Performance of Matildas in Olympic qualifying set to boost growth in women’s game

THE Matildas’ journey to the Rio Olympics is expected to trigger a spike in interest in the women’s game.

Tara Andrews of the Matildas with girls from Clovelly Public School during the launch of Female Football Week which coincides with International Women's Day at Centennial Park, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

THE Matildas’ journey to the Rio Olympics is paving the way for an increasing number of young players hitting the pitch.

Australia’s women’s football team have enjoyed a surge in interest as they cruised towards qualification for their first appearance at the Games since 2004.

The decision by Channel 7 to show the Matildas’ Olympic qualifiers live on 7Mate has proved a winner with their first three games against Japan (313,000), Vietnam (316,000) and South Korea (373,000) all peaking well above 300,000 viewers.

Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop said this popularity would drive a new generation of players and fans.

“We are proud that more than 20 per cent of our entire participation base of outdoor club players are female. No other footy brand can compare with that,” Gallop said.

“Females represent the fastest growing segment in our participation base. Girls starting out in football have a pathway that goes to World Cups and Olympic Games, and there are fantastic role models in the Westfield Matildas, who are on show at the moment.’’

The FAA benefited from a boom in interest and participation in women’s football in the aftermath of both last year’s World Cup and the W-league.

RIO-BOUND:Matildas qualify for Olympics

“The Matildas give young girls something to aspire to and someone to be inspired by,’’ Gallop said Gallop at the launch of FFA’s Female Football Week, a national promotion and celebration of the role of women and girls in the game.

“To have success on the world stage is always good.

“When a team does great things people take notice so we will see a big spike in interest.’’

Gallop said while he could not put a number yet on the effects of the Matildas on player numbers in the future, he believes it will be significant.

Football has overtaken swimming as the most popular sporting activity among Australian children in the last 12 months.

Findings from the Roy Morgan Research Young Australians Survey also revealed that, for the first time, more girls are now playing soccer than netball with 39 per cent on a football fields to netball’s 37 per cent.

According to the FFA national audit, participation in organised football jumped 20 per cent in 2015, community football clubs increased 7 per cent in the past year to reach 499,361 players in 2155 clubs in every state and territory.

For the first time, the number of registered female players in outdoor club competitions also passed 100,000.

Originally published as Performance of Matildas in Olympic qualifying set to boost growth in women’s game