Women's football in Australia is "set to receive a major boost" on Tuesday when the players' union "releases a road map" that envisages the top 60 players in the W-League being paid a minimum of A$60,000 ($46,077) per year, according to Michael Lynch of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Professional Footballers Australia has been working on its future development program for "several months" and has "outlined many steps that must be put in place for the sport to grow." The W-League is "one of the higher standard women's competitions in the world but in comparison to many other leagues the players are paid a pittance." The rise of Australian Football League Women's, cricket's Women's Big Bash League and the rebranding of the netball competition, with the involvement of football clubs Collingwood, GWS Giants and Melbourne Storm, "has put the focus on women's sport." There are also "fears that the greater publicity for the AFL women's competition, and the kudos and promotional opportunities that may arise from being involved in that sport, could be a siren call for players of other sports," football included, to switch codes (SMH, 2/20).
