2001–02 National Soccer League

26th season of top-tier soccer league in Australia

Sports season

NSL 2001–02

League| National Soccer League
Sport| Association football
Duration| 2001–2002
Number of teams| 13
NSL season
Champions| Olympic Sharks
Top scorer| Damian Mori (17)
National Soccer League seasons

← 2000–01

2002–03 →

The 2001–02 National Soccer League season, was the 26th season of the National Soccer League in Australia. Prior to the start of the season, Canberra Cosmos and Eastern Pride were removed from the competition, reducing the league to 13 teams. The league premiership was won by Perth Glory and the championship won by Olympic Sharks.

## Regular season

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### League table

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

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1  | Perth Glory | 24  | 16  | 7  | 1  | 52  | 23  | +29  | 55  | Qualification for the Finals series
2  | Newcastle United | 24  | 10  | 12  | 2  | 33  | 21  | +12  | 42
3  | Olympic Sharks (C) | 24  | 12  | 4  | 8  | 37  | 24  | +13  | 40
4  | Brisbane Strikers | 24  | 10  | 7  | 7  | 40  | 34  | +6  | 37
5  | South Melbourne | 24  | 10  | 6  | 8  | 30  | 22  | +8  | 36
6  | Melbourne Knights | 24  | 11  | 3  | 10  | 41  | 40  | +1  | 36
7  | Parramatta Power | 24  | 10  | 4  | 10  | 34  | 30  | +4  | 34  |
8  | Northern Spirit | 24  | 9  | 7  | 8  | 36  | 39  | −3  | 34
9  | Marconi Fairfield | 24  | 8  | 6  | 10  | 33  | 36  | −3  | 30
10  | Wollongong Wolves | 24  | 6  | 7  | 11  | 28  | 43  | −15  | 25
11  | Sydney United | 24  | 6  | 6  | 12  | 27  | 37  | −10  | 24
12  | Adelaide Force | 24  | 4  | 8  | 12  | 27  | 39  | −12  | 20
13  | Football Kingz | 24  | 3  | 5  | 16  | 28  | 58  | −30  | 14

Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions

## Finals series

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### Bracket

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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Elimination finals| | | Semifinals| | | Preliminary final| | | Grand final
| | | |
| 1| Perth Glory| 4| 0| 4| | Perth Glory| 0
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| 2| Newcastle United| 1| 2| 3| | | | | | Olympic Sharks| 1
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| | 2| Newcastle United| 0|
| 6| Melbourne Knights| 0| 2| 2| | | | |
| | | | | 3| Olympic Sharks| 1| |
| 3| Olympic Sharks| 0| 6| 6| | | | | | |
| | | 3| Olympic Sharks| 2|
| | | | |
| | | 5| South Melbourne| 1| |
| 5| South Melbourne| 2| 2| 4| | | |
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| 4| Brisbane Strikers| 0| 1| 1| |
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### Elimination Final 1

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Leg | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | Date

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1 | South Melbourne | 2–0 | Brisbane Strikers | Bob Jane Stadium | 8,450 | 14 April 2002
2 | Brisbane Strikers | 1–2 | South Melbourne | Ballymore | 5,391 | 21 April 2002

### Elimination Final 2

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Leg | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | Date

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1 | Melbourne Knights | 0–0 | Olympic Sharks | Knights Stadium | 3,421 | 14 April 2002
2 | Olympic Sharks | 6–2 | Melbourne Knights | Toyota Park | 5,850 | 21 April 2002

### Major semi Final

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Leg | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | Date

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1 | Perth Glory | 4–1 | Newcastle United | Subiaco Oval | 31,963 | 20 April 2002
2 | Newcastle United | 2–0 | Perth Glory | Energy Australia Stadium | 17,503 | 26 April 2002

### Minor semi Final

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Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Olympic Sharks | 2–1 | South Melbourne | Marconi Stadium | 6,341 | 28 April 2002

### Preliminary Final

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Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | Date

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Newcastle United | 0–1 | Olympic Sharks | Energy Australia Stadium | 17,708 | 5 May 2002

### Grand Final

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Main article: 2002 National Soccer League Grand Final

12 May 2002
13:00 AWST

Perth Glory| 0 - 1| Olympic Sharks

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| Reports[1] | Miličić 48'

Subiaco Oval, Perth

Attendance: 42,735

Referee: Mark Shield

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GK | 1 |  Jason Petkovic
MF | 2 |  Matt Horsley
DF | 3 |  Jamie Harnwell
MF | 7 |  Scott Miller
FW | 10 |  Bobby Despotovski | (c)  15'
MF | 12 |  Bradley Hassell |  |  69'
MF | 15 |  Edgar Aldrighi
FW | 16 |  Damian Mori
MF | 17 |  Gary Faria |  |  69'
DF | 18 |  Shane Pryce
DF | 23 |  David Tarka
Substitutes:
GK | 30 |  Vince Matassa
DF | 5 |  Craig Deans
DF | 6 |  Gareth Naven
FW | 9 |  Alistair Edwards |  |  69'
FW | 26 |  Nik Mrdja |  |  69'
Manager:
Mich d'Avray

Joe Marston Medal:
Ante Milicic (Olympic Sharks)

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GK | 1 |  Clint Bolton
DF | 4 |  Paul Kohler
MF | 6 |  Wayne Srhoj |  45+1' |  69'
DF | 7 |  Lindsay Wilson
MF | 8 |  Tom Pondeljak
MF | 11 |  Jade North
MF | 14 |  Greg Owens |  |  88'
FW | 16 |  Jeromy Harris |  |  81'
FW | 19 |  Ante Milicic
DF | 23 |  Andrew Packer
DF | 28 |  Ante Jurić (c)
Substitutes:
GK | 30 |  Brett Hughes
DF | 2 |  Stephen Laybutt |  |  88'
FW | 9 |  Dylan Macallister |  |  69'
FW | 12 |  Elias Augerinos
MF | 27 |  Hiroyuki Ishida |  |  81'
Manager:
Gary Phillips

Assistant referees:
Fourth official:

Match rules

* 90 minutes
* 30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
* Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.

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## Individual awards

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* Player of the Year: Fernando Rech (Brisbane Strikers)
* U-21 Player of the Year: Joseph Schirripa (Newcastle United)
* Top Scorer(s): Damian Mori (Perth Glory - 17 goals)
* Coach of the Year: Ian Crook (Newcastle United)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2002 National Soccer League Playoff results". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 30 December 2022.

* OzFootball Archives - 2001–02 NSL Season

* v
* t
* e

National Soccer League

Seasons|

* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
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* 1982
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* 1989–90
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* 1994–95
* 1995–96
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* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04

Grand Finals|

* 1984
* 1985
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* 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

*[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