The FFA have released the draw for Season 7 of the W-League.
The FFA have released the draw for Season 7 of the W-League.
Due to Australia hosting the AFC Asian Cup 2015 in January, the W-League will kick off on the weekend of 13/14 September 2014 with the Grand Final to be played on Sunday, 21 December 2014.
In a break from tradition, the grand final rematch will not be played in the opening round although Season 6 champions Melbourne Victory will feature in the opening match when they take on the Newcastle Jets.
“The last season of the Westfield W-League was arguably the most exciting season to date with truly world class players competing, included the presence of the 2013 FIFA Women’s player of the year Nadine Angerer at Brisbane Roar,” said Head of the W-League Damian De Bohun.
"Following the success of the Westfield Matildas at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in May, the competition for places in the final squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year will be intense and this Westfield W-League season will be the place for these players to stake their claims."
In it's seventh season, the W-League will once again have eight teams from the West Coast and East Coast of Australia battling it out over 12 rounds before a two week finals series crowns the champions.
Full fixture schedule: www.w-league.com.au
“The reason we had to move the Westfield W-League season window to start in September and finish in December is that a number of the Westfield W-League venues will be used as training venues for the AFC Asian Cup 2015 and thus unavailable throughout January.”
“In the interests of the Westfield W-League clubs and players, we decided that it was more important to have continuity throughout the season rather than including a 4 week break.
ABC TV will continue broadcasting the match of the round with the full announcement of the arrangements due in the coming weeks.
The Women's Game team will provide a full club by club analysis of the draw in the coming days.
W-League 2014/15 Snapshot
- Westfield W-League 2014/15 Season to kick off on Saturday 13 September when the Newcastle Jets host Melbourne Victory at Magic Park, Broadmeadow
- Westfield W-League season window moved due to venue availability in relation to the AFC Asian Cup 2015
- 51 matches in total = 48 regular season matches + 2 Semi-Finals + Westfield W-League Grand Final
- Four (4) new venues to be used: Ashfield Sports Club (Perth Glory), Lambert Park (Sydney FC), Broadmeadows Valley (Melbourne Victory) and Vikings Park (Canberra United)
- Sydney Derby between Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC in Round 3
- Grand Final rematch between Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory in Round 6
- Three (3) Westfield W-League/Hyundai A-League double headers involving Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium in Rounds 5, 9 & 11
- Round 11 is a split round to accommodate Melbourne Victory’s participation at the International Women’s Club Championship in Japan. Melbourne Victory’s round 12 match against Newcastle Jets will also be brought forward and played midweek on Wednesday 29 October.
- Ten (10) matches scheduled on artificial surfaces (Ashfield Sports Club and Lambert Park) to compliment the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup where all matches will be played on artificial surfaces.
- Westfield W-League 2015 Finals Series will see the first placed team host the fourth placed team, and the second placed team host the third placed team. The winner of the each Westfield W-League 2015 Semi-Final will advance to the Westfield W-League 2015 Grand Final which will be hosted by the higher ranked of the two teams.
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