W-League:Recruitment drive on.
With a number of Coaches announced or about to be announced the race is on to sign the players.
It's a national league and with TV exposure Sydney FC or Queensland Roar romping home with huge win margins would help no-one. So a cunning plan has been devised to spread the player quality across the League and the Country.
Matildas Coach Tom Sermanni has produced a list of 60 of the best female players in the country. Included on the list I would expect Matildas, former Matildas and current Young and former Young Matildas to make the bulk of it.
Clubs, there are 8, can choose as many players as they want from that list in Draft 1.
But it is my understanding that Sydney FC, who could have up to 25 NSW players on the list, maybe more, are restricted to just 10 players from the list. The rest of the teams can pick as many as they wish.
In Adelaide or Perth Glory there might be just three or four players on the list, or even less.
Perth could pick any number of other players on the list, almost guaranteeing them a start should they wish to cross the Country every other week to play!
Where if a player on the list is from Sydney given the huge number of Sydney/NSW talented players not all will get a game.
Like the men's league the talent spreads across the country depending on pay. Unlike the men's league the W-League in Season 1 has no pay.
The FFA have agreed to pay airfares for three players to fly from, for example Sydney to play for Perth Glory each week. Thus potentially strengthening all teams.
Of course training/coaching is restricted if key players come in for just the games.
But the idea is to ensure the best players in the country are playing each week.
Which after all is what we want and need for player development. And indeed to make the televised game as entertaining as possible.
The first window allows for 18 players to be signed, with a further signing window before the Season starts.
Will players sign and travel to play for Perth or Adelaide if not selected for Sydney FC? They would in the A-League but the circumstances are slightly different.
If you want to play in the W-League and you can't get a start in Queensland or Sydney maybe they will travel.
More details to come on team selection and how the process works.
An interesting strategy. Will it work? I guess it could.
What say you?
5 comments:
At least some thought has gone into this. It wouldn't be good for a lopsided series. Lets get it happening.
No pay?! There in lies the FFA's true commitment to women's football. Enjoy your $16M boys.
ouch:) at least there is a league and much of the Fed Govt is going to pay for TV, the league, Coaches travel for the teams.
Any extra sponsor money say, $20000 to $80,000 would provide significant wage cost and it is hoped that's where we hoped to be heading.
Agree it's frustrating but Salary's are what we need to aim for. One step at a time I guess.
Do we get to see this list? How can we know who is on the list? I think FFA should publish it. Can you let us know how the process of team selection will work and the dates that have been arranged for the games?
I agree they should publish it, maybe they will. Hopefully there wil be some W-League announcement this week as we're getting close and nothing has come out yet re:fixtures etc
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