I would argue that internationals are internationals primarily and not professional sports per se. They're played by professionals and there's a commercial component but that's not the main point.  The main point is your country plays another country. Take the men's world cup for example. Most of the players there would be taking a pay cut for the duration of the tournament. So yes the tournament is a commercial enterprise but for the players it's probably costing them lost revenue.

So for club football I think you're correct. Pay should be based on commercial revenue. I think for internationals there's a difference and equal pay is fair.

And yes it is fair to cross subsidise women's football particularly when women were drawing crowds in the 10s of thousands pre ww2 until they were banned from playing. ( By men. )

So obviously there's some catching up to do when they've been deliberately nobbled for decades.

I get it. Cross subsidisation is akin to communism for you and you just can't abide that. 

If you ask me I'm happy revenues from the men's world cup largesse makes its way down to the pararoos, the poweroos and the junior Matildas and Socceroo sides. If you base their commercial drawing power and ability to make money none of these teams could ever compete internationally. Is that ok by you?

I'm not a big follower of women's sports. Supporting the blokes is exhausting enough for me. However after my day at work I think I'll keep more eyes and ears out. 

I talked about it with my students today, it was a geography lesson but we ended up sidetracking to how nations play sports against each other etc.
I brought up the women's world cup and none of the kids had any clue about women's game or the fact we are hosting it very soon.

 I showed some Sam Kerr highlights, some matildas promos etc. The faces, especially the girls (they are 9/10 years old roughly) just lit up with awe. They didn't realise this could be a lifestyle for them. I brought out the portable goals for lunch time, soccer was booming for a good hour here in remote WA. 

It may take a generation or two, but if the girls start following sport and stop keeping up with the kardashians, maybe we could see more positive growth on socio-cultural and economic levels. Now if they young lads could stop watching YouTube Let's Plays and start playing last goal wins with the girls at lunch, that'd be great too, I want the 'roos and 'tildas to both do well for the years to come.

@ Muz

If your idea of "fairness" and "equality" comes down to representing your country being the same job then ALL representatives in ALL sports should get the same pay.  There should be a pooling of all international sporting revenue and then a precisely all equal distribution should be received by every participant.  Everyone of them works just as hard and is just as proud as the Matilda' ie the arguments for paying the Matilda's the same as the Socceroos are exactly the same as for paying the badminton and table tennis teams the same as the Socceroos.  Why in your world does "fairness" and "equality" stop at gender.

As for the disabled sporting representatives and the juniors, they're not asking for "equal" pay, are they? 

You, my friend, deserve the fuckin absolute champion teacher of the year award....... This made my Friday morning... Massive respect to you, well done.

I have a daughter the same age and have started watching women's football as a direct result of wanting her to be empowered to achieve things not previously thought of as achievable.... (England v Germany Euro womens final was an absolute BELTER of amatch for anyone that has any doubt about how exciting womens football can be).

Yes my engagement with the womens game is not even close to the mens version but so what? The World Cup is on, the Matildas are playing at home, we will have the eyes of the whole sporting world on us for a couple of weeks (not just the horse racing/tennis.grandprix fanatcis) so whats not to like?

What is a women, and will there be many two in the brave and one in the stunning competing?

Exactly.
Rusty knew what he was doing with his extreme language and it worked. He does it to you with the ANZAC nonsense.
Then you know Enzo isn't far behind with his rationalising gender pay gap arguments etc

It's been the same on here for the 15 years I've been here
Only difference is their usernames changed oh and Enzo/Stefcep clearly went through a divorce or something and became angry at the world.

It actually amuses me to butt heads with some of the "colourful" ones on here from time to time mate.... 
I really think this place is a very interesting psychological "release valve" . Alot of the opinions expressed anonymously online are repressed, half/believed or even just totally opposed in real life and using this anonymity to validate or explore what they actually do believe but are too timid to express in the real world... Plus its fun to show the world how smart/clever/witty you feel you are.... by insulting/arguing with total strangers....

Oh yeah for sure.

I imagine Rusty is being called to get away from the computer as we type to mow the lawn muttering to himself under his breath while he vocalises a weak "yes ma'am"

For the record though I believe 95% of what I say (in that moment aha).
I am equal parts crotchety and friendly in real life too.

The equal pay for women is bullshit. Women who play traditionally mens sports like football, cricket etc are far more like
to make it to the highest levels due to the far lower participation levels. A female Rugby Leauge player earns the same SOO match payments as the blokes, $15k per game, despite playing 5 regular season games and maybe a few training sessions (half spent at Maccas chowing down big macs). Its a joke. Worse , its unfair and unequal, and totally enmeshed in gender politics rather than any actual sense of logic and pragmatism.

Unfortunately due to the doctrine of fairness and equality being shoved down our throats, these types of unfair and unequal payment outcomes will become more common place. One not need a crystal ball to know that its a matter of time before the rationale for equal and fair pay at national level filters down to state/ city/club. What is the difference between the honour of representing your city and your nation, they will argue.

Some will argue that equal investment at the elite levels will filter down to the grassroots, sparking a revolution in womens sport, with equal participation and pathways, etc. We should of course be highly suspicious of the elite who ask for millions of dollars for themselves for the purpose of inspiring those down in the trenches. A kind of trickle down socialism, if you will.

The whole thing stinks, worse its unfair and unequal. I hate how gender has been hijacked to feather the nests of a privileged few while the vast masses continue to be fed crumbs.

Well he certainly showed you that he "aint gonna be told what to do by no woman" ....  .. , 

"the doctrine of fairness and equality being shoved down our throats" ... I mean wow..... 

Mate you've run this argument before. I've explained my position. The federations decide what they can pay based on their income.

You're trying to back me into a corner with ridiculous 'nth' degree-ism. It ain't happening.

Football pays equal pay and that's great. I know that upsets your sensibilities so maybe you need to pen a strongly worded letter to the editor.

Usually most loudly promulgated by those who have unequal amount of wealth

“ive explained my position…”
“youre trying to back me into a corner…”
”it aint happening!”
”did someone say KFC”

Nice cop out there muz. 

Lol.

I thought trickle down economics was the doctrine of free market neo liberals but apparently it's woke football federations.

Couldn't make this stuff up.

Its just too hard to say “people in wheelchairs who’ve suffered terrible injuries and challenges in life in live dont deserve the same amount of pay as privileged, entitled able bodies athletes” isnt it? Thats why we need Roosty’s of the world, to speak frankly and directly, rather than cowards like Muz who prefer to hide behind the veneer of virtue.

Ooh hard hitting retort there muz. Might  as well just tell me to go off to the jerk store.

”roosty go to the jerk store”

There I did it.

This a very sad reality Rusty.... Your right representing your nation on the world stage is not financially rewarded equally, depending on the sport. Reality is that you need money coming in to a sporting body before you can even look to reward achievement. In an ideal world ALL athletes deserve a living wage if they represent the country, regardless of sport or ability.... Reality is that without revenue from broadcasting or sponsorship Pararoos or Blind Football players dont get near enough financial support and rely on paltry government handouts and well meaning volunteers.
  
https://www.badminton.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/002-Badminton-Australia-2021-AGM-Annual-report.pdf
Badminton, as a small example, doesn't pay its international players (apart from employee expenses and travel etc) for example HOWEVER there doesn't seem to be ANY discrimination between male and female athletes.... Nor should there in a civilised society... 

If you cant bring yourself to understand that people being treated "equally and fairly" isnt some kind of Communist "plot" to destroy your way of life then there isnt much anyone can say to convince you otherwise I suppose.
If your struggling for funds (who isn't in these financial difficult times) Ill kick in a few bucks to help tide you over, as Im sure a few on here would also. (we all supposedly at least love the same sport so for that alone you deserve a bit of help :) )  Women aren't trying to get your hard earned cash mate, they are NOT a different species or even ethnicity (I know this one bugs you a fair bit) they are our mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, girlfriends ... co humans...... 

LOL.   Spot on tho'

I'm not reading all that mumbo jumbo above after Mono's kind words but I'd rather live in a society supporting women's physical fitness, health & wellbeing, promoting sports and teamwork than make-up mogul worshipping, eCeleb drama, TikTok trends, eating hot-chips and lying.

The Spartans were right.

It should be great for the sport here, after the Socceroos heroics the Matildas have a great chance to continue the momentum and grow the sport.

Im also looking forward to watching the standard of the tournament too, these are some of the best teams in the world in our own backyard.

Oi, leave "hot-chips" out of it :)

Never pegged you as a marxist, mono. Some of it is unfortunately being  driven by a "each according to his need" mantra. The only way equality and fairness can be encapsulated is with equal nominal amounts on the balance sheet. Participation rates, cultural preferences, # games played, etc etc are just relics of misogynist patriarchal society and therefore dont enter the conversation. That's why FFA, USA and other federations have adopted equal outcome polices in regards to national team pay. It is INEVITABLE that soon the conversation will steer towards other forms, such as domestic competition. As we have seen here in League female state of original players receive the same as men. Its only the start. This will happen regardless of what happens at a grassroots level, because the conversation clearly transcends mere economics and has become very political and ideological. 

Yes true, But its even worse than that hypocritical.

Have we already forgotten what Lisa De Vanna and Alan Stajcic experience of "equality" and "fairness" and "inclusivity" was inside the Matilda's camp? They are representing us to the world....

Good work!

I'm a teacher too.

I know many young women motivated to play football through meeting female football development officers in schools.

I used to be extremely supportive of the Matildas, knowing most of the players by name and by sight. But after they knifed Stajcic in the back - particularly what the players did to him - I've lost interest in the Matildas. Their win-loss record ever since Stajcic was given the boot speaks for itself.

The average ALW salary this season is 20,606. AFLW average salary last season was $46,280 (up 94% from 2021).

In 2025, the AFL (mens) TV deal goes up an extra $170 million per year to $643 million per season. This equates to about a 26% increase. I have no doubt in my mind that some of this money will flow through to the AFLW. The AFLPA will 100% push for this in the next EBA.

If the average AFLW salary goes up another 94% to around the $90,000 mark, then that might be enough for them to go fully professional. They have a target to go fully professional in 2026.

The ALW will never be able to compete with these dollars. But one thing football has over the AFL (same with the men) is the option to make bigger bucks in Europe, and to represent your national team.

You’re having a sook because you claim the women don’t deserve to get paid as much as the men. But you’re looking at it the wrong way. Pay parity for our national football teams is an incentive for our women to push themselves further so they can make a living from the game… something they will be unable to do by just playing domestic football.

Then by extension pay parity for domestic football teams is an incentive for our women to push themselves further so they an make a living from the game... something they will be unable to do by  just playing local football.

Err no, pay parity is for the NT is not just an "incentive" so the few who can make it can make enough to scrap together a house deposit, it's rooted in ideology that men and women should be paid the same. 

No more a Marxist than the average Aussie looking for a fair go Rusty, In fact not an _____-ist anything... I find that political labels, especially in this day and age just muddy the waters and people hide behind perceived identity rather than debate the topic at hand. 

I disagree with " the conversation clearly transcends mere economics and has become very political and ideological."  

It really doesn't mate, its as simple as being paid the same regardless of what is (or isn't) hanging between your legs... Full stop. If you want to link it to "value" then I sort of get your point but if we use this year as an example I would argue that the women's game is going to bring a hell of a lot more "value" to the sport in Australia this year with the WWC, number of Matildas games, broadcast income, merchandise and legacy programs than the Socceroos will with a couple of meaningless friendlies... Does that mean the girls should get paid more this year???

Yes

Female players are on centralised contracts ie football federation pays their basic pay and club tops it up with international match pay a bonus on top,