Westfield Matildas legend Sarah Walsh says the Westfield W-League continues to go from strength to strength and believes the upcoming season will be the competition’s best yet.
With the W-League set to kick off later this month, we caught up with the former Sydney FC and Wanderers attacker to see what’s got her excited ahead of the new campaign.
PLAYERS ON THE MOVE
“I think a lot of the player movements that we’ve started to see in the build up to the League,” she told www.w-league.com.au.
“It’s pretty exciting to see that players have been willing to move for new challenges. Someone like Kyah Simon moving to Melbourne City is really going to strengthen that team – not like they needed it!
“Sam Kerr’s back and she’s in the best form of her life. That tells you that Perth are going to be really strong this year. They’re looking to get internationals.
“A lot of the teams have actually started their pre-seasons a little bit earlier so they’ll hit their strides a bit earlier once the league starts.”
MATILDAS STARS ON HOME SOIL
Along with superstar Sam Kerr (Perth Glory), a host of Matildas stars will also ply their trade in the W-League this season.
Kyah Simon (City), Lisa De Vanna (Sydney FC), Ellie Carpenter (Canberra United) and Hayley Raso (Brisbane Roar) will be on show around the country.
And Walsh believes the recent success of the Matildas on the international stage will bring the best out of the players in the domestic competition.
“I think another great thing about the league that we don’t talk a lot about is the fact that we’ve got 90% of the Matildas playing in it,” Walsh said.
“I think we’re quite privileged to have that. With that, they bring a lot of their international friends over so I’m excited to see a lot of the signings that are going to happen in that space.
“Off the back of the two Brazil matches, these Matildas are going to want to step up and really shine in the league.”
STANDARDS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE
FFA unveiled a new Collective Bargaining Agreement for Female Footballers in September which announced a significant pay increase for players and improved employment conditions.
“The new CBA, I think with the new minimum wage in place and a really good pay and conditions deal in place, they’re going to be able to focus more on football,” Walsh said.
“I think that’s going to create a really healthy level of the quality of football. I’m really excited to see that.
“With more time spent on the park with these players, they’re going to be in a better mind frame and we’re going to get the fruits of that out on the pitch.”
