A-League launches with Women this week ahead of ALM next week

Players from the men's and women's teams during the 2023/24 A-League season launch at Carriageworks in Sydney, Tuesday, October 10, 2023. Photo: AAP/Nikki Short

11 October 2023 3:25pm

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The A-League is back, kicking off this weekend with the A-League Women, while the A-League Men will begin next week.

Both leagues held their official launch of the 2023-34 season in Sydney, headlined by members of the Socceroos and Matildas who will be playing across the competitions this year.

Players from every club came together including Sydney FC’s Cortnee Vine and Melbourne City’s Jamie Maclaren, plus many returning Matildas like Elise Kellond-Knight (Melbourne Victory), Chloe Logarzo (Western United) and Kyah Simon (Central Coast Mariners).

Meanwhile, players from local clubs such as Ashfield Pirates and Pagewood Botany FC had the opportunity to take part in a kick with A-League players.

Speaking at the event, Simon reflected on the momentous year that was and her return to Central Coast.

“Playing for the Mariners is where it all started for me so to return there and come back to the Liberty A-League is pretty special,” she said,

“This year has gone beyond my wildest dreams as a female football player, seeing the whole country gripped by the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and I can’t wait to get out in front of the fans this weekend.

“The men’s team won their Grand Final last season and I would love to be able to bring some silverware to the Central Coast in our first year.”

Stephen Conroy, the new Professional Leagues Chair also joined the event, backing Australia and New Zealand as football nations, and sharing that those very players who were watched on the world stage, many can still be supported nationally.

“If there was ever a question about Australia and New Zealand being footballing nations, that question has been firmly answered over the last 12-months with the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and also back in November with the FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar,” he said.

“We united around our homegrown heroes and international stars, and now we are seeing so many of those incredible players on our A-Leagues pitches every week.

“The A-Leagues is where all of those players were made, and many still play, and we will see more of that talent break through, building on the record transfer fees achieved by the A-Leagues last season.”

Off the back of this year’s Women’s World Cup, the sport is riding a wave of momentum and this weekend is set to be a celebration of women’s football, with every A-League Women’s match available live and free on 10 Play, and live on Paramount+.

A-League Commissioner Nick Garcia also revealed that more than 22,000 children and teenagers have signed up for the Liberty A-League pass, and eight clubs have broken their women’s membership records.

Coverage of the two leagues will be enhanced, with the return of ‘A-Leagues All Access’, in a new format every Thursday night on aleagues.com.au.

A brand-new series titled ‘Dub Zone’ will focus on the women’s league and will be available every Sunday 8.30pm AEDT on the KEEPUP’s YouTube channel and on 10 Play.

The top A-League Men matches will be broadcast live and free on 10 Bold and 10 Play every Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, with all matches live on Paramount+.

Fans in New Zealand can watch both leagues live on Sky Sport.