A raw deal is still the best deal for the Matildas
Columnist
By Davidde Corran, 22 Jan 2010 Davidde Corran is a Roar Expert
There’s been a bit of significant Australian football news slipping under the radar recently. Last week Football Federation Australia announced they had signed an agreement with Indonesia that is intended to result in “a raft of exchange programs and more internationals between the two countries.”
As Matthew Hall wrote in his SBS blog, “Had you blinked – and I am sure you did – you would have missed it.”
That piece of intelligent political chicanery was followed up this week by the news that the Matildas have agreed a new playing deal to cover them until the end of the 2010 Asian Cup in May.
According to a joint Football Federation Australia and Professional Footballers Australia press release, “The agreement will see players in the AFC Asian Cup in May 2010 earn between $500 and $1,000 per match and six-month retainers of up to $17,000.
“No fewer than 23 women footballers will be accommodated under the three-tiered contract system.”
It’s particularly good news considering a number of Matildas who debuted in the inaugural WPS season in the US last year may have to skip the 2010 season due to national team commitments.
Though as Matildas defender Kate McShea says, the financial relief is still tempered by its comparatively diminutive size.
“We’ll still have financial worries but they’ll be a bit less of a burden,” explained the Brisbane Roar defender.
Adding that “(The Matildas’) entire budget is probably what one Socceroo gets but in terms of female sports we’re sitting pretty good.”
This is going to be an important year for women’s football in Australia. The W-League has survived a second season many within it had fears for so it will be interesting to see if it can develop in version 3.
Even more important, however, is the Matildas’ aforementioned Asian Cup campaign.
The tournament will double as Asia’s qualifying process for the 2011 World Cup and the four semi-finalists booking their place in Germany next year. With Australia placed in a difficult group (also featuring China, South Korea and Vietnam) the Matildas will need every cent of that money to help them focus on having the best possible tournament preparation.
Still the solution for women’s football is not to just throw money into the game. While there is enough cash to go around between the income the Socceroos help to bring in, FFA’s Westfield sponsorship deal and Frank Lowy’s thick coffers, that won’t help the game in the long term.
Crucially we don’t want women’s football to end up like basketball in America where the men’s game subsidises the women’s league (and to much resentment from both sides).
Still, like the A-League, the Matildas need to step out of the Socceroos’ shadow. They can’t do that however unless they are given a stable stage to “step out” onto. If the foundations are made from borrowed money and without further income to reinforce it, everything will come crashing down eventually.
Money won’t solve everything though and one key could be America’s Womens Pro Soccer league.
As Netball’s profile continues to grow in Australia on the back of a rather handy TV deal, the W-League could use the WPS as a leverage point.
What a boon it would be if FFA was able to link up the two leagues, or at least their respective clubs, with a player loaning system. The timing of both competitions is perfectly set up to do so and I know it’s something one Matilda suggested as far back as the W-League’s inception.
Until initiatives like this start-taking place, women’s football in Australia must build slowly and that includes player payments.
Unfortunately while Football Federation Australia is swamped in it’s 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding, almost everything else is on hold.
Whether Australia’s bid is successful or not it will be good news for everyone, including the Matildas, once the process is over.
In the meantime, while it feels unfair, a raw deal may be the best one for our women footballers.
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JiMMM said | January 22nd 2010 @ 9:03am | Report comment
“Crucially we don’t want women’s football to end up like basketball in America where the men’s game … the women’s league (and to much resentment from both sides). ”
Umm what, methinks the editor had a brain fade.
Back on topic though, I agree it is a shame that the womens game gets so little coverage in the Aus media, and that the top players get so little recognition for thier efforts (monetary and other).
I don’t know how likely a agreement between the essentially amatuer W-League and the WPS would work, as I think all that would result would be an exit of Australian players to teh US with not much coming back.
Phutbol said | January 22nd 2010 @ 9:39am | Report comment
Do you think he meant to say …..’subsidises’…. the womens league. or ‘props up’ maybe?
Davidde Corran said | January 22nd 2010 @ 5:56pm | Report comment
I did indeed mean to write “subsidises”. Apologies for the oversight. I was having a massive mental blank at the time and clearly I forgot to change it and it slipped passed the sub-editor.
In terms of an agreement between the two leagues it would only work one way and that would be WPS players coming here. There would be benefits for both sides however. Last season there already was some movement between the leagues and even more interest.
Punter said | January 22nd 2010 @ 10:00am | Report comment
I think this shows yet again that football in this country is much much more than just A-League attendances.
Michael C said | January 22nd 2010 @ 11:08am | Report comment
‘RAW deal’,
uh?
I thought they must’ve signed on for another calendar….
nup!…..disappointed again.
Ben of Phnom Penh said | January 22nd 2010 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
the last few years has seen rather rapid change in the Women’s game which is good to see. There is still a long way to go however at least the steps so far have been in a forward direction.
Davidde Corran said | January 22nd 2010 @ 5:57pm | Report comment
There’s been a fair few sideways steps as well though but you’re right. At least things are generally moving in the right direction.
Lazza said | January 22nd 2010 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
The potential is certainly there for Womens Football. All Netball has in comparison is a ‘World’ Championship against the Kiwis with all the other countries just making up the numbers. Olympic games, World Cup and professional leagues overseas offer many more opportunities for a decent career.
True Tah said | January 22nd 2010 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Lazza
how many professional leagues are their for women globally? I can remember a number of foreign players looking at Australia because there are very few opportunities, I can recall one player turning to adult films because she was getting paid bugger all as a futbol player.
I think netball has done a great job with the ANZ Championship and it ensures that there is a career opportunity. It gets good coverage on PayTV and Im sure a $$ stream to go with it.
Having said that, Australia has generally been one step ahead of the majority of the world in terms of womens suffrage, albeit behind NZ.
whiskeymac said | January 22nd 2010 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
seriously, professional sportswoman or adult movies? surely there’s more choices for a woman to get ahead (oh dear), maybe this colourful example says more about the individual concerned and less with poorly remunerated woman’s sports.
i think that the woman’s professional game is in it’s infancy, but apart from say, tennis, which sports do pay well? to be paid well they need to generate punters etc. are W league games well attended? i dont know, but if the whole scene is starting out from scratch are they not at the same stage in their games development as other sports who shed amateurism?
Davidde Corran said | January 22nd 2010 @ 6:02pm | Report comment
True Tah, in terms of football there is only the one fully professional league – WPS. There are semi-pro leagues across the globe however.
The female footballer you mention was German and it happened just over a year ago. As is mentioned further down in the comment the fact she couldn’t make money from football is the point. Her going into the adult entertainment industry is obviously a personal decision.
Dogz R Barkn said | January 22nd 2010 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
Why are you having a go at our netballers?
Stacks of Commonwealth countries play netball – stacks – but they aren’t in the same league as Australia and New Zealand – that’s not their fault if other countries aren’t able to step up to the mark.
Lazza said | January 22nd 2010 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
I’m having a go at international Netball? Every final is Australia v NZ and all the games with other nations are one-sided blowouts? Other nations may play the game but they’re obviously not that interested in it.
The ladies can represent our country at World Cups and Olympic games in Football. There are No professional leagues anywhere for Netball. As a career choice for a dedicated, sportswoman I think Football offers better opportunities.
If you’re just playing for fun then it doesn’t matter.
MV Dave said | January 22nd 2010 @ 2:23pm | Report comment
Similarly to the mens game small steps forward. The Womens WC is the biggest female only, single sports event in the world and last time in 2007 generated ave attendances of over 36,000 per game x 32 games. The Matildas are right up there in the worlds top 10 (they made the last 8 in 2007) and having a National Womens League, the game is heading in the right direction. Semi professionalism is all that can be expected until new sponsorship (Mr Lowy- Westfield) or a tv deal is in place. It will take time.
BTW There were some great games in the last WC and the Americans actually like the Womens WC because they are ranked in the top 5 and have won it. The point being this means a greater chance of a fully professional league surviving more than a few seasons.
Still dont see why the Westfield League games cant be played as curtain raisers to the mens HAL games until the players are known well enough for games to draw more spectators standing alone…would be a way of reducing ground costs and players have a decent audience to perform in front of.
Digital TV - meh said | January 26th 2010 @ 1:32pm | Report comment
Is it? There’s a little event called the Australian Open taking place at the minute, over 200 women involved in that, plenty of prizemoney as well. Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and not to forget the Girls Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles – which also involve prizemoney.
There’d be over $10 million spread between these players and a lot of TV coverage the world over – and there are 4 of these each year!
MV Dave said | January 26th 2010 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
Yeh the Womans game so big they ride on the coat tails of the men. Stand by the statement that the Womens WC is the biggest FEMALE only (not joined to the Mens WC as per Tennis) single sporting event.
Davidde Corran said | January 22nd 2010 @ 6:08pm | Report comment
MV Dave I think if the game continues to grow over the next 5 years as it has over the last few then things will be much better for the next generation of women footballers.
In terms of the curtain raisers it all comes down to money. It is extremely expensive to keep a stadium open for longer. I spoke about this at length with someone from one the A-League clubs last year and he quoted $20,000 to play a W-League game as a curtain raiser. This was one of the A-League’s smaller stadiums as well. You must realise none of the A-League clubs wanted a W-League or even a NYL. Originally they simply saw it as (and some still do) only being a money drain.
jupiter53 said | January 23rd 2010 @ 12:18am | Report comment
I went with my daughter to a couple of Sydney FC’s W league games this season. One was the curtain raiser against Brisbane and the other the game against Perth at Leichhardt Oval.
The stand alone game had a much better atmosphere. The crowd was maybe smaller but much more enthusiastic and focussed. The problem with curtain raisers is that people just drift in as the game goes on and don’t get the evolving drama of the game.
I would go again next year to see Sydney FC W league games. The standard was generally good this year and Sydney played some really intelligent stuff at times. At a modestly sized suburban ground where the crowd can make a proportionate noise it makes an inspiring occasion for any girl who plays [and there are so many of them now].
The ABC TV coverage helped as it was possible to get a sense of how the teams were going and which opposing players to watch for.
I thought the standard was higher this year than last year and that has to be good for the Matildas.
As with the A league there is much room for improvement but also a feeling that the FFA is trying to promote sensible and sustainable growth.
apaway said | January 28th 2010 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
Isn’t it ironic, in a positive way, that the W-league has FTA coverage and the A-League doesn’t?