The Professionals Footballers Association deserves a round of applause for its historic achievement of delivering equal pay for the Matildas.
Yesterday’s reports (led by Dom Bossi at the Sydney Morning Herald), which state an official announcement on this front is to be made today, are a landmark moment for football and sport in general.
As part of the new collective bargaining agreement, the Socceroos will effectively reduce a portion of their earnings to close the gap between themselves and their Matildas counterparts as well as ensuring greater facilities and resources to the national women’s team.
Furthermore, the Herald reports that male and female players have agreed to provide over $1 million to youth development programs.
Cue the usual complaints of, “the men make more for the game so should earn more from the game.”
But that’s not the point.
This is such an important step because it shows a commitment to the growth of football.
Better paid Matildas, better facilities, better resources and better youth development programs for female footballers mean a stronger local game and a more incentivised player base.
Aside from the fact that the Matildas have regularly been one of the country’s best-performing national teams and deserve to be remunerated accordingly, it’s just great to see a harmonious approach between the PFA, its members and Football Federation Australia.
I recently spoke to the chairman of the Australian Association of Football Clubs, Nick Galatas, who noted that he was seeing more goodwill for the greater good of Australian football now than he had seen at any point since the creation of the A-League.
With the AAFC working with the PFA and FFA on a national second division, it certainly feels like – for the most part – most of the crucial bodies in Australian football are pulling in the same direction.
With countless column inches now freed up from the civil war which seemed to never end to actually cover the game, it’s no surprise that there seems to be a much more energised and optimistic feel about the ongoing discourse and future of the game.
How good are the Matildas? (AP Photo/Claude Paris)
The PFA seems to be the driving force behind so much of the positivity being generated and should be duly congratulated for their role in pushing the game forward into a new era.
More than just being a beacon of light for the game in so many of the most important negotiations and decisions being made in recent memory, the PFA is also generating some of the game’s most important moments of reflection.
Their recently released report, titled ‘Culture Amplifies Talent: Building a Framework for Golden Generations’, was a fantastic thought-provoking piece which forced us to consider our footballing past, present and future.
It’s no surprise to see PFA Chief Executive John Didulica linked so strongly with the CEO position over at FFA.
With the independence of the A-League arguably providing the FFA with a much different mandate over the next few years – mainly a much stronger focus on grassroots football and the member associations who administer it – the work being done at the PFA
On the field, football is reflecting that mood.
The A-League is proving one of the most entertaining seasons yet.
We’re seeing more notable performances from more young, promising Australian players.
The W-League is just around the corner, too.
There’s still plenty of work to do, sure, but it’s pleasing to see progress being made on most, if not all, fronts.
Kudos to the PFA for their ongoing central role in so much that is improving in Australian football.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Waz I agree with what your saying, but the fact you've brought "male privilege" into this sort of makes me want to disagree.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Not Mars, Sydney. And to my knowledge in Sydney NPL clubs don't register U6's for games. They may do clinics or coaching sessions but they don't register u6's for 'competitive' games. They do register kids from U9's, this is called Skills Aquisition Program (SAP) and runs from U9's to U12's. The cost of this is fixed by Football NSW at $1500, they even dictate what must be included by the club for the $1500 and it is 3 training sessions per week, for 1.5 hours per session, all games, kit(s) etc. Now some clubs off other things such as extra training sessions (that are not compulsory) presentation night etc again that is not something that is required to play. I know all of this because I researched it in my area. Now Football Victoria maybe different, but a quick look on the google machine reiterates what I said originally, if you are paying $2000 for an U6 then you are being seriously ripped off. I suggest you go down to South Melbourne FC, pay $499 and then spend the $1500 you just saved eating some glorious Greek food. As for your views on the Matilda's well they are just nasty with the addition of being wrong.
con
Guest
mate there are NPL clubs charging that money in Melbourne are you right where are you in mars ? I aint making nothing up this are facts , and if you look at the matildas they cant kick a ball and sam kerr cant control one they were hopeless and so were the socceroos you new world clean don't rock the boat soccer supporters are ruining the game from FFa down to the politically correct commentators on this forum
Gee
Roar Rookie
I hope the Newcastle Jets under 15 boys team got a pay rise to. I am not sure about the current crop but that 2016 team handed out some floggings ;)
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
If you are paying $2000 to register a 6 year old you are seriously being ripped off, I suspect you haven't registered a 6 year old.
chris
Guest
Nick not surprised by that. In my company (a major corporation) there were no official Melb Cup parties etc. And come 3pm half the people were still at their desks. I think it's done.
con
Guest
The Socceroo's and matildas should donate half of their pay to grass roots and help develop our game instead of being one of the highest paid national teams in the world ,while down in the grass roots we paying $2000 to register a six year old to play soccer and than you got graham Arnold saying the infrastructure is wrong ,well there you go ,hello!!!
Tyke
Roar Rookie
I haven’t denied my posts are my opinions. I think a lot of people here are confused enough without my help and I haven’t attacked anyone for HAVING an opinion, I do attack their opinions though, unlike yourself and your straw man argument, nice way to not address my points, because you don’t have a solid argument. And most importantly I hate ghayFL, it is the worst sport next to tugby Union.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Tyke Ever hear of the word ironic or maybe a better word hypocrite..... you said or said emphasis on IMO.... everything you post is you'er opinion... typical of modern day arguments take the worst part of what you argue and that the other person is doing it... How ironic for a poster who constantly expresses their opinion to attack someone else for having an opinion ... I think you should go back to AFL school... you'er task is to abuse, criticise, and confuse ... and you are failing in this task...
elvis
Roar Rookie
"A celebrated Eagle was rebuked for taking such satisfaction in his magnificence. "All that distinguishes you from the pigeon is your swiftness, your power, and your terrible talons and beak," jibed his interlocutor. "How right you are," replied the Eagle."
elvis
Roar Rookie
I don't think you understand at all. I am NOT saying they didn't think it was a good move at the time. I am saying that with the benefit of hindsight it turned out to be a bad idea. Every bad idea starts out as someone's good idea, which is only able to be judged as a success or failure on hindsight. Which is super obvious I know. But if you read above you will figure out why I said it.
Tyke
Roar Rookie
I wouldn’t call what Allen had to say absurd, maybe slightly irrelevant, he was just pointing out an equivalence. Yes the last two days have been good fun, almost thankful for the FFAs decision now, although it has distracted me from my study.
Tyke
Roar Rookie
I can agree with that, I mention Australians have a personal responsibility to conserve energy and you start going on about carbon taxing
Nick Symonds
Guest
Also off topic, TV ratings for the Melbourne Cup have taken a massive drop of 500,000 down from last year. Over a longer period, they have also fallen by just over a million viewers since 2002. Crowds at Flemington also fell to 81,400 down from 102,000 in 2015. Soon it'll barely even be the race that stops Melbourne, let alone the nation. The #nuptothecup movement sparked by "The Final Race" on ABC's 7.30 is having an effect and was the reason why Taylor Swift pulled out after receiving a flood of opposition from her fans. With Channel Ten having just spent $100 million on a TV deal from 2019 to 2023, it's a pity they didn't spend that money on the A-League instead.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
It was at the time. When you look at the early years of WWII the expansion of the Japanese empire was incredible. They must have felt invincible when they had a go at the USA and in many respects it was only the total number of troops and machinery that the USA had at their disposal that turned the tide against them.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Wise Post_hoc - I think Tyke's shovel just surfaced in Beijing
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
I give up, there is only so much stupid I can argue with. I'm done
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
elvis Japan had signed the Rome Tokyo Berlin pact (against Yamamoto advice) war was going to be inevitable with the US, he knew that. Japan needed South East Asia and the Western Pacific (one for resources the other to form a barrier to US attack. So if war with America was inevitable (because of Japan's European alliance) the only way to protect Japan was to wipe out the Pacific Fleet. To say 70 years later that it was a bad move because the result was a flattened Japan is amazing hindsight, something not afforded commanders at that time. But keep digging mate
chris
Guest
Tyke - I know it's been a long day for you but my response was a light sarcastic response to John Allan, who took the absurdity of this argument to another level. I was responding in kind. If there was a mercy ruling available to the moderators on this site I'm sure they would be applying it to either you or me.
Tyke
Roar Rookie
What does that have to do with households not conserving energy?