Sydney FC’s Cortnee Vine calls out lack of professionalism in the A—League’s women’s competition
The rampant success of a home World Cup created a unique platform for women’s football to grow. The national league has failed to capitalise and must make urgent changes, argues one Matildas hero.
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Matildas forward Cortnee Vine is “angry” at the lack of investment and professionalism in the A-League's’ women’s league – citing lack of resources and less than ideal training conditions.
The Sydney FC striker said it was disappointing given the success of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the huge increased interest in women’s football.
While Vine’s life has taken a massive turn since her match winning penalty shoot out kick during the World Cup, she said it upset her the same hadn’t happened for others playing in the A-Leagues.
The 26-year-old had offers from several overseas football clubs post the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup but turned them all down to stay put in the A-Leagues – the competition she says made her the player she is today.
Those offers didn’t just include a chance to spread her wings – they included a great deal more money, a chance to play football in a full-time professional environment and train alongside some of the most talented players in the world.
“I really wanted to see the ripple effect of what we’ve done and I definitely felt it. I feel like I live this whole different life now,” Vine said.
“I would say that I’m just like everyone else, living life and doing normal things like going grocery shopping and hanging out with friends at a cafe. I still do that but I get stopped and asked questions and they want photos and others just want to thank me for what the Matildas did.
“You get kids that get a bit starstruck so mum and dad speak for them. Then on top of that you have all the amazing opportunities, I’ve just recently done a shoot with Strandbags and I went to the Melbourne Cup – there’s a whole bunch.
“It’s been a whirlwind.”
But Vine said the opportunities should not have just been for the Matildas players. She said not enough has been done to capitalise on the World Cup to really grow the women’s A-Leagues competition.
“We want to make this league as professional as possible and compete with leagues like the WSL and NWSL,” Vine said.
“The professionalism needs to keep lifting, you can see it’s getting there, but it’s just it’s got a long way to go if you want to compete with those leagues.”
Vine said it was a topic that made her “a little bit angry”, especially considering every single Matildas player in the World Cup team got their start in the A-Leagues.
“People aren’t investing in the Australian women’s domestic league,” Vine said.
“There is just a crowd for women’s football in Australia, you can see it post World Cup, there are so many people coming to watch, you just need to do the right thing to grab on to them.”
The women’s competition attracted more fans to games this season than any other women’s sport in Australia.
But most of the players, with the international stars exempt, are on part-time contracts – paid for just the season, not the entire 12 months like men’s players are.
It means the majority of players are forced to juggle their football career with a part-time job.
“Extending the season has been fantastic,” Vine said.
“But these girls are working part time, they’re still not in a full-time professional environment. You have staff members that are part time. We’re training at ridiculous hours instead of normal hours and we don’t have access to massage therapists or full time physios or strength and conditioning coaches or any of the staff that is required for a full-time athlete.
“There is just so much to do but I feel like at the moment nothing is really happening.
“It makes me angry because there is so much talent here in Australia and I just wish all these girls had a full time environment.
“Ultimately if it doesn’t change you are going to lose talent from this league, they are going to go to professional leagues which is just sad.
“It would be nice if we got some sort of investment in this league.”
FINALS
Vine will line up at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday for the second leg of their semi-final with Central Coast Mariners.
Sydney FC go in with a narrow 1-0 lead after a very tough battle at the weekend.
A win will book them a spot in the grand final, with Melbourne City their likely opponent.
Vine is no stranger to finals football – she won the final with Sydney FC last season.
“The whole reason we play is to get to this time of the year and the finals series,” Vine said.
“It never loses its edge. We have obviously won three premierships and we had the opportunity to win a fourth which would have been amazing to do it.
“But we’ve got to let that go and focus on the chance to win the championship.”
The double legged semi-final means both teams can go back to the drawing board ahead of this weekend’s match but Vine said tactics often didn’t count for much in a final.
“It’s a different game compared to the normal season,” Vine said.
“It’s a bit more scrappy, it’s more physical, it’s one of those things that comes down to who has more heart and hopefully that’s us on the weekend and hopefully for the grand final.”
Sydney FC will play Central Coast Mariners on Saturday at 3pm.
The other spot in the grand final will be determined by the winner of the Melbourne City and Newcastle Jets game on Sunday at 1pm.
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