La escuela anglosajona de las disciplinas escolares

Women involved in the W-League, argue that FFA's reluctance to improve the current structure of the league (by increasing it to a full home and away

contest) shows a lack of respect for the women's game. Belinda argues strongly for the competition to be treated the same as the grassroots and State levels of competition:

At the moment in the W-League, the W-League is fantastic, it’s a lot better than it was previous, but it still doesn’t have the respect that it needs. It’s not a true league, eight teams twelve games, there is nowhere in the world and there is nowhere else in Australia where that happens in a league structure. You’re playing two rounds, you play everyone twice and I think that’s the biggest challenge in terms of what Australian women’s football has. If you’re going to do something for the women, have a bit of respect for it and treat it as you would any other competition. So just with that I think that’s the biggest challenge, just having equal respect especially when it comes to the national competition. Because you don’t have it at grass roots and you don’t have it at state level, but at the national level where the standards are supposed to be set, we’ve said it’s ok for women’s football not to have a true league and that says a lot. (Belinda Wilson 12/2/13)

Belinda in expressing her frustration at the current structure of the W-League, states that this situation would not occur anywhere else in the world or in Australia. In fact the same situation occurs in Victoria where the AFL is

similarly structured (18 teams and 23 rounds). While Belinda’s statement may be factually incorrect, it is her understanding of the situation, and one which provides some insight into her personal identity within women’s football. A passionate supporter and coach of the women’s game.

Heather and Debbie are disappointed that the W-League is not a full home- and-away competition as it detracts from the attractiveness of the league and inhibits its growth:

I’m disappointed that the FFA has not gone to a full home and away for the W- League. We’re still stuck with twelve rounds instead of fourteen. They say that’s an economic or financial factor but I think it’s unfair, it’s not a level playing field particularly as we head into the sixth season of the W-League where it’s going to be even more competitive and more you know attractive for a whole range of participants and supporters.... you look at Nadine Angerer coming from Germany, is the you know, is the goal keeper captain world cup Euro champion coming to play for Brisbane, that’s phenomenal, that calibre of player wants to be in the W- League.

I want it to be total home and away, not a Mickey Mouse part time twelve out of fourteen rounds. You know we’ve only played in Adelaide once in five years. That means we’ve only played Adelaide out of five seasons we’ve played Adelaide once in the first season and twice in season two or three and that’s not fair. We want to play in Adelaide and we want Adelaidians to see us play there. (Heather Reid 31/7/13)

In Victoria, to build on where it is at now, to make the W-League bigger and better, because their season is not long enough. (Debbie Nichols 20/7/12)

While some of the women have issues with the structure of the W-League, both Paul and Maggie acknowledge that there are some positive

improvements being introduced which are providing opportunities for young women footballers to strive for recognition and achievement:

What the FFV has done with this open trial for the W-League is absolutely fantastic. That to me for a public relations and a common sense and an

opportunity point of view, you know no girl now can argue and say it’s a closed shop for the W-League. (Paul Turner 19/7/12)

The FFV will probably end up picking the exact same squad they had last year, don’t get me wrong. So all of these other girls who have turned up, they’re no chance and none probably, that doesn’t matter. As a parent and as a football person looking at it, that’s actually great and when they see all the good girls were there, so it wasn’t just an exclusive sort of club, everyone had to turn up to play. That to me is something that FFV is doing right. I’ve said that to a couple of people in FFV land and I went along Monday night and I thought that was great. (Paul Turner 19/7/12)

In Victoria it is good public relations as it makes everybody aware of the higher levels of female football and any publicity like that is good publicity for female football and the W-League. (Maggie Koumi 23/7/12)

The game has changed – A new level of recognition and