Supplementary Table S2. Selected positional effect sizes and recurring positional patterns across density conditions. Density Variable Observed positional pattern Comparison Hedges' g Magnitude Low density ACC CM repeatedly differed from multiple positions CM vs ST 0.58 moderate Low density ACC CM repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs CM -0.53 moderate Low density DEC W repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs W 0.6 moderate Low density DEC W repeatedly differed from multiple positions W vs ST 0.58 moderate Low density HMLD CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs FB 0.87 large Low density HMLD CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs W 0.79 moderate Low density HMLD CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs ST 0.75 moderate Low density HMLD CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs CM 0.54 moderate Low density HSR W repeatedly differed from multiple positions W vs ST 1.29 large Low density HSR W repeatedly differed from multiple positions W vs CM 0.98 large Low density %MSPEED Single dominant contrast FB vs ST 0.71 moderate Low density NSPRINTS CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs ST -1.3 large Low density NSPRINTS CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs W -1.1 large Low density SPRINT ST repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs ST -1.15 large Low density SPRINT ST repeatedly differed from multiple positions CM vs ST 0.73 moderate Low density SPRINT ST repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs ST 0.62 moderate Low density TD FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs FB 1.16 large Low density TD FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs CM -0.76 moderate Medium density ACC FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs CM -0.85 large Medium density ACC FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs W -0.64 moderate Medium density DEC FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs ST 0.98 large Medium density DEC FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs W -0.59 moderate Medium density HMLD W repeatedly differed from multiple positions W vs ST -0.97 large Medium density HMLD W repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs W 0.89 large Medium density HMLD W repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs W 0.78 moderate Medium density HSR W repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs W 0.62 moderate Medium density HSR W repeatedly differed from multiple positions W vs CM -0.53 moderate Medium density %MSPEED FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs ST 0.75 moderate Medium density %MSPEED FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs W 0.54 moderate Medium density NSPRINTS W repeatedly differed from multiple positions W vs CM -0.9 large Medium density NSPRINTS W repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs W 0.89 large Medium density NSPRINTS W repeatedly differed from multiple positions W vs ST 0.57 moderate Medium density SPRINT W repeatedly differed from multiple positions W vs CM -0.94 large Medium density SPRINT W repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs W 0.92 large Medium density TD ST repeatedly differed from multiple positions CM vs ST -1.04 large Medium density TD ST repeatedly differed from multiple positions W vs ST -1.01 large High density ACC FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs ST 0.87 large High density ACC FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs W 0.58 moderate High density DEC FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs FB 0.97 large High density DEC FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs W 0.84 large High density DEC FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs ST 0.74 moderate High density HMLD FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs W 0.99 large High density HMLD FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs FB -0.79 moderate High density HMLD FB repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs CM 0.73 moderate High density HSR CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs FB -0.63 moderate High density HSR CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs W -0.54 moderate High density HSR CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs ST 0.52 moderate High density %MSPEED CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs ST 1.02 large High density %MSPEED CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs FB 1.0 large High density %MSPEED CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs W 0.84 large High density %MSPEED CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs CM 0.6 moderate High density NSPRINTS CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs CM -1.21 large High density NSPRINTS CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs FB -0.96 large High density NSPRINTS CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs W -0.88 large High density NSPRINTS CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs ST 0.51 moderate High density SPRINT CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs FB -0.86 large High density SPRINT CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs W -0.77 moderate High density SPRINT CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs CM -0.65 moderate High density SPRINT CB repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs ST 0.51 moderate High density TD W repeatedly differed from multiple positions CB vs W 0.75 moderate High density TD W repeatedly differed from multiple positions FB vs W 0.71 moderate High density TD W repeatedly differed from multiple positions W vs ST -0.57 moderate Hedges' g values were calculated from player-level aggregated means to account for repeated observations. The table reports selected practically relevant positional contrasts (0.50 ≤ |g| ≤ 1.30), together with recurring positional patterns observed within density conditions. Recurring positional patterns were identified when one position demonstrated practically relevant contrasts against multiple other positions within the same variable and density condition. These findings should be interpreted as exploratory practical patterns rather than evidence of statistically significant ApP × position interactions, as no interaction effects reached statistical significance in the multilevel mixed-effects models. Magnitude thresholds: trivial <0.20; small 0.20-0.49; moderate 0.50-0.79; large ≥0.80; CB = central back; FB = full back; W = wide midfielder; CM = centre midfielder; ST = striker.