International flavour boosts Aussie league - WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
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The eighth season of Australia’s W-League kicks-off this weekend buoyed by the momentum of the Matildas showing at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Canada, as well as an added dimension brought about by an increase in international imports.
Australia’s run to the quarter-finals at Canada 2015 created significant media attention, and is the top end of an increasingly robust women’s football pyramid Down Under, one supported by growing participation numbers at grassroots level.
But of course a key pillar of any successful game is a healthy and vibrant national competition. The W-League is proving to be just that and is set to reach further benchmarks this season. For the first time, and perhaps unusually for women’s sport, a match per week will be shown on both free-to-air and pay TV.
Melbourne City have also joined the competition this season, and their early recruitment - which includes Canada 2015 stars Steph Catley, Laura Alleway and Lisa De Vanna - suggests they will be strong title contenders. Their new roster has perhaps also played a part in evening the spread of talent across the competition, which looks broader than it ever has been.
Summer Down Under
This season has seen the permitted number of international spots per squad raised from three to four, which is likely to add further to the level of competition. Previous years have seen international superstars such as Nadine Angerer, Arianne Hingst and Megan Rapinoe spend the summer in Australia.
And while this season’s imports are perhaps not quite at the same rarefied level, there is nevertheless plenty of talent to boost the local competition. Players from nine different nations are signed up so far ahead of the opening round. Among the bigger names are England striker Jodie Taylor and experienced Mexican international Veronica Perez. Joining in round three will be two massively successful players from USA’s National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL); Wales captain Jess Fishlock and prolific Scottish goalscorer Kim Little.
The majority of imports, though, originate from the US, where the timing of the season perfectly complements the Australian one. Equally, there were more Australian players than from any other country in the most recent NWSL season – aside from Canada and Mexico whose national federations have an agreement with the league.
Caitlin Foord, who has spent the past couple of years Stateside with New Jersey-based Sky Blue FC, says USA players bring value to the Australian league. “They have a hard-working and physically fit culture,” Foord told FIFA.com of her American counterparts. “If I see someone working hard and to have those people around you, it drives you even more.”
Others such as Canberra United defender Ellie Brush, who has just returned from a stint at Houston Dash where she played alongside the likes of Carli Lloyd, believes that imported players even offer value outside the national competition.
“International players definitely add to the standard of the league,” says Brush. “That also feeds into the national team, and adds value and quality across the game in general.”
Female coaches are also slowly making an impact in the competition with Canberra United winning the championship under Rae Dower last term. Brisbane Roar will again be led by former youth national team coach Belinda Wilson, while midfield star from the Matildas’ 2007 and 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaigns, Collette McCallum, has signed up as assistant coach at Perth Glory following her recent retirement.
The league has made clear and significant strides in the short time since its opening season in 2008. While the portents are good, the challenge now is to maintain that momentum.