1996–97 National Soccer League

21st season of top-tier soccer league in Australia

Sports season

NSL 1996-97

League| National Soccer League
Sport| Association football
Duration| 1996–97
Number of teams| 14
NSL season
Champions| Brisbane Strikers
Minor premiers| Sydney United
Top scorer| David Zdrilic (21)
National Soccer League seasons

← 1995–96

1997–98 →

The 1996–97 National Soccer League season, was the 21st season of the National Soccer League in Australia.

## Teams

[edit]

Adelaide City

Brisbane Strikers

Canberra Cosmos

Gippsland Falcons

Newcastle Breakers

Perth Glory

West Adelaide

Wollongong City

Melbourne

Sydney

Melbourne teams:
Collingwood Warriors
Melbourne Knights
South Melbourne
Sydney teams:
Marconi-Fairfield
UTS Olympic
Sydney United

class=notpageimage|

Location of teams in 1996–97 National Soccer League

Team  | Home city  | Home ground

|
|

Adelaide City | Adelaide | Hindmarsh Stadium
Brisbane Strikers | Brisbane | Lang Park
Canberra Cosmos | Canberra | Bruce Stadium
Collingwood Warriors | Melbourne | Victoria Park
Olympic Park
Gippsland Falcons | Morwell | Falcons Park
Marconi-Stallions | Sydney | Marconi Stadium
Melbourne Knights | Melbourne | Knights Stadium
Newcastle Breakers | Newcastle | Breakers Stadium
Perth Glory | Perth | Perth Oval
South Melbourne | Melbourne | Lakeside Stadium
Sydney United | Sydney | Edensor Park
UTS Olympic | Sydney | Belmore Oval
West Adelaide | Adelaide | Hindmarsh Stadium
Wollongong City | Wollongong | Brandon Park

## Season overview

[edit]

It was contested by 14 teams, and Brisbane Strikers won the championship. Perth Glory and Collingwood Warriors entered the competition.

## Regular season

[edit]

### League table

[edit]

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Sydney United | 26  | 17  | 5  | 4  | 67  | 33  | +34  | 56  | Qualification for the Finals series
2  | Brisbane Strikers (C) | 26  | 15  | 2  | 9  | 55  | 40  | +15  | 47
3  | South Melbourne | 26  | 14  | 4  | 8  | 39  | 25  | +14  | 46
4  | Adelaide City | 26  | 11  | 10  | 5  | 32  | 22  | +10  | 43
5  | Marconi Fairfield | 26  | 12  | 4  | 10  | 41  | 37  | +4  | 40
6  | Melbourne Knights | 26  | 11  | 6  | 9  | 36  | 32  | +4  | 39
7  | Perth Glory | 26  | 11  | 5  | 10  | 48  | 41  | +7  | 38  |
8  | West Adelaide | 26  | 10  | 3  | 13  | 39  | 51  | −12  | 33
9  | UTS Olympic | 26  | 8  | 8  | 10  | 41  | 46  | −5  | 32
10  | Wollongong Wolves | 26  | 8  | 8  | 10  | 42  | 48  | −6  | 32
11  | Newcastle Breakers | 26  | 7  | 9  | 10  | 40  | 46  | −6  | 30
12  | Gippsland Falcons | 26  | 8  | 6  | 12  | 33  | 41  | −8  | 30
13  | Collingwood Warriors | 26  | 6  | 9  | 11  | 32  | 44  | −12  | 27
14  | Canberra Cosmos | 26  | 2  | 5  | 19  | 30  | 69  | −39  | 11

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

## Finals series

[edit]

This section is transcluded from 1997 National Soccer League Grand Final. (edit | history)

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Elimination finals| | | Semifinals| | | Preliminary final| | | Grand final
| | | |
| 1| Sydney United| 0| 2| (2)| | | Sydney United| 0
| | | |
| 2| Brisbane Strikers (a)| 1| 1| (2)| | | | | | | Brisbane Strikers| 2
| | |
| | | Sydney United| 1|
| 3| South Melbourne| 4| 3| (7)| | | | |
| | | | | | South Melbourne| 0| |
| 6| Melbourne Knights| 1| 0| (1)| | | | | | |
| | | | South Melbourne| 1|
| | | | |
| | | | Adelaide City| 0| |
| 4| Adelaide City| 0| 4| (4)| | | |
| | |
| 5| Marconi Fairfield| 3| 0| (3)| |
| | | | | |

### Grand Final

[edit]

Main article: 1997 National Soccer League Grand Final

25 May 1997
15:00 AEST

Brisbane Strikers| 2 - 0| Sydney United

|
|

Farina 47'
Brown 69' | (report) |

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Attendance: 40,446

Referee: Simon Micallef

## Individual awards

[edit]

* Player of the Year: Kresimir Marusic (Sydney United)
* U-21 Player of the Year: Kasey Wehrman (Brisbane Strikers)
* Top Scorer: David Zdrilic (Sydney United) - 21 goals
* Coach of the Year: Branko Culina (Sydney United)

## References

[edit]

* \- NSL Awards
* Australia - List of final tables (RSSSF)

* 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

1996–97 in Australian soccer

« 1995–96

1997–98 »

National teams|

| Men's|

* Senior
* 1996 OFC Nations Cup finals
* 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying
* U23
* 1996 Summer Olympics finals
* U20
* 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship qualifying, finals
* U17
* 1997 FIFA U-17 World Championship qualiyfing

|

Women's|

* Senior

League competitions|

| Men's|

* National Soccer League
* Grand Final

|

Women's|

* Women's National Soccer League
* Grand Final

Cup competitions|

* NSL Cup
* Final

Club seasons

National Soccer League|

* Adelaide City
* Brisbane Strikers
* Canberra Cosmos
* Collingwood Warriors
* Gippsland Falcons
* Marconi Fairfield
* Melbourne Knights
* Newcastle Breakers
* Perth Glory
* South Melbourne
* Sydney United
* UTS Olympic
* West Adelaide
* Wollongong City

* 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