Jess Fishlock says Melbourne City setting pace for women’s football in Australia

VISA star Jess Fishlock declared that ambitious Melbourne City will keep investing in women’s football next season and W-League rivals will be challenged to keep pace.

VISA star Jess Fishlock declared that ambitious Melbourne City will keep investing in women’s football next season and W-League rivals will be challenged to keep pace.

The Welsh star, who is on loan from Seattle Reign along with Kim Little, has been a key figure in the undefeated side’s run to the semi-finals after she was recruited as player-coach.

Fishlock, 29, said the focus was on Monday’s clash with Brisbane Roar to claim a spot in the grand final, but said plans were afoot to keep improving having finished with a 100 per cent record in 12 games.

“Next year clubs have a choice to make, they either catch up and try and match and invest or they don’t,’’ Fishlock said.

“That wouldn’t be helpful for the league.

“What Melbourne City have done here, and the City Group, could be the changing force in Australian women’s football and I’m extremely thankful to be a part of that.

“I’ve been shrewdly impressed with everything City have (done) and are working towards in the women’s game.’’

Fishlock has had two stints at Melbourne Victory while carving a successful career in Europe and the US, but said City was narrowing Australia’s gap with the world.

Kim Little has also joined Fishlock at City FC from Seattle Reign Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

“What Melbourne City women have here, only very few clubs in the world have this facility and backing and structure. That’s a huge thing to have in Australia because no one has ever had that before,’’ she said.

“It needs a focus point as a whole. They’ve been very dedicated to the Matildas over the last two years because they’ve had the Asian Cup and World Cup and now the Olympics, so it’s understandable.

“But the future of the Matildas is built around the domestic league because that’s where they’re going to get their players from, so they need to keep pushing and developing the W-League.’’

Fishlock said Roar would be desperate to cause an upset in Monday’s curtain-raiser to the City-Wellington A-League clash.

“We don’t feel the pressure. We look on what we’ve achieved as an accomplishment but we go into the finals games with a separate mindset because it’s different,’’ Fishlock said.

“It’s up to us and our mentality. Brisbane are a good team and everyone wants to beat us but we have to be prepared for that.’’

Originally published as Jess Fishlock says Melbourne City setting pace for women’s football in Australia