Canberra United players have been excluded from the rest of the Capital Football Women's Premier League season so they can focus on preparing for the coming W-League campaign.
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League champion Belconnen United is the most heavily affected. Its Sally Rojahn, Catherine Brown, Caitlin Munoz and Grace Field have been forced to watch their teammates from the sidelines.
Canberra United returned to training last week before the earlier than usual start of the W-League on September 14 – the same day as the WPL grand final.
Capital Football chief executive Heather Reid said clubs were made aware of the situation at the start of the year when there was the chance the W-League could be moved forward to accommodate next year's Asian Cup.
"All clubs and players were advised that once they started training with Canberra United that they're not available to play for their Premier League clubs,'' Reid said.
"Concentration is on getting ready for the W-League and, of course, the W-League starts on the 14th of September, which is also the Premier League grand final day.
"It's so Liz [United coach Elisabeth Migchelsen] has five weeks' full preparation with every single squad member not being distracted by anything other than the training program of Canberra United.''
Belconnen United coach Antoni Jagarinec said he was well prepared for this situation and had the depth to cover his W-League quartet.
"It's been fine because Capital Football let us know there was a chance it would happen,'' Jagarinec said.
"We don't base anything on our Canberra United players. It's a privilege to have them, not a right.
"We've got other players in the squad who put as much effort in at training as the Canberra United players would.''
The women's game received a boost on Monday as Football Federation Australia learnt it is to get $536,000 of FIFA funding over two years to deliver a national women and girls football development program.
Former Canberra United goalkeeper Aroon Clansey has been appointed the development officer for the ACT, and she and Capital Football game development staff will run a high school competition in term four.
"It's an area of our sport that still can sustain some growth,'' Reid said.
"We're fairly well positioned compared to a lot of other federations that are still trying to understand how to get more girls involved in football.
"I think our community is pretty strong, we have girls-only competitions and mixed competitions.''
Meanwhile, Tuggeranong United will learn the identity of its opponent in the round of 16 in the FFA Cup when a draw is held live on Fox Sports at 5.15pm on Friday.
