000 minutes (Matthew Millar), and 8 players who played more than 1500 minutes. 

Out of these players, there were 2 U23s (1996), 4 U22s (1997), 9 U21s (1998), 1 U20 (1999), 5 U19s (2000), 1 U18 (2001) 

Players who got more than 5 goals or assists combined: (goals/assists - name, club - birth year) 15 - Riley McGree (ADL - 1998), 5 - George Blackwood (ADL - 1997), 5 - Nick D'Agostino (PER - 1998), 5 - Trent Buhagiar (SFC - 1998), 5 - Reno Piscopo (WEL - 1998) 

Therefore, there were 5 Australian youth players to register more than 5 goals or assists combined. 

2020-21 A-League season (for this season Australian youth should be considered players born in 1997 or later) 

Matches played: 134

Minutes played by Australian youth: 82716 (31.2% of all available minutes) 

Matches started by Australian youth: 873 (29.6% of all available starts) 

Goals and assists from Australian youth: 174 

Players who have played more than 1000 minutes: (minutes - name, club - birth year) 1751 - Louis D’Arrigo (ADL - 2001), 1004 - Joe Caletti (ADL - 1998), 1170 - James Delianov (ADL - 1999), 1088 - George Timotheou (ADL - 1997), 1310 - Ryan Strain (ADL - 1997), 1107 - Josh Cavallo (ADL - 1999), 1980 - Kye Rowles (CCM - 1998), 1380 - Josh Nisbet (CCM - 1999), 1073 - Dan Bouman (CCM - 1998), 1580 - Danny de Silva (CCM - 1997), 1563 - Kai Trewin (BRI - 2001), 1579 - Rahmat Akbari (BRI - 2000), 1003 - Joe Champness (BRI - 1997), 1649 - Dylan Wenzel-Halls (BRI - 1997), 1713 - Denis Genreau (MFC - 1999), 1980 - Tom Glover (MCI - 1998), 1930 - Connor Metcalfe (MCI - 1999), 1324 - Dylan Ryan (MVC - 2000), 1950 - Jake Brimmer (MVC - 1998), 2047 - Joel King (SFC - 2000), 1057 - Josh Laws (WEL - 1998), 1264 - Cam Devlin (WEL.- 1998), 1980 - Daniel Margush (WSW - 1998), 1373 - Tate Russell (WSW - 1999), 1263 - Thomas Aquilina (WSW - 2001), 1527 - Keanu Baccus (WSW - 1998), 1345 - Mark Natta (WSW - 2002), 1135 - John Koutroumbis (NEW - 1998), 1011 - Ramy Najjarine (NEW - 2000), 1920 - Connor O’Toole (NEW - 1997), 1911 - Angus Thurgate (NEW - 2000), 1023 - Luka Prso (NEW - 2001), 1564 - Dylan Pierias (WUN - 2000), 1090 - Lachie Wales (WUN - 1997), 1049 - Lachie Rose (MFC - 1999).

Therefore, there are 34 Australian youth players who have played more than 1000 minutes this season. There are 16 Australian youth players who have played more than 1500 minutes this season. There is 1 Australian player (Joel King, SFC - 2000) who has played more than 2000 minutes this season. NB: every team has played between 22 and 23 games, meaning there have been between 1980 and 2070 available minutes. 

Out of these players there are 7 U23s (1997), 10 U22s (1998), 6 U21s (1999), 5 U20s (2000), 4 U19s (2001) and 1 U18 (2002). 

Players who have got more than 5 goals or assists combined: (goals/assists - name, club - birth year) 6 - Danny de Silva (CCM - 1997), 9 - Alou Kuol (CCM - 2001), 10 - Dylan Wenzel-Halls (BRI - 1997), 9 - Connor Metcalfe (MCI - 1999), 9 - Jake Brimmer (MVC - 1998), 7 - Dylan Pierias (WUN - 2000), 6 - Lachie Wales (WUN - 1997), 7 - Carlo Armiento (PER - 1999), 6 - Nick D’Agostino (PER - 1998), 6 - Kusini Yengi (ADL - 1999), 5 - Marco Tilio (MCI - 2001).

Therefore, there have been 11 Australian youth players to register more than 5 goals or assists combined.