Arsenal clash will be ‘eye-opener’
The women’s A-League All Stars game against Arsenal will be a blockbuster event for fans but what it will really show is the massive gap between the Australian domestic league and English Women’s Super League.
Interim Matildas captain Steph Catley, striker Caitlin Foord and midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross all play for Arsenal.
They have played more than 180 A-League women’s games between them and won eight titles.
A lot has changed since they last played in the league, such as the introduction of a full homeand-away season, better facilities, improved crowd attendances and increased pay.
However, there is still one major gap that puts the WSL in a league of its own – fulltime contracts.
Catley, Cooney-Cross and Foord are contracted all-year round.
They don’t have to juggle jobs at fast-food restaurants, retail outlets, as teacher aides or personal trainers to make ends meet.
Like the rest of their Arsenal teammates, they can put 100 per cent into their football, live and breathe it all day, every day.
So while the A-League All Stars will have a number of past and present Matildas players – Cortnee Vine, Tameka Yallop, Chloe Logarzo (pending injury), Michelle Heyman, Alex Chidiac and Emily Gielnik are likely to be called up – it is unfair to expect the side to be on the same level.
Matildas and Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Lydia Williams, who is currently injured, supports anything that highlights women’s football and believes Arsenal’s long trip over could slightly level the playing field.
“It’s going to be a case of Arsenal dealing with jet lag and how well they recover from that and dealing with their commitments internationally,” said Williams, who played in the WSL last season with Brighton & Hove Albion.
“We’re going to be right at the end of our season, going into finals week, so it’s going to be a really competitive game.
“It’s going to be A-League W wanting to prove themselves against one of the best clubs in the world.”
Regardless of how much the jet lag affects Arsenal, Williams said the level of professionalism between the A-League and the WSL was massive. “It’s a huge beast that Arsenal have,” Williams said. “We want to see that in Australia but I think it’s going to be eye-opening in ... what we need to achieve and what we can achieve when we take those steps.”
There are likely to be a number of rising stars in the All Stars team such as City’s Daniela Galic and Perth’s Hana Lowry.
Williams said playing a side such as Arsenal could spur the youngsters to chase overseas contracts. “Seeing what it takes to be at the level of professionalism and play for a huge club like that might ignite some fires in their bellies to go and pursue what life might be in a European country or a big club like Arsenal,” she said.
The APL will view the women’s clash and the game between Newcastle United and the men’s A-League All Stars team as a great chance to bank some desperately needed cash.
-League All Stars will play Arsenal at Marvel Stadium on May 24.