libelous said:

Maybe it would be better if ALW clubs had teams in their respective state leagues, I know some do but I don’t think they use players from the ‘run on’ squads.

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rebelliousfeminist974 said:

It wouldn't work though because some teams like Adelaide United and Sydney FC don't have reserve teams altogether and Wellington Phoenix would have to have a reserve side integrated into the Member Federation leagues, in addition to the fact that if Canberra United remain in the Dub then it would be more detrimental for them if they fielded their reserves in the Capital Football system due to the organisation's mismanagement.

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HonestSpursFan said:

That sounds good on paper, but they too develop academy players in the NPLW. Even if, say, Shelby McMahon (using her as an example because she's young and plays for the first team) at City, joined the NPLW team in the offseason, she's still taking the spot of a youngster who needs development. If it weren't for Junior/Young Matildas camps and the A-League teams having training and preseason, the Dub players would completely dominate the NPLW and if an NPLW player broke into any good stats then she'd be quickly signed by a Dub club. Without professionalism the only other option is getting another job during the offseason (like NPL and NPLW players do), but as Fab said not every player wants another job.


Wellington Phoenix do have a reserves team. They play in the NZWNL, however. The men's teams of Auckland and Wellington also have reserve teams in the NZNL (and in Auckland FC's case the OPL).

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