W-League (Australia)
 |
|
| Countries |  Australia |
|---|---|
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
| Founded | 25 October 2008 |
| Number of teams | 7 |
| Levels on pyramid | 1 |
| Current champions | Canberra United (2011-12) |
| Most championships | Brisbane Roar (2 titles) |
| TV partners | ABC1 |
| Website | w-league.com.au |
 2011–12 W-League |
|
The W-League is the preeminent women's semi-professional football (soccer) league in Australia. Established in 2008, it is composed of eight teams - seven of them are affiliated with seven of the Australian clubs currently in the A-League, with the eighth team based in Canberra.[1] As it is sponsored by the Westfield Group, it is presently known as the Westfield W-League.
The W-League's inaugural season commenced on 25 October 2008, with Perth Glory hosting Sydney FC at Members Equity Stadium.[2] After ten rounds, Queensland Roar were the top-placed team, becoming the first W-League premiers, and advancing to the semi-finals along with the second-, third- and fourth-placed teams. They faced Canberra United in the W-League Grand Final 2009, defeating them 2–0 to take the champions trophy.
One game per week (the 3:00 pm Saturday game) is broadcast live nationwide on ABC1.[3]
The teams in the W-League have a salary cap of A$150,000 for the entire squad. By comparison, the salary cap for clubs in the corresponding mens' competition, the A-League, is A2.35 million.
Contents |
[edit] Current clubs
The league was composed of eight teams. Seven were affiliated with the inaugural Australian A-League clubs, and share their names and colours to promote their brands. The eighth club is the Canberra-based Canberra United.[4]
The Central Coast Mariners were forced to withdraw from the 2010–11 season due to a lack of funding. There is hope that in the future, they will be resuscitated.
[edit] Stadiums
Primary venues used in the W-League:
| Stadium | Capacity | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Etihad Stadium | 56,347 | Melbourne Victory |
| AAMI Park | 31,000 | Melbourne Victory |
| Bob Jane Stadium | 15,000 | Melbourne Victory |
| Epping Stadium | 10,000 | Melbourne Victory |
| Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre | 49,000 | Brisbane Roar |
| Perry Park | 8,000 | Brisbane Roar |
| Ballymore Stadium | 24,000 | Brisbane Roar |
| Wanderers Oval | 2,000 | Newcastle Jets |
| Energy Australia Stadium | 26,164 | Newcastle Jets |
| Bluetongue Stadium | 20,119 | Central Coast Mariners |
| Sydney Football Stadium | 45,500 | Sydney FC |
| Members Equity Stadium | 18,156 | Perth Glory |
| Clipsal Stadium | 2,000 | Perth Glory |
| Hindmarsh Stadium | 16,500 | Adelaide United |
| McKellar Park | 2,000 | Canberra United |
Other venues used by W-League clubs include:
| Stadium | Capacity | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Canberra Stadium | 25,011 | Used by Central Coast Mariners in the 2009 season during round 5.1 |
| Leichhardt Oval | 22,000 | Used by Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners in the 2009 season during round 8 as a double-header.2 |
1Central Coast Mariners are to play this fixture as a home game against Canberra United. 2Sydney FC are to play this fixture as a home game against Perth Glory. It is also a 'curtain raiser' to the second game, to be played by the Mariners. Central Coast Mariners are to play this fixture as a home game against Melbourne Victory.
[edit] Referees
The W-League features Women Referees and Assistant Referees from Australia. Referees include:
- Sara Hodson
- Lee Corey
- Kirralee Gardener
- Jacqui Melksham
- Pru Donohoe
- Amelia Morris
- Catherine Hoffman
- Kate Jacewicz Jacewicz refereed the inaugural W-League final.[5]
- Casey Reibelt
[edit] Champions and premiers
| Season | Regular season | Grand final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiers | Points | Runners-up | Champions | Score | Runners-up | |
| 2008–09 Details |
Queensland Roar  |
25–17 Ladder |
 Newcastle Jets |
Queensland Roar |
2–0 Grand Final |
 Canberra United |
| 2009 Details |
Sydney FC  |
23–22 Ladder |
 Central Coast Mariners |
Sydney FC |
3–2 Grand Final |
Brisbane Roar |
| 2010–11 Details |
Sydney FC |
24–21 Ladder |
Brisbane Roar |
Brisbane Roar |
2–1 Grand Final |
Sydney FC |
| 2011–12 Details |
Canberra United |
24–21 Ladder |
Brisbane Roar |
Canberra United |
3–2 Grand Final |
Brisbane Roar |
[edit] Top scorers
[edit] W-League all-time leaders
Shows players at current club or last club played for. Bold denotes players still playing in the W-League. |
Last updated 20 November 2011
[edit] Current foreign players in the league
- Kendall Fletcher (Melbourne Victory)
- Ashleigh Gunning (Adelaide United)
- Taryn Hemmings (Canberra United)
- Danielle Johnson (Melbourne Victory)
- Estelle Johnson (Sydney FC)
- Allison Lipsher (Sydney FC)
- Megan Rapinoe (Sydney FC)
[edit] See also
- Women's soccer in Australia
- Australia women's national association football team
- Women’s National Soccer League (WNSL) - defunct Australian women's national league
[edit] References
- ^ "Women in a league of their own". Football Federation Australia. 28 July 2008. http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=22966.
- ^ "Girls shop to the top". FourFourTwo (Australia). 28 July 2008. http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/81307,girls-shop-to-the-top.aspx. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- ^ "Brisbane Roar v Canberra United – Saturday, 3 October at 3pm on ABC1"
- ^ "W-League to debut in October". Fox Sports. 28 July 2008. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24089401-23215,00.html. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- ^ "Roar Land Inaugural W-League". http://au.fourfourtwo.com. http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/94254,roar-land-inaugural-wleague.aspx. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
[edit] External links
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
