A winter W-League could work for W-League clubs that have their own 4,000 to 5,000 capacity stadium on their own grounds.
This could bring down the costs of renting other stadiums and could potentially create a club hub for all fans. The downside is that the W League games aren’t at the main stadium but no clubs in Australia own their own stadium yet.
We will start with the most successful W-League club with four championships.
Melbourne City (four championships)
Construction is underway at Casey so it can work for Melbourne City.
Sydney FC (three championships)
Sky Park is being built so that could work for Sydney FC.
Brisbane Roar (two Championships)
Brisbane are a bit nomadic at the moment but there are talks of a new facility at Peer Park.
Canberra United (two championships)
They play at McKellar Park so that could work for Canberra United.
Melbourne Victory (two championships)
Haven’t heard anything about a Training Facility for Melbourne Victory. However the government is spending $100 million on the Latrobe Centre for the Matildas so Victory could play out of there.
Perth Glory
Doesn’t seem like Perth have a dedicated training Facility but they don’t have NRL playing on the grounds in winter so it could work.
Newcastle Jets
They are building a facility at Speers Point.
Central Coast Mariners
Already have a facility at the Centre of Excellence at Tuggerah.
Western Sydney Wanderers
They have a Training Centre but do they have a stadium?
Western United
No W-League team. No stadium… yet.
Macarthur
No W League Team. Training facilities will be built but no stadium?
After going through all this, not every club will have a 4000 to 5000 person stadium at the their Training Grounds so this may not entirely work cut the W-League teams without the stadium could rent stadiums for the games.
Would a winter W-League attract more attendance now that the A-League is a summer sport? A lot of A-League fans don’t follow NPL clubs so maybe a percentage of these fans would go to the local W-League instead?
NRLW isn’t that popular and isn’t played in Western Australia or South Australia so there is less competition among other codes.
Ideally this would lead to a W-League where players can make a full time salary as the current salary is something like $20,000 which is completely unsustainable to live off for a year especially if you live somewhere like Sydney.
However if you are a women considering a football career then there is no other sport besides tennis where you can make massive dollars such as Sam Kerr on around $500,000 USD a year.
Winter can also lead to more rounds being played which increase the quality of the Matildas. Hopefully this leads to a FFA Cup for women’s football. The Women’s NPL and State Leagues are very strong so it would be great if there was a National Second Division.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
If Perry Park is upgraded to 10K + Strikers will likely be kicked out have have to find somewhere else to play
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
it's all New South Wales fault
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
10k seems a bit small. 15k seems like a good balance.
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
Kayo had the same thing initially where you had to contact customer support to cancel. Other subsrciption services have the same thing which is annoying.
Jordan Sports Fan
Roar Rookie
This would be a huge huge development for the club. Every single train line runs past Bowen Hills/Perry Park, you couldn't really imagine a better location. Between King St in Bowen Hills and all the breweries and gin distilleries popping up in Albion (not to mention Newstead and Fortitude Valley), fans would be well tailored for for pre and post match food and drinking options. Hope it is a 15k capacity so the team has room to grow rather than a limiting 10k, but this is a potential game changer for the club. I look forward to further developments over the coming weeks and months!
Jordan Sports Fan
Roar Rookie
Just a note regarding Paramount + now that it is active: I have signed up for the 7-day free trial just to see what is on offer non-football wise, with the intention of signing up proper once I have my member’s code and closer to football being shown. THERE IS NO WAY OF CANCELLING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION (as far as I can see). If you log in to the site, it points you to manage your subscription via the app. If you go to the app, there is no link/button to cancel, only to change to a yearly sub. The “feedback” link leads to literally nowhere. If you go to the FAQ, the response regarding cancelling leads you to the original webpage that advises you to go to the app, cyclical frustration. So avoid signing up for this for now is my advice while they test their system properly. I have logged this issue with them directly now.
Waz
Roar Rookie
No, but when they announced plans PP was an option. FQ have stated they want to redevelop PP so things are starting to line up (hopefully)
Jordan Sports Fan
Roar Rookie
Saw that. Appears Simon Hill has the scoop then. No mention anywhere else in internet land.
Waz
Roar Rookie
“Elsewhere, Brisbane Roar are the beneficiaries of an upgrade to Perry Park, which will become the joint home of the three-time A-League champion, and former NSL club, Brisbane Strikers”
Jordan Sports Fan
Roar Rookie
What is the go with this mentioned Perry park upgrade I can't find anything about it elsewhere?
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
Which could explain why the USA womens national team is the most successful: The team is the most successful in international women's soccer, winning four Women's World Cup titles (1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019), four Olympic gold medals (1996, 2004, 2008, and 2012), and eight CONCACAF Gold Cups. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_women%27s_national_soccer_team
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The W-league runs off season to the NWSL in the US. That allowed players like Sam Kerr to play in both for year upon year.
Maximus Insight
Guest
Minimum wage is $20,239 in the AFLW https://www.aflplayers.com.au/app/uploads/2020/12/AFLW-CBA-2020-2022-EXPLAINED.pdf
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
That would explain why the NPLW has high quality football being played. If thats the case than potentially a winter national second W division makes more sense before a winter W League. But maybe APL will decide the NSDW will be a summer thing.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Yes, half go and play overseas typically (although that’s changing with players like Kerr getting one-club deals in Europe), the rest go and play in the State leagues.
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
https://thewomensgame.com/news/the-w-leagues-officially-moving-to-winter-what-do-players-and-fans-think-549431 A great article on moving the W League to winter.
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
Also Canberra’s achievements in the W League should count for a new Canberra A League Team. Macarthur and WU don’t have a W League Team. Canberra has no AFL to compete with.
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
Kisnorbo did a couple of seasons coaching the City W League squad. Its not like he was on massive bucks at the time nor a big name. Canberra United have 2 championships. WSW W League have no championships and they are one of the big budget clubs.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
bit hard to win trophies when your budget is half of most of the other teams in the league
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
Lol I had Adelaide in the list as the fox sports artcile by Simon Hill talks a lot about the Adelaide Training Set Up. https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/aleague-clubs-finally-starting-to-contrusct-and-redevelopment-proper-training-facilities/news-story/faed3b9bdc8a4ac6b26f0b90db2fdbc9 Not many championships related to the biggest turn out ey? :silly: