Locals hope All-Stars matches can boost A-Leagues

The A-Leagues hope All Star matches against Premier League club Newcastle United and Women's Super League giants Arsenal can catapult players on to the global stage, while bolstering the domestic leagues.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou will return home to Melbourne to lead Spurs in a friendly against Newcastle United on May 22.

Two days later, Newcastle will play an A-League Men selected team, before Arsenal - home to Matildas stars Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross - take on an A-League Women squad in a double-header at Marvel Stadium.

Goalkeeper Lydia Williams, who previously played at Arsenal, expected the first ALW All Stars game to be an audition for local players to show their wares, and an opportunity for Matildas fans to connect to the ALW.

"People at home here will want to prove themselves against one of the best women's clubs, and likewise they're going to want to come in and prove themselves as well, so it's going to be really exciting," Williams said.

"It's gonna be a game that's full of talent on both sides, whether it's raw talent, or talent that's been produced in a club.

"But I think also what it's going to do for the women's game in Australia is everyone has a large following of the Matildas - we want to see that progress to club (culture), and not just support the Matildas when they're out here, but support A-League Women's teams.

"To have that club culture that European countries have - we want to see that here in Australia, and I think it's a really nice platform for that."

The All-Stars game is also expected to deliver a handy cash injection to the A-Leagues.

“Even if we would just break even - and we’re not, we’re doing much better than that - but even if we were just breaking even, the publicity, the excitement that’s generated by it is worthwhile doing it," Australian Professional Leagues chair Stephen Conroy said.

Former Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak, now an assistant coach to Postecoglou at Spurs, believed the games could "plant the seed of inspiration" for those watching.

Melbourne Victory winger Daniel Arzani said he hoped more players, like Garang Kuol against Barcelona almost two years ago, could get exposure from the game.

"We've seen lots of young players use these kinds of games as breakthroughs in the past," the fringe Socceroo said.

"They come off the bench or they start and they have a really good cameo and it really propels them, it pushes their career and they can push on from there."

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