National Second Tier (NST) Foundation Clubs, South Melbourne FC and Sydney Olympic FC, have both responded to Football Australia’s (FA) recent announcement on the competition’s new format and start date.
According to a media release issued by FA on Thursday, October 31, the NST will kick-off in October 2025, showcasing the best of Australian club football in a contemporary and sustainable competition format.
The competition will feature a 16-team structure with group stages leading into an elimination Finals Series. The eight NST Foundation Clubs will automatically qualify, alongside eight invitational teams chosen from Member Federation NPL State Premiers.
The NST will be held annually from October to December, covering nine matchday rounds and concluding with a Championship Final in early December.
Numerous NST Foundation Clubs have voiced their concerns and opposition to this new ‘Champions League-style’ format, given they put significant financial resources into their bid to be involved in a new standalone competition.
In a statement on Facebook on Thursday following the FA’s announcement, South Melbourne FC said whilst it was disappointed the NST wasn’t “a standalone competition from the outset,” the club remains “hopeful that Football Australia will fulfil their commitment to ensuring this transition happens as soon as possible.”
South Melbourne FC President Nicholas Maikousis added, “This new platform provides an opportunity for our club to once again maintain a presence for all our stakeholders on the national level. We encourage our fans to continue backing us throughout the 2025 season, in the NPL, Australia Cup and the NST – the time to get behind us is now, with many exciting announcements to come.”
Sydney Olympic FC President Damon Hanlin echoed these sentiments and said whilst the announcement “may not align with the original vision we were presented at the beginning of this process, it represents a positive step forward.”
“[The announcement] lays the foundational building blocks for a brighter competition. It’s important for all football fans to come together in support of their clubs and the collective vision. Together, we can unite and help our sport reach its full potential,” Mr Hanlin added.
Chairman of the Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC), Nick Galatas, also issued a statement on behalf of the eight NST Foundation Clubs, and said they were “confident FA will identify and add the additional clubs in 2025 to establish the standalone NST home & away league competition for which the F8 signed up and which reflects the wishes of Australia’s football fans, clubs and players, while also being FA’s stated objective over an extended period.”
FA said it will provide further updates as the NST continues to evolve, noting it remains a key strategic objective to establish a standalone NST home & away league competition as soon as the minimum threshold is secured.
