1985 National Soccer League

9th season of top-tier soccer league in Australia

Football league season

National Soccer LeagueSeason| 1985

|

Dates| 9 March – 8 September 1985
Champions| Brunswick Juventus
1st title
Premiers| Sydney City (Northern)
South Melbourne (Southern)
Relegated| Penrith City
Matches played| 276
Goals scored| 769 (2.79 per match)
Top goalscorer| Charlie Egan (21 goals)
Biggest home win| Marconi Fairfield 6–0 Penrith City
(28 July 1985)
Biggest away win| APIA Leichhardt 0–4 Sydney City
(17 March 1985)
Highest scoring| Brunswick Juventus 5–4 Brisbane City
(19 May 1985)

← 1984

1986 →

The 1985 National Soccer League was the ninth season of the National Soccer League. The season was again played with two Conferences as separate leagues, followed by a conference playoff final. The Grand Final was won by Brunswick Juventus 2–0 on aggregate over Sydney City. The season began on 9 March 1985, and concluded on 8 September 1985.

## Teams

[edit]

Twenty-four teams competed in the league (twelve in the Northern Conference and twelve in the Southern Conference) – the sixteen teams from the previous season and eight teams accepted from their respective state leagues.

### Stadiums and locations

[edit]

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order by conference.
Team  | Location  | Stadium  | Capacity

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Northern Conference
APIA Leichhardt | Sydney (Leichhardt) | Lambert Park | 7,000
Blacktown City | Sydney (Seven Hills) | Gabbie Stadium | 5,000
Canberra City | Canberra | Canberra Stadium | 25,011
Inter Monaro | Queanbeyan | Seiffert Oval | 15,000
Marconi Fairfield | Sydney (Bossley Park) | Marconi Stadium | 9,000
Newcastle Rosebud United | Newcastle | Adamstown Oval  | 2,000
Penrith City | Penrith | Cook Park | 1,000
St George-Budapest | Sydney (Mortdale) | St George Stadium | 12,000
Sydney City | Sydney (Bondi) | ES Marks Athletics Field | 8,000
Sydney Croatia | Sydney (Edensor Park) | King Tomislav Park | 10,000
Sydney Olympic | Sydney (Waterloo) | Pratten Park | 15,000
Wollongong City | Wollongong | Wollongong Showground | 22,000
Southern Conference
Adelaide City | Adelaide (Kensington) | Olympic Sports Field | 8,000
Brisbane City | Brisbane (Newmarket) | Spencer Park | 5,000
Brisbane Lions | Brisbane (Inala) | Lions Stadium | 5,000
Brunswick Juventus | Melbourne (Brunswick) | Olympic Park No. 2 | 6,000
Footscray JUST | Melbourne (Footscray) | Schintler Reserve  | ?
Green Gully | Melbourne (St Albans) | Green Gully Reserve | 10,000
Heidelberg United | Melbourne (Brunswick) | Olympic Village | 12,000
Melbourne Croatia | Melbourne (Essendon) | Olympic Park  | 18,500
Preston Makedonia | Melbourne (Fitzroy) | B.T. Connor Reserve | 5,000
South Melbourne | Melbourne (Middle Park) | Middle Park | 18,000
Sunshine George Cross | Melbourne (City of Melbourne) | Chaplin Reserve | 5,000
West Adelaide | Adelaide (City of Adelaide) | Hindmarsh Stadium | 16,500

### Head coach changes

[edit]

The Australian Soccer Annual 1985 reported seven managerial changes.[1]

Team  | Outgoing head coach  | Date of vacancy  | Position in the table  | Incoming head coach  | Date of appointment

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Adelaide City |  Frank Pimblett | 1985  | Pre-season |  Tony Lowndes | 1985
Brunswick Juventus |  John Margaritis |  Tommy Traynor
Inter Monaro | —  |  Josef Procop
Melbourne Croatia |  Tony Vrzina |  Tommy Cumming
Preston Makedonia |  Frank McAleer |  Willie Murray
Sunshine George Cross |  Billy Wilkinson |  John Gardiner
West Adelaide |  Sam Salabsides |  Neil McGachey

## Regular season

[edit]

### League tables

[edit]

Northern Conference
Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation

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1  | Sydney City | 22  | 15  | 5  | 2  | 42  | 19  | +23  | 35  | Qualification to Finals series
2  | Sydney Croatia | 22  | 14  | 5  | 3  | 50  | 22  | +28  | 33
3  | Marconi Fairfield | 22  | 11  | 7  | 4  | 44  | 23  | +21  | 29
4  | Sydney Olympic | 22  | 12  | 3  | 7  | 29  | 25  | +4  | 27
5  | St George-Budapest | 22  | 7  | 8  | 7  | 31  | 26  | +5  | 22
6  | Canberra City | 22  | 8  | 6  | 8  | 33  | 35  | −2  | 22  |
7  | Inter Monaro | 22  | 7  | 6  | 9  | 29  | 37  | −8  | 20
8  | Blacktown City | 22  | 7  | 4  | 11  | 30  | 34  | −4  | 18
9  | APIA Leichhardt | 22  | 7  | 2  | 13  | 20  | 34  | −14  | 16
10  | Wollongong City | 22  | 5  | 6  | 11  | 29  | 46  | −17  | 16
11  | Penrith City (R) | 22  | 4  | 6  | 12  | 24  | 35  | −11  | 14  | Relegation to the 1986 NSW State League
12  | Newcastle Rosebud United | 22  | 4  | 4  | 14  | 20  | 45  | −25  | 12  |

Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated

Southern Conference
Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

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1  | South Melbourne | 22  | 14  | 5  | 3  | 39  | 21  | +18  | 33  | Qualification to Finals series
2  | Brunswick Juventus (C) | 22  | 11  | 7  | 4  | 33  | 19  | +14  | 29
3  | Heidelberg United | 22  | 10  | 7  | 5  | 29  | 17  | +12  | 27
4  | Melbourne Croatia | 22  | 9  | 6  | 7  | 29  | 21  | +8  | 24
5  | Preston Makedonia | 22  | 9  | 6  | 7  | 30  | 28  | +2  | 24
6  | Sunshine George Cross | 22  | 8  | 7  | 7  | 25  | 22  | +3  | 23  |
7  | Brisbane Lions | 22  | 9  | 4  | 9  | 29  | 29  | 0  | 22
8  | Green Gully | 22  | 6  | 6  | 10  | 24  | 29  | −5  | 18
9  | Adelaide City | 22  | 6  | 6  | 10  | 29  | 35  | −6  | 18
10  | West Adelaide | 22  | 6  | 5  | 11  | 24  | 37  | −13  | 17
11  | Brisbane City | 22  | 6  | 5  | 11  | 25  | 42  | −17  | 17
12  | Footscray JUST | 22  | 5  | 2  | 15  | 25  | 41  | −16  | 12

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

### Results

[edit]

Northern Conference

Home \ Away  | API | BLA | CAN | INT | MAR | NRU | PEN | STG | SCI | SCR | SOL | WOL

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APIA Leichhardt | -- | 0–3  | 0–1  | 0–1  | 4–1  | 1–0  | 1–0  | 1–4  | 0–4  | 1–3  | 1–2  | 4–2
Blacktown City | 1–1  | -- | 2–3  | 1–0  | 0–2  | 4–0  | 1–1  | 0–3  | 1–2  | 1–1  | 1–0  | 3–0
Canberra City | 0–0  | 3–2  | -- | 1–2  | 1–1  | 3–1  | 2–2  | 0–1  | 1–3  | 2–4  | 1–3  | 1–1
Inter Monaro | 0–3  | 2–1  | 0–3  | -- | 1–0  | 1–2  | 3–1  | 1–1  | 2–3  | 1–1  | 3–1  | 1–1
Marconi Fairfield | 0–0  | 2–1  | 4–1  | 4–1  | -- | 2–2  | 6–0  | 1–0  | 0–0  | 0–2  | 0–0  | 6–1
Newcastle Rosebud United | 2–1  | 0–3  | 2–2  | 1–0  | 0–2  | -- | 1–1  | 3–4  | 1–1  | 1–2  | 0–1  | 1–3
Penrith City | 0–1  | 0–1  | 1–2  | 3–4  | 1–3  | 4–1  | -- | 0–0  | 1–2  | 0–1  | 0–1  | 3–0
St George-Budapest | 2–0  | 1–1  | 1–1  | 1–1  | 0–1  | 3–0  | 3–2  | -- | 0–1  | 1–3  | 0–1  | 1–1
Sydney City | 2–0  | 3–1  | 4–2  | 2–2  | 1–1  | 2–0  | 0–1  | 1–0  | -- | 2–0  | 2–1  | 5–2
Sydney Croatia | 3–0  | 4–0  | 1–0  | 2–0  | 3–3  | 2–0  | 2–2  | 2–2  | 2–0  | -- | 5–0  | 5–1
Sydney Olympic | 2–1  | 3–2  | 0–1  | 1–1  | 2–2  | 2–0  | 0–1  | 3–1  | 0–1  | 3–1  | -- | 2–0
Wollongong City | 1–0  | 3–0  | 0–2  | 4–2  | 2–3  | 1–2  | 0–0  | 2–2  | 1–1  | 2–1  | 1–2  | --

Source: OzFootball
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Southern Conference

Home \ Away  | ADE | BRC | BRL | BRU | FOO | GRE | HEI | MEL | PRE | SOU | SGC | WES

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Adelaide City | -- | 1–1  | 1–1  | 2–1  | 2–1  | 1–1  | 0–1  | 3–0  | 1–2  | 2–2  | 1–1  | 4–1
Brisbane City | 2–1  | -- | 0–2  | 0–0  | 3–2  | 3–0  | 0–3  | 1–1  | 0–0  | 2–1  | 0–1  | 0–0
Brisbane Lions | 3–0  | 3–0  | -- | 0–0  | 1–0  | 3–1  | 1–2  | 0–1  | 1–2  | 1–1  | 1–0  | 1–0
Brunswick Juventus | 3–1  | 5–4  | 2–1  | -- | 3–2  | 1–0  | 2–0  | 1–1  | 2–0  | 2–2  | 3–0  | 0–1
Footscray JUST | 1–0  | 1–3  | 1–2  | 1–1  | -- | 1–0  | 3–3  | 0–2  | 1–2  | 0–1  | 0–3  | 2–1
Green Gully | 2–3  | 4–1  | 2–0  | 0–2  | 2–1  | -- | 1–1  | 0–0  | 1–1  | 0–1  | 1–1  | 1–1
Heidelberg United | 0–0  | 2–0  | 2–0  | 1–0  | 4–0  | 1–3  | -- | 0–1  | 0–0  | 0–1  | 1–1  | 1–0
Melbourne Croatia | 3–0  | 4–1  | 2–3  | 0–1  | 0–1  | 0–2  | 1–2  | -- | 2–0  | 1–1  | 1–1  | 0–0
Preston Makedonia | 4–2  | 3–0  | 4–0  | 0–0  | 2–0  | 0–1  | 1–4  | 3–2  | -- | 0–1  | 2–1  | 1–1
South Melbourne | 2–1  | 4–1  | 0–0  | 1–3  | 3–1  | 3–2  | 1–0  | 1–2  | 3–0  | -- | 2–1  | 4–2
Sunshine George Cross | 1–2  | 3–0  | 3–2  | 0–0  | 2–1  | 2–0  | 0–0  | 0–2  | 2–2  | 0–1  | -- | 1–0
West Adelaide | 2–1 | 1–3  | 5–3  | 2–1  | 1–5  | 2–0  | 1–1  | 0–3  | 3–1  | 0–3  | 0–1  | --

Source: OzFootball
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

## Finals series

[edit]

Northern Conference

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Elimination and qualifying Finals| | | Semi-finals| | | Preliminary Final| | | Northern Final
| | | |
| 1| Sydney City| 1| | 1| Sydney City| 2
| | | | |
| | | 2| Sydney Croatia| 0| | | | | | 3| Marconi Fairfield| 0
| | | | |
| 2| Sydney Croatia| 2| | 2| Sydney Croatia| 0|
| | | | | | |
| 3| Marconi Fairfield| 1| | | | | 3| Marconi Fairfield| 1| |
| | | | | | |
| | 3| Marconi Fairfield| 3 (7)|
| | | | |
| | | 4| Sydney Olympic| 3 (6)| |
| | | | |
| 4| Sydney Olympic| 1|
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| 5| St George-Budapest| 0| |
| | | | | |

Southern Conference

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Elimination and qualifying Finals| | | Semi-finals| | | Preliminary Final| | | Southern Final
| | | |
| 1| South Melbourne| 0| | 2| Brunswick Juventus| 2
| | | | |
| | | 2| Brunswick Juventus| 1| | | | | | 5| Preston Makedonia| 1
| | | | |
| 2| Brunswick Juventus| 2| | 1| South Melbourne| 4 (4)|
| | | | | | |
| 3| Heidelberg United| 0| | | | | 5| Preston Makedonia| 4 (5)| |
| | | | | | |
| | 3| Heidelberg United| 0|
| | | | |
| | | 5| Preston Makedonia| 2| |
| | | | |
| 4| Melbourne Croatia| 1|
| |
| 5| Preston Makedonia| 2| |
| | | | | |

### Grand Final

[edit]

First Leg
4 September 1985

Sydney City| 0 - 1| Brunswick Juventus

|
|

|  | Incantalupo 38'

St George Stadium, Sydney

Attendance: 2,491

Referee: Peter Rampley

* * *

Second Leg
8 September 1985

Brunswick Juventus| 1 - 0| Sydney City

|
|

Incantalupo 41' |  |

Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne

Attendance: 7,560

Referee: Don Campbell

* Brunswick Juventus win 2–0 on aggregate

## Individual awards

[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Club

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National Soccer League Player of the Year |  Graham Honeyman | West Adelaide
National Soccer League Under 21 Player of the Year |  Alan Hunter | Brisbane Lions
National Soccer League Coach of the Year |  Eddie Thomson | Sydney City

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Australian Soccer Annual 1985 – Seven coaching changes for 1985. Soccer Action. p. 7.

* OzFootball Archives - 1985 NSL Season

* v
* t
* e

National Soccer League

Seasons|

* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1989–90
* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04

Grand Finals|

* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004

Clubs|

| Last|

* Adelaide United
* Brisbane Strikers
* Football Kingz
* Marconi Stallions
* Melbourne Knights
* Newcastle United Jets
* Northern Spirit
* Parramatta Power
* Perth Glory
* South Melbourne
* Sydney Olympic
* Sydney United
* Wollongong Wolves

|

Former|

* APIA Leichhardt
* Adelaide City
* Blacktown City
* Brisbane City
* Brisbane Lions
* Brunswick Juventus
* Canberra City
* Canberra Cosmos
* Canterbury-Marrickville
* Carlton
* Collingwood Warriors
* Footscray JUST
* Green Gully Cavaliers
* Heidelberg United
* Inter Monaro
* Mooroolbark
* Morwell Falcons
* Newcastle Breakers
* Newcastle KB United
* Newcastle Rosebud United
* Parramatta Eagles
* Penrith City
* Preston Makedonia
* St George–Budapest
* Sunshine George Cross
* Sydney City
* West Adelaide
* Western Suburbs
* Wollongong Macedonia

Competition|

* Teams
* winners
* performance record
* Players
* foreign
* foreign scorers
* winners
* Managers
* Stadiums

Statistics and awards|

* Records
* All-time table
* Hat-tricks
* Highest scores
* Top scorers by season
* Player of the Year
* Under 21 Player of the Year
* Coach of the Year
* Johnny Warren Medal
* Joe Marston Medal

Associated competitions|

* NSL Cup
* National Youth League

* v
* t
* e

1985 in Australian soccer

« 1984

1986 »

National teams|

| Men's|

* Senior
* 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification

|

League competitions|

* National Soccer League
* Grand Final

Cup competitions|

* NSL Cup
* Final

Club seasons

National Soccer League|

* Northern
* APIA Leichhardt
* Blacktown City
* Canberra City
* Inter Monaro
* Marconi Fairfield
* Newcastle Rosebud United
* Penrith City
* St George-Budapest
* Sydney City
* Sydney Croatia
* Sydney Olympic
* Wollongong City
* Southern
* Adelaide City
* Brisbane City
* Brisbane Lions
* Brunswick Juventus
* Footscray JUST
* Green Gully
* Heidelberg United
* Melbourne Croatia
* Preston Makedonia
* South Melbourne
* Sunshine George Cross
* West Adelaide

* National Soccer League transfers

*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template