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 second-tier 2025 National Premier Leagues season. 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.

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

Teams

Map
Map
Map
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.

The other eight qualified via the 2025 National Premier Leagues, seven as premiers: Bayswater City (WA), Broadmeadow Magic (Northern NSW), Canberra Croatia (ACT), Moreton City Excelsior (Queensland), North Eastern MetroStars (SA), NWS Spirit (NSW), and South Hobart (Tasmania). 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.

List of 2025 Australian Championship clubs
TeamCityHome groundCap.
Avondale FC ‡MelbourneAvenger Park2,500
Bayswater CityPerthFrank Drago Reserve3,000
Broadmeadow MagicNewcastleMagic Park3,500
Canberra CroatiaCanberraDeakin Stadium1,500
Heidelberg UnitedMelbourneOlympic Park12,000
Marconi Stallions ‡SydneyMarconi Stadium9,000
Moreton City ExcelsiorBrisbanePerry Park5,000
North Eastern MetroStarsAdelaideT.K. Shutter Reserve2,000
NWS SpiritSydneyChristie Park1,500
Preston Lions ‡MelbourneB.T. Connor Reserve9,000
South HobartHobartD'Arcy Street1,500
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
‡Qualified as a foundation club
Qualified via the NPL

Group stage

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

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

All times listed are local time.

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationSMBMCESOLBMM
1South Melbourne6510136+716Finals series—2–03–22–0
2Moreton City Excelsior62221513+283–3—1–25–1
3Sydney Olympic62131414071–23–3—2–3
4Broadmeadow Magic6105817−930–12–32–4—
10 October 1South Melbourne3–2Sydney OlympicMelbourne
19:00 (AEDT)Uchida 45+1' Lavale 51' Lampard 87'Auglah 13' Feutz 85'Stadium: Lakeside Stadium Attendance: 6,825 Referee: Sam Kelly
12 October 1Broadmeadow Magic2–3Moreton City ExcelsiorNewcastle
13:00 (AEDT)Baker 41' Nancarrow 79'Scott 12', 59' Murai 90+8' (pen.)Stadium: Magic Park Attendance: 1,175 Referee: Eric Saba
19 October 2Sydney Olympic2–3Broadmeadow MagicSydney
13:00 (AEDT)Amanda 78' Auglah 88'Baker 18' Palombini 64' Cocks 86'Stadium: Jubilee Stadium Attendance: 1,371 Referee: Eric Saba
19 October 2South Melbourne2–0Moreton City ExcelsiorMelbourne
16:30 (AEDT)Aguek 46', 87'Stadium: Lakeside Stadium Attendance: 3,395 Referee: Jack Morgan
26 October 3Broadmeadow Magic0–1South MelbourneNewcastle
13:00 (AEDT)Uchida 39'Stadium: Magic Park Attendance: 539 Referee: Joshua Attard
26 October 3Moreton City Excelsior1–2Sydney OlympicBrisbane
12:00 (AEST)Jankovic 88'Auglah 8' Vakis 84'Stadium: Perry Park Attendance: 1,048 Referee: Zac Keenan
1 November 4Sydney Olympic1–2South MelbourneSydney
15:15 (AEDT)Auglah 31'Lampard 83' Habib 90+3'Stadium: Jubilee Stadium Attendance: 1,401 Referee: Jack Morgan
2 November 4Moreton City Excelsior5–1Broadmeadow MagicBrisbane
12:00 (AEST)Pengelly 81', 89' Scott 15' Kojima 17' Murai 56'Baker 4'Stadium: Perry Park Attendance: 380 Referee: Tom Fell
8 November 5Sydney Olympic3–3Moreton City ExcelsiorSydney
13:00 (AEDT)Amanda 4' Auglah 36' Parkhouse 64'Scott 45' Murai 80' (pen.) Jankovic 90+7'Stadium: Jubilee Oval Referee: Jock Quartermain
8 November 5South Melbourne2–0Broadmeadow MagicMelbourne
15:15 (AEDT)Aguek 29' Lampard 56'Stadium: Lakeside Stadium Referee: Eric Saba
14 November 6Moreton City Excelsior3–3South MelbourneBrisbane
18:35 (AEST)Kojima 14' Smith 20' Jankovic 75'Lavale 4' Bonada 12' Leech 53'Stadium: Perry Park Referee: Zac Keenan
16 November 6Broadmeadow Magic2–4Sydney OlympicNewcastle
13:00 (AEDT)Cresnar 41' Gage-Raftery 66'Feutz 5', 12' Auglah 62' Parkhouse 67'Stadium: Magic Park Referee: Calvin Berg

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationHEIMARWOLSHO
1Heidelberg United6330156+912Finals series—1–02–26–1
2Marconi Stallions6312107+3101–1—3–04–0
3Wollongong Wolves63121311+2100–35–0—3–2
4South Hobart6015620−1412–20–21–3—
12 October 1Heidelberg United1–0Marconi StallionsMelbourne
13:00 (AEDT)Theodoropoulos 57'Stadium: Olympic Park Attendance: 2,114 Referee: Declan Woods
12 October 1South Hobart1–3Wollongong WolvesHobart
13:00 (AEDT)Yost 41'Masciovecchio 30' Yamamura 64' James 90+3'Stadium: D'Arcy Street Attendance: 1,348 Referee: Daniel Cook
18 October 2Marconi Stallions4–0South HobartSydney
13:00 (AEDT)Tsekenis 19', 47', 62' Bayliss 73'Stadium: Marconi Stadium Attendance: 2,107 Referee: Brodie Merchant
18 October 2Wollongong Wolves0–3Heidelberg UnitedWollongong
15:00 (AEDT)Ali 17' Lesiotis 49' Taylor 85'Stadium: Collegians Sports Centre Attendance: 3,077 Referee: Declan Woods
25 October 3Marconi Stallions3–0Wollongong WolvesSydney
13:00 (AEDT)Akio 14' Maya 45+4' (pen.) Anderson 67'Stadium: Marconi Stadium Attendance: 1,239 Referee: Declan Woods
26 October 3Heidelberg United6–1South HobartMelbourne
13:00 (AEDT)Juach 11', 28' Bramwell 32', 39' Taylor 4' Fulton 45+3'Wright 88'Stadium: Olympic Park Attendance: 778 Referee: Tom Fell
31 October 4Marconi Stallions1–1Heidelberg UnitedSydney
20:35 (AEDT)Van Der Saag 65'Humbert 71'Stadium: Marconi Stadium Attendance: 1,718 Referee: Jake Rose
2 November 4Wollongong Wolves3–2South HobartWollongong
13:00 (AEDT)Scott 19', 74' Madden 2'Morton 20' Oates 45+3'Stadium: Collegians Sports Centre Attendance: 1,320 Referee: Matt Staples
9 November 5South Hobart0–2Marconi StallionsHobart
13:00 (AEDT)Mlinaric 10' Busek 73'Stadium: D'Arcy Street Attendance: 929 Referee: Brenton Kopra
9 November 5Heidelberg United2–2Wollongong WolvesMelbourne
13:00 (AEDT)Humbert 10' McGowan 73'Masciovecchio 3' Scott 60'Stadium: Olympic Park Attendance: 420 Referee: Daniel Cook
15 November 6Wollongong Wolves5–0Marconi StallionsWollongong
15:15 (AEDT)Scott 12', 74' Olsen 45+3' Hernandez 48' Russell 85'Stadium: Collegians Sports Centre Referee: Eric Saba
16 November 6South Hobart2–2Heidelberg UnitedHobart
13:00 (AEDT)Maddock 24' Morton 64'Apostolopoulos 50' Dau 54'Stadium: D'Arcy Street Referee: Noah Moss

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationAVONWSPRECCR
1Avondale FC6330126+612Finals series—1–01–13–1
2NWS Spirit622289−183–3—1–32–1
3Preston Lions614176+170–01–1—0–0
4Canberra Croatia6114612−641–40–13–2—
11 October 1Preston Lions1–1NWS SpiritMelbourne
15:00 (AEDT)Romero 38'Jackson-Brown 90+3'Stadium: Genis Steel Stadium Attendance: 4,241 Referee: Jock Quartermain
12 October 1Avondale FC3–1Canberra CroatiaMelbourne
16:30 (AEDT)Fornaroli 59' Ott 70' Cianci 90+4'Yoshida 73'Stadium: Avenger Park Attendance: 1,731 Referee: Jack Morgan
19 October 2Canberra Croatia3–2Preston LionsCanberra
13:00 (AEDT)Colbertaldo 43' Green 57', 76'Bayew 36' Kubilay 45+4'Stadium: Deakin Stadium Attendance: 1,650 Referee: Tom Dale
19 October 2NWS Spirit3–3Avondale FCSydney
16:30 (AEDT)Konestabo 52' Kyra 61', 83'Fornaroli 45+2' (pen.) Trajceski 47' Abdallah 90+7'Stadium: Christie Park Attendance: 779 Referee: Jock Quartermain
24 October 3Preston Lions0–0Avondale FCMelbourne
19:35 (AEDT)Stadium: Genis Steel Stadium Attendance: 5,301 Referee: Eric Saba
26 October 3NWS Spirit2–1Canberra CroatiaSydney
16:30 (AEDT)Konestabo 12' Kyra 66'Whitehead 3'Stadium: Christie Park Attendance: 557 Referee: Jake Rose
1 November 4Canberra Croatia1–4Avondale FCCanberra
13:00 (AEDT)Vucetic 86'Fornaroli 30' Tavere 33' Cuba 51', 53'Stadium: Deakin Stadium Attendance: 731 Referee: Brodie Merchant
2 November 4NWS Spirit1–3Preston LionsSydney
16:30 (AEDT)Nicholas 90+2'Romero 18', 33' Lauton 88'Stadium: Christie Park Attendance: 834 Referee: Declan Woods
9 November 5Preston Lions0–0Canberra CroatiaMelbourne
13:00 (AEDT)Stadium: Genis Steel Stadium Attendance: 4,111 Referee: Brodie Merchant
9 November 5Avondale FC1–0NWS SpiritMelbourne
16:30 (AEDT)Fornaroli 45+1'Stadium: Avenger Park Attendance: 545 Referee: Jack Morgan
15 November 6Avondale FC1–1Preston LionsMelbourne
13:00 (AEDT)Carpenter 50'Markovski 65'Stadium: Avenger Park Referee: Declan Woods
16 November 6Canberra Croatia0–1NWS SpiritCanberra
13:30 (AEDT)Jackson-Brown 25'Stadium: Deakin Stadium Referee: Brooklyn Faucett

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationAPLMETBWCSUD
1Wests APIA6411124+813Finals series—1–14–14–0
2North Eastern MetroStars631274+3100–1—2–02–0
3Bayswater City631279−2101–01–0—3–2
4Sydney United 586015514−911–21–21–1—
11 October 1North Eastern MetroStars0–1Wests APIAAdelaide
12:30 (ACDT)Segreto 58'Stadium: T.K. Shutter Reserve Attendance: 1,136 Referee: Tom Brinkworth
12 October 1Sydney United 581–1Bayswater CitySydney
16:30 (AEDT)De Oliveira 71' (pen.)Stephens 90+4'Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 953 Referee: Jake Rose
17 October 2Wests APIA4–0Sydney United 58Sydney
19:30 AEDTOrtiz 28' Kelly 34' Symons 45+2' Costanzo 81' (pen.)Stadium: Leichhardt Oval Attendance: 4,263 Referee: Daniel Cook
19 October 2Bayswater City1–0North Eastern MetroStarsPerth
13:30 (AWST)Davies 54'Stadium: Frank Drago Reserve Attendance: 534 Referee: Liam Barclay
25 October 3Sydney United 581–2North Eastern MetroStarsSydney
15:15 (AEDT)Krslovic 7'Cittadini 50' Visser 56'Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 318 Referee: Brodie Merchant
26 October 3Bayswater City1–0Wests APIAPerth
13:30 (AWST)Loughrey 55'Stadium: Frank Drago Reserve Attendance: 697 Referee: Niall Gillmor
2 November 4Wests APIA1–1North Eastern MetroStarsSydney
13:00 (AEDT)Kelly 90+3'Cittadini 36'Stadium: Leichhardt Oval Attendance: 2,983 Referee: Eric Saba
2 November 4Bayswater City3–2Sydney United 58Perth
13:30 (AWST)Davies 25' Jackson 30' Palmateer 58'Cimenti 60' Milicevic 65'Stadium: Frank Drago Reserve Attendance: 790 Referee: Daniel Cook
7 November 5Sydney United 581–2Wests APIASydney
19:35 (AEDT)Krslovic 28'Kambayashi 24' Kelly 45'Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 473 Referee: Jack Powers
9 November 5North Eastern MetroStars2–0Bayswater CityAdelaide
16:00 (ACDT)Walls 52' Sotira 74'Stadium: T.K. Shutter Reserve Attendance: 653 Referee: Declan Woods
16 November 6North Eastern MetroStars2–0Sydney United 58Adelaide
12:30 (ACDT)Cittadini 7' Gow 86'Stadium: T.K. Shutter Reserve Referee: Daniel Cook
16 November 6Wests APIA4–1Bayswater CitySydney
16:30 (AEDT)Farinella 16', 40' Gonzalez 87' Costanzo 90+5'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; 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".

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

Wests APIA1–1 (a.e.t.)Marconi Stallions
Gonzalez 90+8'Busek 71'
Penalties
Symons Kasalovic Gonzalez Kouta Kelly Denmead Ucchino Kambayashi Caspers Kalac7–8Bayliss Daniel Swibel Van der Saag Busek Burnie Anderson Griffiths Vella Hilton
Avondale FC1–3Moreton City Excelsior
Hogan 80'Kojima 59' Murai 64', 67'
Heidelberg United6–1North Eastern MetroStars
McGowan 6' Juach 7', 56' Humbert 34', 58' Lesiotis 86'Visser 2'
South Melbourne2–0NWS Spirit
Lavale 34' Mikkola 71'

Semi-finals

Marconi Stallions1–0Moreton City Excelsior
Busek 80'
South Melbourne1–0Heidelberg United
Aguek 72'

Final

South Melbourne2–0Marconi Stallions
Aguek 11' Janković 20'

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1Australia Ali AuglahSydney Olympic6
2South Sudan Manyluak AguekSouth Melbourne5
Japan Seita MuraiMoreton City Excelsior
Australia Lachlan ScottWollongong Wolves
5Australia Bruno FornaroliAvondale FC4
Australia Marcus HumbertHeidelberg United
Australia Bul JuachHeidelberg United
Australia Joseph ScottMoreton City Excelsior
9Australia Jarred BakerBroadmeadow Magic3
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

See also