Sam Kerr has called on Australia football to put more weight and money behind the women’s game Down Under, so that the Matildas can play on home soil and still be fighting-fit for their many international challenges.
When rumours started popping up that Kerr would be exiting at Chelsea, some Aussie fans had hoped she’d come back to close out her career in Perth. That was largely impossible for a player of her calibre, though, considering where the A-League Women is right now.
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And Kerr knows it, calling out the state of the league and suggesting nothing will change for the A-Leagues until there’s more money and focus.
“We need to find a way to get all the best players back,” Kerr urged, pointing out the contract and quality disparities right now. “If it paid enough and it was a top league, a lot of us Matildas would go back, but to better ourselves for the national team, we have to go overseas.
“I think the A-League… or the W-League back then, was thriving when the national team players and players from the NWSL, players from England were over, whether it was a guest stint or playing, you had the best players, week in, week out, training there with our future generation.
“I think the A-League’s more similar to the NWSL. It’s more transitional, probably on the same level as the NWSL off the pitch.
“The A-League probably needs a little bit more investment, a bit more time.”
Kerr and Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold are the only regular Australian stars playing in the U.S. these days, with most opting to ply their trade over in Europe. That’s largely due to the top-level leagues, as well as stronger pay schemes for women on the continent.
Some years ago, the W-League (as it was then called) and the NWSL in the U.S. were regarded as powerhouse comps, but that’s since faded.
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Kerr is enjoying her time in the U.S. already, though. “I didn’t see myself starting fresh at a new European club. Coming back to the U.S has been something I wanted to do,” Kerr told ABC Sport. “Being close to [wife Kristie Mewis’] family, coming back, hopefully winning some trophies.
“I’d achieved everything I wanted to with Chelsea. It was time for change.”
Kerr has already turned out twice for Gotham FC in New York.
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