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2025 Australian Championship

First edition of the Australian Championship From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2025 Australian Championship was the first edition of the Australian Championship, a national second-tier competition of soccer in Australia, held after the finish of the third-tier 2025 National Premier Leagues season.[1] The tournament consisted of six home-and-away matches in four groups for teams in the group stage, culminating in a knockout finals series, running from 10 October and concluding on 6 December.[2][3]

Season2025
Dates10 October – 6 December
ChampionsSouth Melbourne (1st title)
Matches55
Quick facts Season, Dates ...
Australian Championship
Season2025
Dates10 October – 6 December
ChampionsSouth Melbourne (1st title)
Matches55
Goals177 (3.22 per match)
Top goalscorerAli Auglah (6 goals)
Biggest home winHeidelberg United 6–1 South Hobart (26 Oct)
Biggest away winWollongong Wolves 0–3 Heidelberg United (18 Oct)
Highest attendance6,825 (South Melbourne v Sydney Olympic; 10 Oct)
Lowest attendance534 (Bayswater City v North Eastern MetroStars; 19 Oct)
2026 →
All statistics correct as of 2 November 2025.
Close

South Melbourne became the inaugural champions after defeating Marconi Stallions in the final.[4]

Teams

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Maps: terms of use
30km
19miles
Wollongong Wolves FC
Wollongong Wolves FC
APIA Leichhardt FC
APIA Leichhardt FC
Sydney United 58 FC
Sydney United 58 FC
North West Sydney Spirit FC
North West Sydney Spirit FC
Marconi Stallions FC
Marconi Stallions FC
Sydney Olympic FC
Sydney Olympic FC
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
7km
4.3miles
South Melbourne FC
South Melbourne FC
Heidelberg United FC
Heidelberg United FC
Preston Lions FC
Preston Lions FC
Avondale FC
Avondale FC
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
900km
559miles
South Hobart FC
South Hobart FC
North Eastern MetroStars SC
North Eastern MetroStars SC
Moreton City Excelsior FC
Moreton City Excelsior FC
Canberra Croatia FC
Canberra Croatia FC
Broadmeadow Magic                                     
Broadmeadow Magic FC
Broadmeadow Magic FC
                           Bayswater City
Bayswater City SC
Bayswater City SC
Locations of clubs in Sydney and Wollongong (top), Melbourne (middle), and the rest of Australia (bottom).
● Foundation clubs, ● NPL qualifiers

Sixteen clubs participated in the inaugural edition. Eight clubs gained automatic qualification as the competition's "foundation clubs": Avondale FC, Marconi Stallions, Preston Lions, South Melbourne, Sydney Olympic, Sydney United 58, Wests APIA, and Wollongong Wolves.[5][6]

The other eight qualified via the 2025 National Premier Leagues Men's, seven as premiers of their respective leagues. The 2025 NPL Victoria premiers, Avondale FC, had already qualified as a foundation club, so their berth went to the league's second-placed team Heidelberg United.[7][8]

More information Qualified via, Team ...
Qualified via Team City Home ground Cap.
Foundation clubAvondale FC MelbourneAvenger Park2,500
Marconi Stallions SydneyMarconi Stadium9,000
Preston Lions MelbourneB.T. Connor Reserve9,000
South Melbourne MelbourneLakeside Stadium12,000
Sydney Olympic SydneyJubilee Stadium20,500
Sydney United 58 SydneySydney United Sports Centre12,000
Wests APIA SydneyLeichhardt Oval20,000
Wollongong Wolves WollongongCollegians Sports Centre5,000
NPL WABayswater City PerthFrank Drago Reserve3,000
NPL Northern NSWBroadmeadow Magic NewcastleMagic Park3,500
NPL CapitalCanberra Croatia CanberraDeakin Stadium1,500
NPL Victoria[a]Heidelberg United MelbourneOlympic Park12,000
NPL QueenslandMoreton City Excelsior BrisbanePerry Park5,000
NPL SANorth Eastern MetroStars AdelaideT.K. Shutter Reserve2,000
NPL NSWNWS Spirit SydneyChristie Park1,500
NPL TasmaniaSouth Hobart HobartD'Arcy Street1,500
Close
  1. [a]
    Qualified as second-place; Premier Avondale FC had already qualified as foundation club

Group stage

The draw for the group stage was conducted on 1 May.[2] Four of the foundation clubs (APIA Leichhardt, Avondale, Marconi Stallions and South Melbourne) were seeded into Position 1 of each group.[9]

The group stage was played from 10 October to 16 November.[10][11]

All times listed are local time.

Group A

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SMB MCE SOL BMM
1 South Melbourne 6 5 1 0 13 6 +7 16 Finals series — 2–0 3–2 2–0
2 Moreton City Excelsior 6 2 2 2 15 13 +2 8 3–3 — 1–2 5–1
3 Sydney Olympic 6 2 1 3 14 14 0 7 1–2 3–3 — 2–3
4 Broadmeadow Magic 6 1 0 5 8 17 −9 3 0–1 2–3 2–4 —
Close
Source: Football Australia
10 October 1 South Melbourne 3–2 Sydney Olympic Melbourne
19:00 (AEDT)
  • Uchida 45+1'
  • Lavale 51'
  • Lampard 87'
 Source
Stadium: Lakeside Stadium
Attendance: 6,825[12]
Referee: Sam Kelly
12 October 1 Broadmeadow Magic 2–3 Moreton City Excelsior Newcastle
13:00 (AEDT)
  • Baker 41'
  • Nancarrow 79'
 Source
  • Scott 12', 59'
  • Murai 90+8' (pen.)
 Stadium: Magic Park
Attendance: 1,175[13]
Referee: Eric Saba
19 October 2 Sydney Olympic 2–3 Broadmeadow Magic Sydney
13:00 (AEDT)
Source
  • Baker 18'
  • Palombini 64'
  • Cocks 86'
 Stadium: Jubilee Stadium
Attendance: 1,371[14]
Referee: Eric Saba
19 October 2 South Melbourne 2–0 Moreton City Excelsior Melbourne
16:30 (AEDT)
Source Stadium: Lakeside Stadium
Attendance: 3,395[15]
Referee: Jack Morgan
26 October 3 Broadmeadow Magic 0–1 South Melbourne Newcastle
13:00 (AEDT) Source
  • Uchida 39'
 Stadium: Magic Park
Attendance: 539[16]
Referee: Joshua Attard
26 October 3 Moreton City Excelsior 1–2 Sydney Olympic Brisbane
12:00 (AEST)
  • Jankovic 88'
 Source
Stadium: Perry Park
Attendance: 1,048[17]
Referee: Zac Keenan
1 November 4 Sydney Olympic 1–2 South Melbourne Sydney
15:15 (AEDT)
Source
  • Lampard 83'
  • Habib 90+3'
 Stadium: Jubilee Stadium
Attendance: 1,401[18]
Referee: Jack Morgan
2 November 4 Moreton City Excelsior 5–1 Broadmeadow Magic Brisbane
12:00 (AEST)
  • Pengelly 81', 89'
  • Scott 15'
  • Kojima 17'
  • Murai 56'
 Source
  • Baker 4'
 Stadium: Perry Park
Attendance: 380[19]
Referee: Tom Fell
8 November 5 Sydney Olympic 3–3 Moreton City Excelsior Sydney
13:00 (AEDT)
Source
  • Scott 45'
  • Murai 80' (pen.)
  • Jankovic 90+7'
 Stadium: Jubilee Oval
Referee: Jock Quartermain
8 November 5 South Melbourne 2–0 Broadmeadow Magic Melbourne
15:15 (AEDT)
Source Stadium: Lakeside Stadium
Referee: Eric Saba
14 November 6 Moreton City Excelsior 3–3 South Melbourne Brisbane
18:35 (AEST)
  • Kojima 14'
  • Smith 20'
  • Jankovic 75'
 Source
  • Lavale 4'
  • Bonada 12'
  • Leech 53'
 Stadium: Perry Park
Referee: Zac Keenan
16 November 6 Broadmeadow Magic 2–4 Sydney Olympic Newcastle
13:00 (AEDT)
  • Cresnar 41'
  • Gage-Raftery 66'
 Source
Stadium: Magic Park
Referee: Calvin Berg

Group B

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HEI MAR WOL SHO
1 Heidelberg United 6 3 3 0 15 6 +9 12 Finals series — 1–0 2–2 6–1
2 Marconi Stallions 6 3 1 2 10 7 +3 10 1–1 — 3–0 4–0
3 Wollongong Wolves 6 3 1 2 13 11 +2 10 0–3 5–0 — 3–2
4 South Hobart 6 0 1 5 6 20 −14 1 2–2 0–2 1–3 —
Close
Source: Football Australia
12 October 1 Heidelberg United 1–0 Marconi Stallions Melbourne
13:00 (AEDT)
  • Theodoropoulos 57'
 Source Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 2,114[20]
Referee: Declan Woods
12 October 1 South Hobart 1–3 Wollongong Wolves Hobart
13:00 (AEDT)
  • Yost 41'
 Source
  • Masciovecchio 30'
  • Yamamura 64'
  • James 90+3'
 Stadium: D'Arcy Street
Attendance: 1,348[21]
Referee: Daniel Cook
18 October 2 Marconi Stallions 4–0 South Hobart Sydney
13:00 (AEDT)
Source Stadium: Marconi Stadium
Attendance: 2,107[22]
Referee: Brodie Merchant
18 October 2 Wollongong Wolves 0–3 Heidelberg United Wollongong
15:00 (AEDT) Source
Stadium: Collegians Sports Centre
Attendance: 3,077[23]
Referee: Declan Woods
25 October 3 Marconi Stallions 3–0 Wollongong Wolves Sydney
13:00 (AEDT)
  • Akio 14'
  • Maya 45+4' (pen.)
  • Anderson 67'
 Source Stadium: Marconi Stadium
Attendance: 1,239[24]
Referee: Declan Woods
26 October 3 Heidelberg United 6–1 South Hobart Melbourne
13:00 (AEDT)
Source
  • Wright 88'
 Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 778[25]
Referee: Tom Fell
31 October 4 Marconi Stallions 1–1 Heidelberg United Sydney
20:35 (AEDT)
Source
  • Humbert 71'
 Stadium: Marconi Stadium
Attendance: 1,718[26]
Referee: Jake Rose
2 November 4 Wollongong Wolves 3–2 South Hobart Wollongong
13:00 (AEDT)
Source
  • Morton 20'
  • Oates 45+3'
 Stadium: Collegians Sports Centre
Attendance: 1,320[27]
Referee: Matt Staples
9 November 5 South Hobart 0–2 Marconi Stallions Hobart
13:00 (AEDT) Source
Stadium: D'Arcy Street
Attendance: 929[28]
Referee: Brenton Kopra
9 November 5 Heidelberg United 2–2 Wollongong Wolves Melbourne
13:00 (AEDT)
  • Humbert 10'
  • McGowan 73'
 Source
  • Masciovecchio 3'
  • Scott 60'
 Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 420[29]
Referee: Daniel Cook
15 November 6 Wollongong Wolves 5–0 Marconi Stallions Wollongong
15:15 (AEDT)
Source Stadium: Collegians Sports Centre
Referee: Eric Saba
16 November 6 South Hobart 2–2 Heidelberg United Hobart
13:00 (AEDT)
  • Maddock 24'
  • Morton 64'
 Source
  • Apostolopoulos 50'
  • Dau 54'
 Stadium: D'Arcy Street
Referee: Noah Moss

Group C

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AVO NWS PRE CCR
1 Avondale FC 6 3 3 0 12 6 +6 12 Finals series — 1–0 1–1 3–1
2 NWS Spirit 6 2 2 2 8 9 −1 8 3–3 — 1–3 2–1
3 Preston Lions 6 1 4 1 7 6 +1 7 0–0 1–1 — 0–0
4 Canberra Croatia 6 1 1 4 6 12 −6 4 1–4 0–1 3–2 —
Close
Source: Football Australia
11 October 1 Preston Lions 1–1 NWS Spirit Melbourne
15:00 (AEDT)
Source
  • Jackson-Brown 90+3'
 Stadium: Genis Steel Stadium
Attendance: 4,241[30]
Referee: Jock Quartermain
12 October 1 Avondale FC 3–1 Canberra Croatia Melbourne
16:30 (AEDT)
Source
  • Yoshida 73'
 Stadium: Avenger Park
Attendance: 1,731[31]
Referee: Jack Morgan
19 October 2 Canberra Croatia 3–2 Preston Lions Canberra
13:00 (AEDT)
  • Colbertaldo 43'
  • Green 57', 76'
 Source
Stadium: Deakin Stadium
Attendance: 1,650[32]
Referee: Tom Dale
19 October 2 NWS Spirit 3–3 Avondale FC Sydney
16:30 (AEDT)
  • Konestabo 52'
  • Kyra 61', 83'
 Source
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 779[33]
Referee: Jock Quartermain
24 October 3 Preston Lions 0–0 Avondale FC Melbourne
19:35 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Genis Steel Stadium
Attendance: 5,301[34]
Referee: Eric Saba
26 October 3 NWS Spirit 2–1 Canberra Croatia Sydney
16:30 (AEDT)
  • Konestabo 12'
  • Kyra 66'
 Source
  • Whitehead 3'
 Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 557[35]
Referee: Jake Rose
1 November 4 Canberra Croatia 1–4 Avondale FC Canberra
13:00 (AEDT)
  • Vucetic 86'
 Source
Stadium: Deakin Stadium
Attendance: 731[36]
Referee: Brodie Merchant
2 November 4 NWS Spirit 1–3 Preston Lions Sydney
16:30 (AEDT)
  • Nicholas 90+2'
 Source
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 834[37]
Referee: Declan Woods
9 November 5 Preston Lions 0–0 Canberra Croatia Melbourne
13:00 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Genis Steel Stadium
Attendance: 4,111[38]
Referee: Brodie Merchant
9 November 5 Avondale FC 1–0 NWS Spirit Melbourne
16:30 (AEDT)
Source Stadium: Avenger Park
Attendance: 545[39]
Referee: Jack Morgan
15 November 6 Avondale FC 1–1 Preston Lions Melbourne
13:00 (AEDT)
  • Carpenter 50'
 Source
Stadium: Avenger Park
Referee: Declan Woods
16 November 6 Canberra Croatia 0–1 NWS Spirit Canberra
13:30 (AEDT) Source
  • Jackson-Brown 25'
 Stadium: Deakin Stadium
Referee: Brooklyn Faucett

Group D

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification APL MET BWC SUD
1 Wests APIA 6 4 1 1 12 4 +8 13 Finals series — 1–1 4–1 4–0
2 North Eastern MetroStars 6 3 1 2 7 4 +3 10 0–1 — 2–0 2–0
3 Bayswater City 6 3 1 2 7 9 −2 10 1–0 1–0 — 3–2
4 Sydney United 58 6 0 1 5 5 14 −9 1 1–2 1–2 1–1 —
Close
Source: Football Australia
11 October 1 North Eastern MetroStars 0–1 Wests APIA Adelaide
12:30 (ACDT) Source
  • Segreto 58'
 Stadium: T.K. Shutter Reserve
Attendance: 1,136[40]
Referee: Tom Brinkworth
12 October 1 Sydney United 58 1–1 Bayswater City Sydney
16:30 (AEDT)
  • De Oliveira 71' (pen.)
 Source
  • Stephens 90+4'
 Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre
Attendance: 953[41]
Referee: Jake Rose
17 October 2 Wests APIA 4–0 Sydney United 58 Sydney
19:30 AEDT
  • Ortiz 28'
  • Kelly 34'
  • Symons 45+2'
  • Costanzo 81' (pen.)
 Source Stadium: Leichhardt Oval
Attendance: 4,263[42]
Referee: Daniel Cook
19 October 2 Bayswater City 1–0 North Eastern MetroStars Perth
13:30 (AWST)
  • Davies 54'
 Source Stadium: Frank Drago Reserve
Attendance: 534[43]
Referee: Liam Barclay
25 October 3 Sydney United 58 1–2 North Eastern MetroStars Sydney
15:15 (AEDT)
  • Krslovic 7'
 Source
  • Cittadini 50'
  • Visser 56'
 Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre
Attendance: 318[44]
Referee: Brodie Merchant
26 October 3 Bayswater City 1–0 Wests APIA Perth
13:30 (AWST)
  • Loughrey 55'
 Source Stadium: Frank Drago Reserve
Attendance: 697[45]
Referee: Niall Gillmor
2 November 4 Wests APIA 1–1 North Eastern MetroStars Sydney
13:00 (AEDT)
  • Kelly 90+3'
 Source
  • Cittadini 36'
 Stadium: Leichhardt Oval
Attendance: 2,983[46]
Referee: Eric Saba
2 November 4 Bayswater City 3–2 Sydney United 58 Perth
13:30 (AWST)
  • Davies 25'
  • Jackson 30'
  • Palmateer 58'
 Source
Stadium: Frank Drago Reserve
Attendance: 790[47]
Referee: Daniel Cook
7 November 5 Sydney United 58 1–2 Wests APIA Sydney
19:35 (AEDT)
  • Krslovic 28'
 Source
  • Kambayashi 24'
  • Kelly 45'
 Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre
Attendance: 473[48]
Referee: Jack Powers
9 November 5 North Eastern MetroStars 2–0 Bayswater City Adelaide
16:00 (ACDT)
  • Walls 52'
  • Sotira 74'
 Source Stadium: T.K. Shutter Reserve
Attendance: 653[49]
Referee: Declan Woods
16 November 6 North Eastern MetroStars 2–0 Sydney United 58 Adelaide
12:30 (ACDT)
  • Cittadini 7'
  • Gow 86'
 Source Stadium: T.K. Shutter Reserve
Referee: Daniel Cook
16 November 6 Wests APIA 4–1 Bayswater City Sydney
16:30 (AEDT)
  • Farinella 16', 40'
  • Gonzalez 87'
  • Costanzo 90+5'
 Source
  • Edwards 65'
 Stadium: Leichhardt Oval
Attendance: 2,467
Referee: Jack Morgan

Finals series

The quarter-finals were played between 21 and 23 November at the home grounds of the group winners;[10] Football Australia selected the venues for the semi-finals and the final, citing the desire to "maximise national reach and deliver the best possible experience for players, fans and broadcast audiences".[50]

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
23 November
 
 
South Melbourne2
 
29 November
 
NWS Spirit0
 
South Melbourne1
 
22 November
 
Heidelberg United0
 
Heidelberg United6
 
6 December
 
North Eastern MetroStars1
 
South Melbourne2
 
21 November
 
Marconi Stallions0
 
Wests APIA1 (7)
 
29 November
 
Marconi Stallions (p)1 (8)
 
Marconi Stallions1
 
22 November
 
Moreton City Excelsior0
 
Avondale FC1
 
 
Moreton City Excelsior3
 

Quarter-finals

More information Wests APIA, 1–1 (a.e.t.) ...
Wests APIA1–1 (a.e.t.)Marconi Stallions
 Report
  • Busek 71'
Penalties
  • Symons football with red X
  • Kasalovic football with check mark
  • Gonzalez football with check mark
  • Kouta football with red X
  • Kelly football with check mark
  • Denmead football with check mark
  • Ucchino football with check mark
  • Kambayashi football with check mark
  • Caspers football with check mark
  • Kalac football with red X
 7–8
Close
Attendance: 2,467 [51]
Referee: Lachlan Keevers
More information Avondale FC, 1–3 ...
Avondale FC1–3Moreton City Excelsior
  • Hogan 80'
 Report
  • Kojima 59'
  • Murai 64', 67'
Close
Avenger Park, Melbourne
Attendance: 565
Referee: Eric Saba
More information Heidelberg United, 6–1 ...
Heidelberg United6–1North Eastern MetroStars
 Report
  • Visser 2'
Close
Olympic Park, Melbourne
Attendance: 604
Referee: Declan Woods
More information South Melbourne, 2–0 ...
South Melbourne2–0NWS Spirit
  • Lavale 34'
  • Mikkola 71'
 Report
Close
Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne
Attendance: 1,898
Referee: Jack Morgan

Semi-finals

More information Marconi Stallions, 1–0 ...
Marconi Stallions1–0Moreton City Excelsior
  • Busek 80'
 Report
Close
Attendance: 1,477[52]
Referee: Declan Woods
More information South Melbourne, 1–0 ...
South Melbourne1–0Heidelberg United
 Report
Close
Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne
Attendance: 4,048[53]
Referee: Tim Danaskos

Final

More information South Melbourne, 2–0 ...
South Melbourne2–0Marconi Stallions
 Report
Close
Attendance: 4,667[54]
Referee: Eric Saba

Top goalscorers

More information Rank, Player ...
RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Australia Ali AuglahSydney Olympic 6
2 South Sudan Manyluak AguekSouth Melbourne 5
Japan Seita MuraiMoreton City Excelsior
Australia Lachlan ScottWollongong Wolves
5 Australia Bruno FornaroliAvondale FC 4
Australia Marcus HumbertHeidelberg United
Australia Bul JuachHeidelberg United
Australia Joseph ScottMoreton City Excelsior
9 Australia Jarred BakerBroadmeadow Magic 3
Australia Michael CittadiniNorth Eastern MetroStars
New Zealand Ryan FeutzSydney Olympic
Canada Dredon KellyWests APIA
Japan Keitatsu KojimaMoreton City Excelsior
Australia Aedon KyraNWS Spirit
Australia Jordon LampardSouth Melbourne
Australia Oliver LavaleSouth Melbourne
United States Jason RomeroPreston Lions
Australia Damian TsekenisMarconi Stallions
Close

See also

References

Related Articles

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Top Qs

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