This coming Sunday, Western United will face Sydney FC in the A-League Women’s Grand Final in Sydney, with the potential spoils sure to inspire a ripping encounter between two evenly matched teams.
The women in Sky Blue have the pedigree, the resources and history to feel they have a right to the win, whilst the United newcomers have taken all before them, qualifying for the decider first and looking to do the unthinkable by claiming the championship in their first-ever season.
It would be an astonishing achievement for what many called a joke of a club. The men’s team lifted the infamous A-League toilet seat trophy last season; stunning heavy favourite Melbourne City in the Grand Final. A pair of championships won by what is still a new club would say a lot about the underperformance of others and continue to mount an argument for further expansion in both the A-League Men and Women competitions.
Sadly, Sunday’s match will be most likely played out in front of a moderate crowd at best, if the semi-final clash between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory was anything to go by. Just 1,630 people found their way to Allianz Stadium to witness a Sky Blue win that came off the back of a late goal that broke Victory hearts on Saturday afternoon.
With few, if any, likely to travel north from the lowly supported Western United this weekend, the crowd figure stands to be concerning. The APL will be thankful that Victory had not prevailed against Sydney in the penultimate match, fearing a near empty stadium should two Melbourne teams have been set to face off in a typically disinterested and bandwagon influenced Sydney.
The numbers and situation all raise relevant and continued questions around the notion often presented in media as “equal pay for women”, something that is hideously misinformed and misguided when it comes to people who understand how sport, media and the entertainment industry actually work.
The A-League Women’s Grand Final will be a perfect example of why female players in the top tier of the Australian game do not deserve to be paid the same as the men. As a drawcard, the product has simply no viability without the men’s competition alongside it.
(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
What the female players do deserve is a fair cut of the revenue generated by their performances; created by the people prepared to spent their hard-earned to attend the matches and invest in the competition.
At the moment, that share is probably roughly about right in terms of proportionate remuneration for the women’s teams. Calls from brilliant players like Megan Rapinoe, citing the equal effort invested by female players and a subsequent demand for equal financial rewards are simply idiotic and frankly, embarrassing to people with a mind moderate enough to consider context and reality.
I have a beautiful wife and two daughters and will fight for their right to earn equal pay when undertaking the same task and producing the same financial output as their male colleagues every single day of the week.
However, when it comes to the majority of women’s sports, that equality of output is simply non-existent and in fact, the piece of the pie being awarded to women from World Cup football revenue is higher from a percentage perspective than that being given to male players.
No doubt there will be the odd critical comment on the view that I present here from some labelling me a misogynist, however, I would encourage anyone tempted to do so to reflect on a few of Australia’s current female athletes, their effort levels and almost non-existent revenue streams.
Jaclyn Narracott is an Australian skeleton racer, achieving amazing things on the World Cup circuit during the European winter and an Olympic silver medallist. She battles away with little support or recognition, trains tirelessly and receives a pittance when compared to a successful male footballer, even at the A-League level.
It was only a few years ago that the story of Australian sprinter Riley Day came to light; busting her gut on a daily basis, working in a supermarket and desperate for someone to assist in her promising athletic journey.
Both women deserve more, yet suffer from the simple fact that as a commercial drawcard, their sports simply do not generate the interest and money of others. If effort was the measuring stick for pay, both would be among the top earners in Australian sport.
It is easy to whinge about women footballers being far behind the men in terms of pay, yet those that do so should probably turn up to the matches and put their money where their attitude is.
Equal pay is a lovely concept, yet the A-League Women’s Grand Final this weekend will once again show why it is far from a reality.
At the moment, female players are being paid a fair rate. Hopefully that increases and they earn more and more in the future, yet for now, the numbers suggest things are just about right.
Cavaquinho
Roar Rookie
Three points: 1. Sometimes (actually all the time) we should seek to do what is ethical. Equal pay for women’s athletes meets that criteria. 2. Chicken or egg? What comes first, the women get paid better if and when their sport generates the same revenue or spectators through the gates as men, or, women are paid equitably so that young women of talent don’t have to live out of their car to pursue their dreams, work hard and become marketable as players capable of generating the same revenue as the men? Equal pay for women is an investment. Every business has loss-making or low revenue lines that support the overall enterprise yet can become the most profitable line in the right conditions. (Does your green grocer only put out plums and mangoes because they are the only products turning a profit this week?) 3. The A League is now promoted with both men and women streams. It makes sound business sense to support both streams equitably because as seasons ebb and flow exciting women’s competition will support the A League when the men’s competition is in a lull, and vice versa.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
No thread on ALW grand final??
Garry
Roar Rookie
As non-royalist I'm not sure about this!! :shocked: "Sam Kerr named flag-bearer and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to have key role in King Charles III's coronation"
Garry
Roar Rookie
forgot it was on - had to suffer watching Man U throw away a good lead instead! :unhappy: anyhow Arsenal's womens semi is next tuesday at home - Cately, Foord - and theyre in a better position!
Garry
Roar Rookie
damn wouldve watched it if Id remembered.. watched Man U lose a 2 goal lead instead :crying: .. I guess that means Arsenal's semi is tomorrow morning (Cately & Foord if fit at home!)
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
72, 262 people at the Barcelona-Chelsea at the Women's Champions League semi-final match overnight, at Camp Nou stadium, Barcelona. Unfortunately we won't hear much about it. Barcelona 1 - Chelsea Women 1 (Sam Kerr) (2-1 on aggregate)
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Kerr would be earning good money but earning more from Australia in endorsements. The ALW has a minimum wage 17k now, so it actually means the worst players can make more money here than in Europe or USA. In terms of relative earnings between men and women A-league is probably a world leader. If you look at the NWSL in America the wages outside of USA national team player are 20-50 US. Europe has the top teams giving good money to the best players. Australia is a high cost country then I suppose so are a lot of the others, but overseas they have stuff like accomodation included.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
That's the thing 338, it's about education. The ticket paying public i.e. wage earners are of a generation that didnt grow up with football. Now we have elebenty billion kiddies growing up with football. With different attitudes. Have a look at the younger generations, LGBTQI+ is par for the course for them. They don't question it, they don't complain about it, they just take it in their stride. Skin colour, orientation, disability etc, it just doesnt matter. With the older generation, as I stated in my original post to this discussion, "ooooohhhhh, it's not as good as mens football." or "the girls are too slow and they cannot score goals like the guys." When that museum-like mentality drifts out the door, I would suggest that the ticket paying public of tomorrow will A) have grown up with football and thus are far more educated and B) the support for men's women's and even Northern Kalathumpian football will be immense
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Geez Jupiter, Cheryl Salisbury would have been playing back in 1999. I was Chez play in Canberra against the Yanks and she had a blinder. And you are absolutely right. Just because the game doesnt have the aggression of the men, it's football in its truest form. Football is called the beautiful game for a reason, and the girls really do play the beautiful way. To see the Matildas in full flight, full of confidence, playing the fast, flowing passing game and banging in goals from all over the place. It's a thing that will take your breath away!!
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Chris, nicely put mate. And when you think about it, our girls get the double whammy. Not only are they subject to the archaic attitudes of politicians and government funding, not only do they suffer from the apparently collusion of the backyard codes and the commercial media entities, they are subject to being seen as second to the men in our own sport. It's an absolute crime if anyone says that they are not worth money.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Well said that man!
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The organisers would prefer men went down to 3 sets, there people think same number people will pay to watch 3 sets and it takes less court time and they fit more matches, the last thing they want is women go to 5 sets. You do realise that there are seperate men and womens tournaments along with tournaments with unequal prize money.I dont see how you can argue the men are responsible for the prize money at womens only tournaments.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Synchronised swimming
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
Not the same - our women at least dont flop down at the gentlest touch, roll around the turf in the fetal position, get up from a dive with an indignant expression wiping their face pretending to look for blood - they deserve more support -
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Stu, I am going to put the question to you, if you watched the Matildas games in the Cup of Nations, and the game against the Poms at Brentford, did you for a second consider what you were watching to be sub-standard in comparison to watching an A-League Men's or Socceroos game? I will say without a doubt or a second of hesitation that watching professional women's football is no different to watching any other quality football match. What annoys me no end is the out-dated, under-educated and simply narrow minded attitudes that say "oooohhhhh it's not men's football, it's second rate, girls don't play like the guys." Well, while I am calling a spade a spade, what a crock!! I have watched women's games that are time far superior for quality and entertainment than some of the ALM matches. Go to Europe, go to the US and to a majority of the supporters, their club's women are just as important as the guys. Why shouldn't these girls get paid an equal wage. Strike me, if it wasn't for the apparent media collusion, we would have more media, a higher profile and more public awareness and thus more financial fluidity. I mean there's a fair deal for all right! Amateur female footballers get changed in cars, play on substandard pitches etc, but hey there's no bias, especially when the government finds enough cash to knock up a Cross-Country netball stadium in Taswegia. And hey there'll be no bias in using it either right!! If Australia gets another Asian Cup, the Cross-Country netball will have no problem in letting Football use it right! They wont block it all will they. I have just returned from a work trip to the US and the Women's World Cup, organised tours, ticket sales information etc was on every other commercial on multiple channels over there. What do you see here! I flicked the TV on this morning for the news, and the TV was on channel 7. Not only did that dip-stick Kochie begin to annoy me in under 60 secs, the sport news consisted of who the new Cross-Country Netball's new Boss Cocky will be, one article on the World's Highest Paying Probation Scheme (NRL) and some bloke from the Cross-Country Netball swearing black and blue that they are doing everything in their power re; player's welfare and head injuries. Yeah right!! I am totally over the closeted, antiquated attitudes in the sporting domain. I hope this Women's World cup is a massive success and it puts the fear of the Almighty into the backyard codes. It's going to be interesting to see where the backyard codes are after the U.S. legal system is finished punching holes in the Murdoch empire aka the backyard code's cash cow. I also hope these class action cases that the former players are whipping up re: head injuries kicks 5 shades of it out of the backyard codes. Not to mention that Prince William also put a size nine into Murdoch after his high quality staff apparently hacked the Royals. It's time these old buggers just disappeared and let sport progress and reflect that it's 2023 not 1980
chris1
Roar Rookie
You raise some excellent points. And it's like the chicken and the egg scenario. Stuart who wrote this article has taken the approach of well you can get the money when you are making the money. Whereas I am like you in that you have to invest in a product before it can make you money. Paying women a pittance and having them have other jobs is not going to produce the players that the author deems good enough to go and watch and secondly to pay them a good salary. I know the prejudices that exist in the women's game. They always get the dodgy changerooms because the men are using the main one. They get field number 2 because the men are using the main pitch. No you can't train on Tues and Thurs because the men train on those nights. And on and on it goes. But yeah, then lets go win that world cup!
chris1
Roar Rookie
LH it was great to see the Roar back at Suncorp where they belong. Redcliffe was obviously not working for you and the move back to Brisbane will instantly see an increase of 30% and more in crowds if the other night was any indication.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Jack what women's sport is comparable to the men's equivalent?
chris1
Roar Rookie
Grem that was a nice left foot finish by Minns. Looks like he has played before.
AdamDJT
Roar Rookie
If you want games to be played at a professional level, you have to ensure the players are employed as full-time professionals. AFLW and A-League Women's are above the level of their respective men's codes 60 years ago. They play like part-timers who have to work during the week in season and then work full-time off season. Soccer is Australia's most played sport, but it gets the smallest amount of investments, and the women's and girls teams in almost all sports get virtually none of the funding. You can't get the results until after you actually invest - and the old W-League was initially one of the best women's leagues in the world, and now it's far behind because there has been almost no new investment since. The women's game might get a higher percentage of it's revenue reinvested, but until it gets the same investment, it won't make the same returns. I don't know what it is that makes some people completely forget everything about business and sport as soon as it's got women.