The organisation, headed by prominent Australian author, journalist and former FFA advisor Bonita Mersiades, have spoken out about the struggles the W-League is set to face over coming seasons.

The paper highlights four key issues facing the W-League as the competition reaches a nexus, in which it must choose whether its main purpose is to act as a development or elite league.

The paper comes days after Sam Kerr joined Emily Gielnik, Alex Chidiac and Lisa De Vanna as high-profile Matildas set to skip the upcoming W-League season for European opportunities.

It also comes soon after FFA head of leagues, Greg O'Rourke, said the organisation want to develop the W-League until it's one of the top five leagues in the world.

FOUR KEY PROBLEMS

  *   The need for women players to play more games, with a suggestion that an Asian Champions League and an FFA Cup be introduced for women;
  *   More consistent match scheduling and venues;
  *   Understanding the fanbase of women’s football, including deleting dual social media channels for the W-League and A-League; and
  *   Greater investment.

WHAT WOMEN IN FOOTBALL SAY

“While we appreciate the W-League’s future is in the hands of the Australian Professional Football Clubs’ Association, this is a mission critical issue for FFA and football’s stakeholders, and is an issue of relevance and interest to the broader football community,” the organisation states.

“In a nutshell, if it is to be one of the best leagues in the world, the W-League needs significant investment and attention from the clubs – not just for the sake of the competition itself but for Australia’s top players.

“The pushback on the issues we raise is anticipated to be around lack of finances. However, with the increased interest in , and scrutiny on, women’s sport, we suggest there is enormous scope for improvement in the level of sponsors for the W-League, the Matildas and women’s and girls’ football more broadly.”