Melbourne Victory star Beattie Goad's retirement at 27 highlights the unsustainable part-time nature of the A-League Women's competition. Goad joins other young players like Emma Checker and Elise Kellond-Knight who have stepped away from football due to financial constraints and the difficulty of balancing a career outside the game. Players emphasize the need for a full-time league to allow them to dedicate themselves fully to their athletic development and reach their full potential.
Over the weekend, Melbourne Victory star Beattie Goad announced her retirement from football at just 27, which came as players say the part-time nature of the competition is unsustainable long-term.
Players from across Australia's top-tier women's football have reiterated their urgent need for a full-time competition. "Because the benefits are massive. If you suddenly give players resources and the time that they need to be athletes, you get benefits in terms of the product and how the players play, their skill level, their athleticism," Kellond-Knight said.Getty: Kelly DefinaAn overwhelming majority of ALW players want the competition to evolve to a fully professional league by 2026, according to the latest report by Professional Football Australia .
In comparison, the minimum wage for AFL Women's players in 2024 was $55,077, which will increase to $67,337 in 2025 as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. That figure will then increase to $70,030 in 2026 and then $72,373 by 2027.Current ALW players are contracted for 35 weeks for a 22-round regular season, with four extra weeks for finals. Kellond-Knight said one of the main growth areas for the league was a 12-month contract, along with a livable minimum wage.
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL A-LEAGUE WOMEN WOMEN's SPORTS PART-TIME COMPETITION FULL-TIME LEAGUE
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