In 2015, Elise Kellond-Knight was part of the Matildas squad that took history-making strike action, paving the way for a decade of increased investment that saw the team rise to prominence and Australia secure hosting rights for the 2023 Women’s World Cup and this year’s Women’s Asian Cup. Now, with that continental showpiece less than two months away, the retired midfielder sees the women’s game in Australia at another Rubicon moment, one requiring bold investment in the future of a fully professional A-League Women.
The players’ union, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), of which Kellond-Knight serves as deputy chair, launched its Ready for Takeoff document on Wednesday, outlining a player-led vision for the future of the A-League Women. At its core is a repeat of the union’s persistent call for the Asian Cup to serve as a springboard for the Australian women’s top-flight to relaunch as a fully professional competition, accompanied by a series of recommendations for reforms. These stretch from the competition’s governance, fan engagement strategies, integration with the global football economy, and matchday infrastructure to suit the A-League Women’s needs, as well as the new breed of fan engaging with women’s football and broader women’s sport.
