Barbieri will represent Melbourne Victory in the new competition when it kicks off in October. The Australian international goalkeeper admits she wondered whether this day would ever come and she sees it as a massive step in the progression of women’s football.

All seven A-League teams will be represented in the W-League, joined by a new franchise Canberra United.

Barbieri hopes it is all helping move the game ever closer to her dream of a full-time professional set up.

She told au.fourfourtwo.com: “I probably didn’t see this happening (when I first started playing). I didn’t think I’d pull on a Melbourne Victory strip, that’s for sure.

“I’m delighted the W-League is happening and I’m very proud to be part of it.”

“There is going to be high quality and there will be high intensity. People are going to be watching ad where before you may have slipped under the radar a little bit, we’ll now be at the forefront of people’s minds.”

Barbieri also believes a strong domestic competition can only aid efforts to make the Matildas even more successful.

She said: “If we can pit our best players against each other week in and week out then we’ll only grow as a national football team.”

A television deal for the W-League is currently being negotiated and Barbieri points to another sport as how important a medium it is.

The inaugural trans-Tasman netball grand final takes place in Sydney tonight with more than 17,000 fans expected to attend after a televised regular season.

Barbieri said: “Look at the interest in netball this year since the new competition was launched and put on television. More youngsters are seeing their heroes more often and they get to see what it takes to be one of those heroes.

“It (television) will be paramount to the success of the W-League and paramount in getting girls wanting to get involved.”

The next goal would be to see the top players becoming full-time players with their clubs. Barbieri said: “I’d love to be a full time Melbourne Victory player, training twice a day, no mortgage worries and other things to distract you from the football.”

Barbieri also found time at today’s launch to welcome a fellow goalkeeper back into the Australian fold. She said: “I think it’s fantastic Central Coast Mariners have given Mark Bosnich a chance.

“I think it’s a great thing for the game to have him back on track. He was a great asset to Australian and hopefully he can be again.”