This weekend, history will be made in the Liberty A-League as an entire round is called by an all female team of commentators and co-commentators for the first time ever.
It is a milestone moment that is almost two years in the making.
After taking control of the commentary roster following the 2021-22 A-Leagues season, the Australian Professional Leagues and production partner Global Advance set out to find and nurture the best up and coming female commentators in the country.
After a six-month search, led by GA supervising producer Dan Hemingway, budding broadcast talents Pokuah Frimpong, Taryn Heddo and Georgia Rajic began training to become the next generation of Liberty A-League callers.
They undertook weekly sessions with veteran Network 10 commentator Robbie Thomson, including one-on-one masterclasses, to prepare them for the air. All three have since become fully fledged Liberty A-League commentators.
Meanwhile, the transition of former Matilda and Liberty A-League great Grace Gill from co-commentator to play-play commentator has been a revelation.
“I’d say in the last year or so, it’s something I’ve been acutely aware (of): that there’s a massive opportunity for it, especially in our country. We don’t have women leading play-by-play calls,” Gill told the Official Liberty A-League Podcast in January 2023 after her first match as lead commentator.
“… It’s hard to be a woman’s voice in that space. It comes with a bit of fear of criticism, of failure, of wanting to live up to that quality and expectation.”
Recently, the arrival of Kate Allman, who has years of experience calling Australian hockey, has also joined the ranks, bolstering what is now a formidable group of female commentators blazing a trail in the Liberty A-League.
These growing voices have been joined on air by the likes of A-Leagues legends like Teresa Polias, Catherine Cannuli, Alicia Ferguson and Rhali Dobson, as well as Young Matildas head coach Leah Blayney, creating a passionate female-led commentary world for the Liberty A-League.
This weekend, viewers will tune into 10Play and Paramount+ to watch the Liberty A-League and be greeted by passionate female tones.
They say you can’t be what you can’t see; in this case, it’s more like you can’t be what you can’t hear.
“The A-Leagues is proud to see every Liberty A-League Women’s match being called and co-called by females this weekend for the first time in the competition’s history,” an APL spokesperson said.
“Alongside the 10 Network and Global Advance, it has been an aim to discover the best up-and-coming female commentators and this upcoming weekend is a moment to celebrate the growing influence of females in football.”
Don’t forget to catch Dubzone on Sunday night on A-Leagues YouTube and 10Play to review the weekend with Niav Owens, Grace Gill, Teo Pellizzeri and special guest Wanderers star and Matildas squad member Sophie Harding.
Round 18 in the Liberty A-League: Commentary Roster
| Game | Play-by-play Commentator | Co-commentator |
| Western United v Canberra United | Kate Allman | Alicia Ferguson |
| Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City | Taryn Heddo | |
| Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC | Pokuah Frimpong | Rhali Dobson |
| Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United | Grace Gill | |
| Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix | Pokuah Frimpong | Catherine Cannuli |
| Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory | Taryn Heddo |
