The Rebirth Of Australian Football
Can Australia Rise To The Top?
C. J. Mattison
THE 12TH OF NOVEMBER 2005, a bit over 18 years ago, was the first time Australia qualified for the FIFA World Cup. Since then football in Australia has faced turbulence in popularity, but not seems destined for regrowth due to a culmination of factors. After Australia’s recent World Cup success, the formal announcement of a nation-wide second division and financial backing seem to be spurring the upward trend of football in Australia.
The financial attraction to footballers is becoming a growing reason for the surge in popularity of football; getting paid to play football has actually become a realistic and enjoyable way to make a living. In the men’s competition the wealthiest National Premier League (NPL) clubs are looking to pay top players around $300,000 for each regular season appearance, NPL 2 $500, NPL 1 $1100. Additionally, the minimum wage that top level women’s teams can pay their players increased to $20,608 in this current season (2022/23) and then to $25,000 in 2023/24 which is an increase of over 50% in three seasons.
The announcement of the first ever nation-wide second division in Australian sporting history is a major progression for Australian football. The National Second Division’s inauguration in 2025 currently has eight confirmed teams with an expected two to four additional sides yet to be confirmed. The league is said to have a promotion and relegation system with current A League and NPL sides, putting a competitive edge on Australian football all the way down through the footballing pyramid. Pragmatically, this helps provide a pathway for Aussie talent. Thus enticing players to stay involved in Australian football with the allure of their club one day climbing the football ladder and being televised becoming a reality. Additionally the NPL Youth System, two years ago saw a restructure to accommodate for the promotion and relegation system with a reduction from 24 teams to 16 teams in each level of the NPL helping to streamline and promote talent.
Whether it’s just because you were captured by the allure of public holiday or if you had a genuine passion for the Matilda’s success. The collective sense of euphoria captured nation-wide, as Cortnee Vines’ penalty rippled the back of the net. The Matilda’s World Cup success making it to the semi-finals was the most watched TV event in Australia sporting history with 11.5 million Aussies watching nation-wide. In addition to the rise in passion for female football and growth in enrolment that hosting the women’s world cup caused. The top level female football athletes in Australia has successfully seen adaptations to foster long term growth with players being allowed to play both the NPL1 season and W-League season and having contracts with two clubs allowing for increased game time.
