Tom Sermanni, the interim head coach of the Matildas, has expressed serious concerns regarding the current state of the A-League Women. He emphasized that a lack of adequate resources is hindering the competition’s growth, stating that an urgent reevaluation of its management and operation is imperative.
Sermanni’s tenure as head coach will likely conclude with the upcoming matches against Argentina, during which he will field a squad that includes six A-League Women players. His coaching staff will feature notable figures such as Central Coast’s Emily Husband, Western United’s Kat Smith, and Melbourne City’s Melissa Barbieri.
Concerns Over Investment and Professionalism
Having begun his first stint with the Matildas in 1994, Sermanni has extensive experience in women’s football in Australia. While typically light-hearted in media interactions, he adopted a serious tone as he critiqued the trajectory of the A-League Women. He remarked, “The A-League unbundled from Football Australia five years ago, and what we have done since then is we’ve got home and away, which is an improvement, but we are still grossly underinvested in the women’s game here.”
Sermanni highlighted the disparity between the women’s league and the overall growth of women’s football following Australia’s successful hosting of the World Cup two years ago. “It’s even more irritating when you think how we had the most successful World Cup ever two years ago… it’s just not good enough,” he stated.
Player Perspectives on Professionalism
Recent survey findings by Professional Footballers Australia revealed that 59% of A-League Women players cited low wages as the primary reason they might leave the sport prematurely. Moreover, an overwhelming 96% of respondents advocated for transitioning the league to full-time professionalism by the 2026-27 season.
Currently, most players in the A-League Women have contracts limited to 35 weeks, necessitating part-time employment during the offseason in local competitions.
Beau Busch, CEO of PFA, declared, “The players are crystal clear: the A-League Women must relaunch as a fully professional competition by the 2026-27 season.” He emphasized the need to leverage the momentum from recent championships to enhance the match-day experience and improve club infrastructures.
Comparisons with Global Standards
Sermanni drew attention to the Canadian Super League, which has set a minimum wage of CAD$50,000 (approximately AU$56,000), significantly higher than its Australian counterpart, and a salary cap of CAD$1.6 million (around AU$1.8 million), far exceeding the AU$600,000 cap in the A-League Women. He noted that significant improvements are necessary for the league itself, saying, “I think there are three clubs that are suitably staffed—Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory, and Wellington Phoenix. The rest of the clubs are completely inadequately staffed.”
With respect to player development and retention, Sermanni mentioned the challenges caused by the current contract structure, stating, “We’re still trying to produce players when we have a space of three months where the club has got no contact, no control, no reference point for the players to actually keep them and know what’s happening.”
The Road Ahead
Sermanni highlighted the need for a fundamental rethinking of the league, expressing disappointment over the regression in staff employment compared to when the league was initiated 17 years ago. “When we started the league, the coaches came from our institute programs with full-time coaches—more full-time staff than we have now,” he lamented.
The Australian Professional Leagues, governing body for the A-League Women, has been approached for a response to Sermanni’s comments as discussions surrounding the future trajectory of the league intensify.
