This age difference typified the 2019-20 W-League season more broadly, where teams with a larger number of players in older age brackets tended to finish further up the ladder than teams with a larger number of younger players. This data is illustrative of a broader conversation happening within Australian football circles about the identity and purpose of the W-League. Sydney’s average squad age (prior to international signings) is now just over 22, with six of these younger players on national team radars. This squad list may be a preview of what is to come from other W-League clubs, both this season and beyond. As the W-League finds itself at a crossroads, Sydney FC’s recent squad offers us a glimpse into its future.

Source: The Guardian August 15, 2020 19:52 UTC