Following the booming success of the AFLW and WBBL this summer, Professional Footballers Australia unveiled its "60 at 60" initiative on Tuesday which aims to have 60 Australian players earning at least $60,000 annually.

The player's union (PFA) also want a longer season and clear career paths as the code refuses to be left behind on the women's movement sweeping the nation.

"It's a brilliant initiative on the back of what has what has been a huge momentum swing, for someone who has been involved in women's sport for 40 years I can see there has been a conscious change," Dower said.

"People are no longer comparing males and females, but actually just appreciating the game for what it is, highly skilled athletes in a highly competitive environment.

"If you look at the record attendance at the W-League grand final and the crowds at the AFLW, the public are saying 'if you give us the product we will come', it's the old saying if you build it and we will come."

United players Ellie Brush and Jenna McCormick were picked up by AFLW clubs GWS Giants and Adelaide Crows respectively and began their cross-code campaign before Canberra's W-League season had ended.

Dower said while it's important to keep star talent in W-League, the coach celebrated what she described as a historic moment in women's sport.

"The fact that women have a choice in 2017 is a great step forward because it's something male athletes have been celebrated over for decades," Dower said.

"It's an opportunity for the codes to work together looking at scheduling so we're not competing and players can become professional athletes with their income not just coming out of one pocket."

Dower suggested the Matildas strike following the 2015 World Cup proved a catalyst for change and believes the PFA initiative has the potential to see Australia become a world leader in women's football.

"To get any continued improvement in anything you need to have a plan and it's a pretty good blueprint of how to take the game forward," Dower said.

"They're trying to bring a whole network of stakeholders together to deliver the best product they can and the main thing is everyone sits down at the table and works collaboratively to make it happen.

"A bigger slice of the [men's] pie isn't just the answer, its about having a sustainable model for a sustainable competition for years to come, you don't want it to be a one-off then the comp falls over."

Dower emphasised it is an exciting time for the W-League and women's sport in Australia and praised the male voices who have supported the movement.

"You really need those male champions to push forward the cultural change, a lot of women have been advocating for decades to have their moment in the sun and clearly that hasn't progressed as quickly as it probably should have. So it's heartening to see male champions of change bringing women's sport to the forefront," she said.

"I look forward to the next phase of women's sport because the time is now to grab it with both hands, the people have voted with their feet, if you provide a good product they will turn up in numbers.

"Resting on your laurels is dangerous, so we must jump on this huge momentum swing and continue to make giant strides forward from which everyone will benefit."