With Football Australia’s National Second Tier men’s competition still expected to launch in some form next year, we felt it appropriate at Front Page Football to examine how the eight foundation clubs fared in their respective 2024 seasons.
Football Australia announced the eight foundation clubs for the National Second Tier in November last year. (Image: Football Australia/Brett Costello)
APIA Leichhardt
Former APIA Leichhardt player and current head coach Franco Parisi has continued to cement the club as a dominant force in New South Wales football. APIA breezed through the 2024 Australia Cup preliminary rounds, qualifying for the national tournament for the fifth time. Therefore, it was quite a surprise when the seasoned Sydneysiders were eliminated in the Round of 32 by NPL Queensland outfit Olympic FC: a frustrating scoreless draw at full-time gave way to an extra-time goal concession and a red card, sealing APIA’s fate.
The club fared better in Football NSW’s Waratah Cup, reaching the Final against Rockdale Ilinden. APIA made short and decisive work of this season’s NPL NSW premiers, departing Netstrata Jubilee Stadium with their sixth Waratah Cup and leaving Rockdale to pick up the pieces from a crushing 3-0 defeat.
APIA were less successful in the NPL NSW Finals Series, being eliminated in their first match by Sydney United. However, at the post-season FNSW Gala Awards, the club did have something to celebrate, with Anthony Bouzanis celebrated as the NPL NSW Goalkeeper of the Year.
In NST news, President Tony Raciti indicated in an interview with Soccerscene in July that his foundation club is comfortable with delaying the national competition’s launch by another year if it allows more time “to do it (the league) right”.
APIA Leichhardt lifting their sixth Waratah Cup. (Image: Harley Appezzato)
Avondale
The once little-known Italian heritage club from Melbourne’s northern suburbs, Avondale FC, is now no stranger to Australian football. The Avengers have made a name for themselves recently under head coach Zoran Markovski by becoming one of the strongest clubs in the NPL Victoria: last season, they did the double by clinching both the premiership and championship.
Avondale have previously qualified for the Australia Cup Final Rounds on three separate occasions, but they were not so fortunate in 2024, losing 3-1 in the final preliminary round to eventual giant killers Oakleigh Cannons. Markovski's side finished as runners-up in the NPL Victoria this season, six points behind South Melbourne. In the Finals Series, Avondale was dealt a crushing Semi-Final defeat at home, once again eliminated by Oakleigh, who ran out 3-0 winners.
A cloud of speculation and uncertainty hovers over Avondale concerning their current facilities: after departing their traditional home at Avondale Heights Reserve following the 2015 season, the club was homeless and bunked with both Melbourne Knights and Altona Magic through 2016, 2017, and most of 2018. At the tail end of the 2018 season, Avondale secured a home base at the Reggio-Calabria Club, the former ground of fellow Italians Essendon Royals. As it is officially known, Avenger Park remains the club’s home ground to this day. However, the facility does not meet Football Australia's minimum requirements for hosting Australia Cup games, raising concerns about where Avondale will host matches in the NST.
Numerous rumours have circulated since the club was announced as one of the eight foundation members, ranging from playing at Western United’s new Ironbark Fields facility while a new ground is constructed to merging with Brunswick Juventus. The club has not publicly commented on its facilities situation, and only time will reveal how the Avengers intend to operate in the NST.
Avenger Park, the home of Avondale FC. (Image: Avondale FC)
Marconi Stallions
The former National Soccer League powerhouse out of Sydney’s west, Marconi Stallions, was notable for first delivering a painful 9-0 defeat to eventual NPL NSW premiers Rockdale Ilinden in their Round 17 clash at Marconi Stadium, a season highlight for the Stallions. Marconi finished the league season as runners-up, seven points ahead of cross-town Italian rivals APIA Leichhardt, who had defeated the Stallions in the Australia Cup preliminaries to qualify for the Final Rounds. Finishing second meant Marconi qualified for the NPL NSW Finals Series, and they eventually progressed to the Grand Final against Rockdale.
The Stallions proved to be Rockdale's kryptonite in 2024 as both clubs developed a competitive rivalry. Marconi ran away with the decider at CommBank Stadium, stealing championship glory right out from under Ilinden. A 3-0 scoreline meant the Stallions claimed their fourth first-tier state championship and their first since 2012.
The Stallions’ efforts this season were recognised at the Gala Awards, with head coach Peter Tsekenis awarded the NPL NSW Coach of the Year. Assuming the NST's inaugural season will be in 2025, the veteran side out of Bossley Park will enter it in a strong position.
Four-time NSW state champions: Marconi Stallions. (Image: Harley Appezzato)
Preston Lions
Club stalwart Ljupče “Louie” Acevski claimed his third promotion with the Preston Lions this year since taking the top job in 2017: the former NSL side finishing their Victoria Premier League (VPL) 1 campaign as runners-up and securing their return to top-flight Victorian football for the first time in 15 years. The Lions’ squad picked up two awards at the post-season Victorian Football Gala: Connor Bell with the Best and Fairest and Bon Scott with Goalkeeper of the Year for the VPL 1.
It was a memorable journey in 2024, which included a massive Australia Cup preliminary rounds fixture against arch-rivals South Melbourne, which drew an official crowd attendance of 6,347. Preston’s high profile and ascension to the NPL Victoria have put some extra wind behind the club’s debut NST season.
The Lions are ambitious, unveiling their plan to construct a second grandstand at Genis Steel Stadium to accommodate the ever-growing matchday crowds. With the chance of a delay to 2026 for the NST, Preston could be very competitive in the NPL Victoria next year. Either way, a lot of eyes are locked on the northern Melbourne club in anticipation of what they will do next.
South Melbourne
Former NSL juggernaut South Melbourne was named the NPL Victoria premiers in 2024. The club finished six points clear of last year’s premiers and fellow NST foundation club Avondale.
The previously mentioned Australia Cup preliminary round match against Preston preceded the less electric game against St Albans Saints that saw South Melbourne qualify for their fourth appearance in the Final Rounds. South confidently dispatched A-League Men outfit Wellington Phoenix in the Round of 32, and then faced and overcame NPL Queensland side Olympic FC in the Round of 16. Drawn against fellow NPL Victoria side Hume City in the quarter-finals, South Melbourne made short work of the Westmeadows club and secured their spot in the Semi-Finals against 2022 Australia Cup champions Macarthur. It was a gruelling back-and-forth between South and Macarthur, the match ultimately being decided by a late penalty scored by Valère Germain, ending South Melbourne’s second close encounter with an Australia Cup Final appearance.
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Alongside their national Australia Cup campaign, South Melbourne was also engaged in the NPL Victoria Finals Series. Reaching the Grand Final, South was again pitted against rivals Oakleigh Cannons, whom they had lost to in the 2022 decider. Unfortunately, 2024 would mark South Melbourne’s third straight Grand Final loss, as the storied club of Greek heritage failed to overcome their intercommunal challengers. However, the Victorian premiers did overcome Oakleigh on penalties to secure their ninth Dockerty Cup in August.
In terms of post-season awards, now former club captain Harry Sawyer shared the Golden Boot with Oakleigh’s Alex Salmon, with both players netting 16 goals this season. The club accrued a further three accolades on the night: Goalkeeper of the Year (Javier Lopez), Coach of the Year (Esteban Quintas), and Goal of the Year (Mario Barcia).
Sydney Olympic
It was another underwhelming season for Sydney Olympic in 2024, as the Canterbury-Bankstown club struggled by finishing eighth on the NPL NSW table. Despite a lukewarm season that also saw them fail to qualify for the Australia Cup Final Rounds, Olympic's star striker and captain Roy O’Donovan did impress. At 39 years of age, O'Donovan found the back of the net 20 times in the league this year, ultimately losing out on the Golden Boot to Rockdale's Alec Urosevski.
Unfortunately, O’Donovan will not be following Sydney Olympic into their inaugural NST season. The former A-Leagues striker and Republic of Ireland youth international recently completed a move to NPL Northern NSW side Newcastle Olympic.
Sydney United
2024 saw Sydney United emerge from mid-table obscurity to finish amongst the best in the NPL NSW once again: sixth place was enough to ensure United a shot at the championship in the Finals Series. The improved position in the league seemingly came at the cost of another historic Australia Cup run, the club fumbling at the final hurdle in the preliminaries after losing out to North West Sydney Spirit.
Sydney United did waltz past APIA Leichhardt in their NPL NSW Elimination Final to face rivals Rockdale in the semis. However, the premiers proved too much, and United were dealt a humbling 3-1 loss, ending their 2024 season.
The club also announced last week that Zeljko Kalac departed. They will now appoint a new head coach in preparation for the 2025 season and one who might lead them into their inaugural NST campaign.
Wollongong Wolves
Déjà vu struck Wollongong Wolves this season as the Wolves repeated their league standing from 2023: seventh place and just missing out on the NPL NSW Finals Series. It was a largely unremarkable year for the NST’s only regional foundation club, as they now focus on preparing for the new national league.
Like Sydney United, one of Wollongong's critical off-season plans is appointing a new head coach after they announced the departure of former Socceroo David Carney from the role.
In other club-related news, legend Lou Tobia was honoured by Football NSW this year, receiving the Charles Valentine Medal at the post-season Gala Awards for his four decades of commitment to the Wolves.
At the time of publishing, it is still uncertain whether the National Second Tier will launch in its originally intended format in 2025. Persistent murmurs point toward Football Australia wishing to employ a post-NPL season 'Champions League' style format, while the clubs rebut with the home-and-away structure that was initially agreed to by all parties.
Whatever form the league takes, either next year or in 2026, most of the foundation clubs will enter the NST confident that they can be competitive on the pitch.
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