I’ve never written about women’s football. The odd match report aside, I’ve never really written about what women’s football means.
I have never written about where it stands in the Australian landscape, its flaws, its beauty.
It’s the harsh reality of 21st century media. The images on your TV screen, the sound in your podcast and the words in your newspaper are dictated by you. You like it, we’ll write it. You click on it, we’ll write more of it. You comment on it, by golly, you can have the spare key to our apartment.
There is no denying the women’s side of the game in Australia is but a mere showroom. We pass through for a look every time a major tournament rolls around. We like what we see, but we were only ever here for a quick glance. A nice place, but it’s more a house for the Kerrigans.
Each time we go back, though, we’re given every reason to stick around. The Matildas are bloody good.
For those not keeping tabs, five consecutive World Cup appearances (quarter-final finishes at the last two), three-time OFC champions back in the Oceania days and a 2010 Asian Cup title to boot.
Perception perhaps remains the elephant in the room. For those who give women’s football a chance, though, that seems a load of bollocks.
A few weeks back I was at Cromer Park as NSW NPL Womens 1 Premiers Macarthur Rams visited Manly United. It snuck into the list of the top five games I’ve watched live this year – around 30 in total – including the A-League grand final and an FFA Cup match.
I had the benefit of not being plagued by low expectations. I knew what to expect, and it delivered.
Although women’s football sits at the bar talking to futsal while the men’s game tears up the dance floor with Delta Goodrem-esque moves, it had its moment in the spotlight on Monday.
FIFA has pledged funding of more than half a million dollars over the next two years to contribute to developing the game at all levels.
Let’s not kid ourselves, it isn’t exactly a windfall – just 2.5 times what each Socceroo made for appearing at the 2014 World Cup – but it’s a pretty big deal.
A tip of the hat to FIFA Executive Committee Member Moya Dodd, who has spent her time on the board of football’s governing body doing something that would be as foreign as her accent to them – instigating real change.
While the overriding ambition is for the Matildas to set up camp among the international powerhouses, with World Cup glory a decade ago according to expectations, the funds will be used to nurture the grassroots game.
The National Women and Girls Football Development program will be kick started by nationwide development officers and a Coaches Mentor Program to focus on improving the standard of girls football and establishing clearer pathways to the top.
FFA Board Member Dodd provided a stark realisation of just how far the game has already come over the last two decades.
“When I was a kid playing football you were like a circus freak, playing a boys game. These days it’s normal to go out and see a whole lot of girls playing every weekend and it’s fantastic the growth the game has seen,” she said.
The long term goal remains to model a system akin to that of Japan, who are perked up at third of the women’s world rankings. Women’s football has always had the dedicated personnel with a desire to initiate a top-down structure, but has been given pocket change to do so.
Hence the significance of FIFA’s cash offering, which provides the chance to prove what can yet be achieved. Sure, this is just the start line with a marathon ahead, but the race is the fun part.
The A-League season is 51 days away. The W-League season kicks off in just 24. Give it a squiz, because the game that keeps on giving surely deserves something in return.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Its not a shame, its reality. The rule of supply and demand runs the world. Women's sport not only lacks the quality that men's sport does, it also lacks the audience.
Adam Smith
Guest
Women's soccer in Australia was born a long time ago mate. It's very normal and mainstream to see girls playing the game at the local park.
Hand of God
Guest
Down in Canberra the W-League is the only top flight game in town, and i've been to see some cracking matches in the heat from the women. Also the W-League was regularly reported as having 100k viewers, which means it out-rated a few Friday night A-League games! Basically the women's game needs more intelligent scheduling so fans intuitively know when both the male and female stars are in town...
Tom
Guest
Here are some great highlights of the current Women's U20 World Cup: http://www.fifa.com/u20womensworldcup/videos/highlights/index.html
Griffo
Roar Guru
Not disagreeing with you here Alex at all, although in reference to Kellett's post above it seems this is to suppliment a kickstart in educating coaches for girls... One thing I want to know is how does TV audience get measured these days? Is it like in the past with some random homes having a box attached that feeds back viewing info? I'd rather watch on iView (ABC) as I am certain that they have tools in place to easily measure the actual viewing numbers. I'm just not certain they know I watch the W-League game on TV but nonetheless it is a point that if you don't watch it, there is less chance of sponsorship.
Catnap
Guest
I enjoy watching the w league but I disagree with so many imports I think we should have one marque player and the rest local players who play in their own states we have many players who are good enough in melbourne without importing players from inter state also why haven't melbourne city got a w league team considering they are the richest club !!!!!
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Good article, Mitch. Out here in Asia we used to get one Saturday W-League match a week on Australia Network. Sadly we will be losing that with the demise of the network.
Alex
Guest
Maybe it's not a lot of cash, but it should see the start of a consistent rollout of SAP program's for girls up to 12. This is happening for boys while often it's a struggle to put girl program's together, We need more girls entering the game and the key to this already exists but is not being used It's the Matilda's. If that money is used to directly market the sport to parents and girls that age.....it could make a difference. If there was more mainstream demand for the product called "women's football" it would be a different story. SPONSORSHIP and ADVERTISING REVENUE. So, watch the WLeagueebon ABC TV and force the game into the mainstream by weight of numbers. It is improving and our Matilda's are a back able chance to win a World Cup in my lifetime...........no men's or boy's team is.
Punter
Guest
There is so much potential in women's football in this country. Hopefully this is a start, but money in women's sport outside of tennis is minimal, which is a shame..
Cameron
Roar Guru
Poor heading. I don't know how much money is required to make such a significant change but half a million of two years is not a lot. Sure, I won't knock it back and I bet women's football is appreciative, but this works out to be a measly $5,000 a month. "The money comes from FIFA’s goal program which distributes grants to member countries for development projects – usually infrastructure like pitches and buildings." Instead Highwood said, "Australia applied for the money to address shortfalls in the way women are coached at all levels." So the shortfalls shall be addressed, but what are those shortfalls? Is roughly $5,000 a month going to address those shortfalls enough to allow the women's team to go on and win a world cup? This seems like a short sighted approach from the FFA. Short term if you ask me.
Bondy
Guest
Hopefully this and other contributions assist young girls to aspire to be Matildas and represent Australia thats what its about.