History will be made when every game in Round 18 of the women’s A-League will be described by an all-female team of commentators.
Seven women will call the action across six matches in the Liberty A-League, bringing to fruition a two-year plan to find and train the group of trailblazers.
The Round 18 games will be played between Friday March 1, 2024, and Sunday March 3, 2024.
Main photo: Grace Gill … will be one of the history-making commentators. Photo credit: Channel 10.
Viewers of the games broadcast by 10Play and Paramount+ in Australia, and Sky Sport in New Zealand, will hear the following commentators and co-commentators:
Western United v Canberra United
Kate Allman and Alicia Ferguson
Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City
Taryn Heddo
Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney
Pokuah Frimpong and Rhali Dobson
Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United
Grace Gill
Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix
Pokuah Frimpong and Catherine Cannuli
Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory
Taryn Heddo
Commentator Grace Gill told the Liberty A-League podcast after her first game as a lead commentator:
“I’d say in the last year or so, it’s something I’ve been acutely aware (of): that there’s a massive opportunity for it, especially in our country. We don’t have women leading play-by-play calls.
“… It’s hard to be a woman’s voice in that space. It comes with a bit of fear of criticism, of failure, of wanting to live up to that quality and expectation.”
A spokesperson for the Australian Professional Leagues said:
“The A-Leagues is proud to see every Liberty A-League Women’s match being called and co-called by females this weekend for the first time in the competition’s history.
“Alongside the 10 Network and Global Advance, it has been an aim to discover the best up-and-coming female commentators, and this upcoming weekend is a moment to celebrate the growing influence of females in football.”
Main photo credit: Natural Light Photography Company.
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