FPF's NPL NSW mid-season review
- Jose Campo
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
The 2026 NPL NSW season is coming to a close with eight rounds remaining to decide the premiership winner.
Much was anticipated from each club in this year's edition following the inaugural Australian Championship in October 2025, with each team's storylines nearing their conclusion.
Front Page Football reviews the biggest NPL NSW stories so far this season.
Blacktown and Olympic in unexpected battle
Last season, Blacktown City and Sydney Olympic finished fifth and seventh in the league table, with the Demons ending the year with a first-round knockout in the finals series to Rockdale Ilinden.
Despite facing tough competition from Marconi Stallions, APIA Leichhardt, and Rockdale, the two clubs found themselves among the best of the rest in a league season that saw NWS Spirit take the title.
Now, in 2026, both clubs face the possibility of relegation to League One at the end of the season, a massive shift in form from previous seasons.
Sydney Olympic have been the subject of criticism from football fans in the NPL, and a talking point in recent Australian football headlines.
There has been much division between the club's fans and its ownership since Damon Hanlin, the former president, was investigated for tax fraud in 2024, and it does not seem to have improved after statements released by Olympic on Facebook left their fans disappointed.
The club is facing its worst season in the NPL after it was announced earlier this year that it was facing financial issues, despite promises from the board to stabilise it.
Blacktown City has not fared much better, hovering around the relegation playoff spot.
Blacktown are going through a transition this season, bringing in younger players to succeed the aging veterans within the squad.
Though the core unit benefits from the talent and leadership of Travis Major, Mitch Mallia, and Jak O'Brien, the squad's youth outweighs that experience.
It has been a new look for the Demons this year, and if the squad can survive relegation and finish closer to mid-table among the more experienced teams, then it is a positive sign for the future at Blacktown City under legendary head coach Mark Crittenden.
Major leads as the top goalscorer for Blacktown with 10 league goals this season, and the side has four wins and seven draws.
Blacktown have also made big moves during the mid-season transfer window, bringing in former A-League forward Alou Kuol and Central Coast Mariners fullback Sasha Kuzevski to turn their fortunes around.
Sharks are new and looking good
Since the COVID-interrupted 2020 season, Sutherland Sharks have never finished a league season above 12th.
Once seen as the best of the rest during the NSW Premier League era, winning two titles in 2008 and 2009, the Sharks have struggled to find their footing in recent years, despite many squad rebuilds and managerial changes.
But this season, that would sound like ancient news with the arrival of David Perkovic, who came in fresh from his premiership glory at NWS Spirit after nearly a decade of service for the club.
After a slow start, losing four of their opening five games, the Sharks now find themselves in the top six after a 3–0 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 20.
It was clear from the start of pre-season last year that there would be a change in focus and ambition around the club.
Perkovic was brought in with the aim of winning the league title within three years, as well as other goals to elevate the club internally at the grassroots level.
In the coming years, it could consistently be a different Sutherland Sharks than the one NPL watchers are used to seeing.
Familiar faces were brought across from Spirit's title-winning side in Takumi Ofuka, Jamie Percevski, and Jordan Perez, as well as some quality signings in Danny Choi and Nicholas Olsen, to name a few, in the squad rebuild.
From this, it is clear that Sutherland is showing significant ambition to rebuild this year's squad and increase its presence in youth football around the Shire.
As of now, the Sharks currently have six wins in their last seven matches despite facing tough competition in the top six.
Olsen leads the squad in goals with six to his name, while 12 different players have scored to contribute to Sutherland's 29-goal tally this season.
As a one to watch, Sutherland Sharks should be kept under close attention by all NPL fans alike for the next three years for their promising turn in form.
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Italian rivals fight for superiority once more
One of the classic derbies in Australian football, Marconi and APIA are going head-to-head for this season's premiership title, with four points separating the two rivals atop the ladder.
This rivalry has been competitive over the last four seasons, with both clubs separated by an average of six points and sharing three league titles between them.
Both squads benefit from a long-serving core unit.
Club veterans in Marko Jesic, Anton Mlinaric, Franco Maya, and George Daniels lead a youthful Marconi squad with an average age of 23.
Despite the age of the squad, the side has a perfect mix of youth and experience that puts it in the best position to win a first premiership title in club history.
For APIA, much of the squad has remained unchanged from last year's championship, besides a few additions.
Franco Parisi made sure to nurture a tight-knit group, and, as seen in recent results, it's paid off in crucial moments this season and in the Australian Championship.
This squad is certainly one to watch for all neutrals heading to the end of an exciting title race.
Marconi leads APIA by four points after its 2–0 win against St George FC in Round 22.
The Stallions remain unbeaten in their last 13 league matches, with their last loss coming on April 6 against Sydney United.
For APIA, prior to its loss to Sutherland Sharks last round, the side was on a five-game winning streak in all competitions and had previously managed an undefeated 16-game streak from February 14 to May 16.
The two clubs have played their head-to-head, sharing a draw, while Marconi won back in round one.
The next time the two face off will most likely be in the finals series, where they are the favourites to qualify for the grand final.
APIA have lost its last two league games, and will hope to win its next few games to keep the premiership race close.
Sydney United redemption after disaster
After a debut campaign in the Australian Championship, Sydney United was scrutinised as a foundation club by both fans and neutrals for its disastrous performance, which saw it finish bottom with only one draw.
However, the squad has managed to defy expectations by being a title contender in NPL NSW, trailing first place by seven points.
Miro Vlastelica, who coached Sydney United to an Australia Cup final appearance in 2022, returned to replace the departed Ante Juric.
United underwent a major squad rebuild to suit Vlastelica's vision, and it has paid off, with nine wins in a row to kick off the league season, putting it in first place after 10 rounds.
Now among the most in-form teams in NSW, the side finds itself against Marconi and APIA in the fight for the premiership.
Despite having a lesser chance of winning the premiership, having lost its last game to Sydney FC, Sydney United is capable of punishing any complacency from the top two heading into the finals series.
The squad is brimming with experience and talent, as seen in players such as Mason Wells and captain Adrian Vlastelica, who have been the backbone of this side.
Coach Vlastelica has also given young players chances to impress.
Five players aged 20 or under have made appearances for the first team, including Michael Krslovic and Gabriel Tilo, who are making a name for themselves in the league and are the ones catching eyes this year.
Tilo, in particular, was one of the youngest to debut at the Australian Championship at only 16, just shy of his 17th birthday, and has an appearance with the Young Socceroos to his name.
In a short period, Vlastelica has impressively turned this squad around to a competitive level and will look to the Australia Cup for a repeat of 2022's heroics.
The Edensor Park outfit recently claimed a record ninth Waratah Cup title in club history over APIA, which will give the squad a big boost heading into the Australia Cup, where they will face Central Coast Mariners in the round of 32.
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