On 31 October, Football Australia confirmed what many Australian football fans already suspected: that the inaugural season of the men’s National Second Tier would, in fact, not be the traditional home-and-away league format that clubs expected but instead a post-season ‘Champions League’ model. Front Page Football breaks down the situation and offers some insights into the future of the proposed competition.
The National Second Tier's eight foundation clubs were announced in November 2023. (Image: Football Australia/Brett Costello)
The NST will launch in October 2025 and run until December, following the conclusion of the various member federation-run National Premier League seasons. The competition will involve 16 teams from across the country: the initial eight foundation clubs plus the eight premiers of the various 2025 NPL leagues. To recap, those eight foundation clubs that will be given automatic entry successfully met Football Australia’s initial NST criteria, which have not been made publicly available. Those clubs, announced in November 2023, are as follows: APIA Leichhardt (NSW), Avondale (VIC), Marconi Stallions (NSW), Preston Lions (VIC), South Melbourne (VIC), Sydney Olympic (NSW), Sydney United (NSW), and Wollongong Wolves (NSW).
The change from a home-and-away season to a post-season tournament evokes memories of the old NPL Finals Series, which last ran in 2019. While disappointing, FA's decision is unsurprising given the body’s inability to find the further 2-4 clubs necessary to launch a 10-to-12-team league next year. FA confirmed that 14 clubs “passed the technical elements” of the NST’s Request for Proposal (RFP) phase. However, six of them could not meet the financial obligations due by June 2024, which FPF understood to be a demonstration of financial viability via set thresholds.
The six who did not meet the financial requirements before the set deadline were confirmed to be as follows: Adelaide City (SA), Caroline Springs George Cross (VIC), Gold Coast United (QLD), Gungahlin United (ACT), South Hobart (TAS), and Sunshine Coast FC (QLD). It is public knowledge that at least two of these prospects (South Hobart and Sunshine Coast) have faced obstacles from their respective federations in joining the NST.
The Wollongong Wolves won the final edition of the old NPL Finals Series in 2019. (Image: Football NSW)
Unsurprisingly, FA's announcement has been met with some criticism concerning the NST’s competitive format. Reactions to the announcement can essentially be broken down into two camps: one that feels FA duped clubs and supporters into signing up for a glorified NPL Finals Series, and the other that asserts the ‘Champions League’ model is a workable launching point for a proper home-and-away league soon. Both schools of thought are ultimately correct: there is little debate that FA did mislead clubs and supporters by committing to a full second-tier league and then only providing a post-season tournament, which was strongly argued against by the Association of Australian Football Clubs in their ‘NSD Final Report’ from 2022.
However, FPF understands that the model being launched in 2025 is not permanent; FA chose the current model for the inaugural season to balance sustainability, competition integrity, and commercial appeal. FA had informed the public after the confirmation of the eight foundation clubs in October 2023 that they were searching for a further “2-4 clubs” to fill out the inaugural season. This target was not achieved, and rumours have surfaced that aspiring Queensland clubs were threatened with expulsion from the Football Queensland pyramid if they joined the NST. FPF also understands that FA will cover clubs' travel costs for the first season of the NST.
"The National Second Tier represents a landmark moment for football in Australia. We are focused on ensuring the competition is launched on a strong and sustainable footing, providing a platform for clubs to showcase their talent while building deeper connections with fans across the country. By supporting clubs through financial and operational measures, we are laying the groundwork for what we hope will become an integral part of Australia’s football pyramid,” Football Australia CEO James Johnson said.
It seems that no one involved in the NST project is satisfied that the ‘Champions League’ model is the right one or that it is a permanent solution, only that it is a necessary detour on the path to the competition all parties want: a truly national second tier competition to sit between the A-Leagues and the NPL.
The AAFC's Final Report on the NST did prophetically include a 'Champions League' model, even if it was advised against.
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There are still a lot of unknowns surrounding the NST: will the group stages be conferenced? Where will the games be played, especially the Final? What criteria must be met to transition the tournament into a full home-and-away league? Of course, the public still eagerly awaits the launch of the competition's branding and identity as well, with trademark registration pointing towards “The Australian Championship”.
FA now have just under a year to sell this tournament to supporters, hopefully placating them with the allurement of the NST they expect sometime in the future. Much attention will be focused on the 2025 NPL seasons in anticipation of the first genuine, if not safe and stymied, attempt at a national second tier for Australian football.
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