This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A longer season, clear career paths and improved wages all feature in a new plan by Professional Footballers Australia to bolster the W-League. Frustrated with a slow going from Football Federation Australia to grow the league, the player’s union unveiled its “60 at 60” initiative on Tuesday.

A-League clubs eye ownership reform but FFA say it will not happen overnight Read more

The vision aims to have 60 Australian players earning at least $60,000 annually from the sport with another ambition to win gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 or the World Cup in 2023.

The building blocks may be difficult to put in place though, despite the relatively small asks. A starting point is increased investment from FFA to raise the current $50,000 allocated to each team per season to $175,000. By contrast, A-League teams receive $2.55m from head office.

Another key suggestion is alignment of W-League medical and training support following the example of Melbourne City, who have won the women’s competition for the two seasons they entered a team.

Rather than asking FFA to subsidise all wages, PFA suggests finding supporting employment within the football industry or sponsors.

PFA boss John Didiluca said he felt success for the Matildas was close, should the football industry rally behind the local league.

“The one thing missing from Australia’s CV as a sporting nation is a global trophy from the global game,” he said. “Women’s football has the highest participation base among young girls in the country.

“Our national team is amongst the very best in the world and our sport offers the prospect of international opportunity like no other. However, we are yet to fully leverage these competitive advantages through the establishment of a genuine professional pathway for our elite players.”

The W-League recently concluded its ninth season but its wages and medical conditions compare unfavourably with new sporting entities like the Women’s Big Bash League, AFL Women and Super Netball.