Fans may be forgiven for forgetting that the National Second Division was in fact originally scheduled to kick off this year, however after an extensive application process Football Australia decided to delay the competition by a year to better prepare it operationally.
The FA is currently in the midst of another application process with the intention of adding up to four more clubs to the 2025 competition, but surprisingly has managed to contain the rumour mill and starved fans of news in recent months.
TBG thought it would be a bit of fun to check in on the founding member clubs through in our ‘National Second Division Fantasy League’. Which clubs are proving their national credentials, which clubs are taking the year off before the big dance?
National Second Division Fantasy League
Our eight team competition aggregates the performances of the foundation NSD clubs and surprisingly a pretty clear picture is emerging.
Generally NSD clubs are dominating their current competitions with 1st and 2nd place across Victoria and NSW taken up by these teams.
The Victorian Teams
South Melbourne and Avondale were Grand Finalists in last year’s NPLVIC, and are backing this up again with strong performances this year.
South Melbourne are dominating the league and appear to have much of their NSD squad in place. Despite early criticism of low scoring dour football, the club has been clinical in recent times with large scoring games against Altona and Manningham.
Except for a slip up against Manningham themselves, Avondale have been excellent this year on the pitch. One continued concern is that off the pitch they are struggling with their home ground, and even had to relocate their home match against the Melbourne Knights due to issues with their temporary stand.
Preston meanwhile have no such issues off the pitch and continue to draw large crowds to their matches. However, the Lions are struggling in the VPL1 and finding themselves in the midtable, a significant squad overhaul is to be expected ahead of their NSD participation.
The New South Wales Teams
In New South Wales Wollongong and Marconi are having dominant seasons, sitting on top of the table and looking to have created strong foundations for their NSD participation.
Sydney United and APIA are posting decent seasons in the mid table. All these four former NSL clubs have much of the infrastructure in place for a return to the national league, however APIA is taking the initiative to have hosted fan forums in the local community with a view of maximising community support ahead of 2025.
Sydney Olympic unfortunately have struggled early in the season and find themselves near the bottom of the table. A red card incident with former Bundesliga player George Timotheou has not helped morale at the club.
Sydney Olympic though did offer an early taste of NSD action with a preseason match against South Melbourne bringing around 3,000 people through the gates. Hopefully their on-field performances can improve!
The Rumour Mill
Unfortunately the rumours are fewer and further between. Brisbane United has pulled out of the application process after Brisbane Strikers left the entity, taking their home ground access with them.
South Hobart has put an ambitious pitch together which was followed by a strange communication from Football Tasmania. It appears the governing body does not support government funding for the club which it sees as potentially dilutive to their own funding pitches.
Adelaide City secured a big sponsor in Chemist warehouse but there is no indication the South Australian club has renewed their interest in the competition.
Unfortunately in Queensland, it appears Football Queensland have made good on their threats and expelled Sunshine Coast Fire from competitions. It’s not the only wackiness happening up north.
Not only has the Perry Park lobbying effort seemingly been opposed by the Brisbane Strikers (and their alleged property development minded backers) but news has broken of up to $4b being used to build a 50,000 seat oval stadium for the AFL and Olympics! Madness!
The Beautiful Game 