A state league is a level of competition in Australian sport directly below that of a national league. Most of these competitions are based in a single state or territory, and from this the term originates. State leagues are generally semi-professional and of a lower playing standard compared to national leagues. Several state leagues act as quasi-reserves competitions for teams that also compete in national leagues, while others are entirely separated from their national counterparts.

History

The Australian federation consists of six states and two territories. Historically, the highest level of club-based sports were the various leagues based in each state and territory. The change to national leagues began in 1977 when the National Soccer League was formed with clubs in most capital cities. Australian football and rugby leagues followed suit during the 1980s when the Victorian and New South Welsh leagues began to admit clubs from other states.

State leagues by sport

Association football (soccer)

The state league system in men's association football (soccer) is generally underpinned by the National Premier Leagues (NPL), which administers individual competitions in eight state-based member federations. Each of the state league competitions represent the second tier in the Australian soccer league system. Following the imminent introduction of the National Second Division in 2024, the premier NPL competitions will shift down to level 3 in the system. The term 'state league' is also used as a divisional name in several member federations' lower-tier competitions.

In women's soccer, the state league system is largely operated by National Premier Leagues Women's, which currently consists of seven state-based member federations.

State leagues in association football (soccer)
State or territory Men's state league Women's state league
Australian Capital Territory NPL Men's Capital Football NPL Women's Capital Football
New South Wales NPL NSW Men's NPL NSW Women's
NPL Men's Northern NSW NPL Women's Northern NSW
Northern Territory Women's Premier League
Queensland NPL Queensland Men's NPL Queensland Women's
South Australia NPL South Australia Men's Women's NPL South Australia
Tasmania NPL Tasmania Women's Super League
Victoria NPL Victoria Men's NPL Women's Victoria
Western Australia NPL Western Australia Men NPL Western Australia Women

Australian rules football

State leagues in Australian rules football
State or territory Men's state league Women's state league
Australian Capital Territory AFL Canberra Men AFL Canberra Women
New South Wales AFL Sydney Men's AFL Sydney Women's
Northern Territory Northern Territory Football League Women's Premier League
Queensland Queensland Australian Football League QAFL Women's
South Australia South Australian National Football League SANFL Women's League
Tasmania Tasmanian State League
Victoria Victorian Football League VFL Women's
Western Australia West Australian Football League WAFL Women's

Rugby league

State leagues in rugby league
State or territory Men's state league Women's state league
Australian Capital Territory Canberra Raiders Cup Katrina Fanning Shield
New South Wales NSW Cup NSWRL Women's Premiership
Northern Territory NRL NT Men's NRL NT Women's
Queensland Queensland Cup QRL Women's Premiership
South Australia NRL SA Metro NRL SA Women's
Tasmania
Victoria Storm Premiership Men's Storm Premiership Women's
Western Australia NRL WA Premiership NRL WA Women's Premiership

Rugby union

State leagues in rugby union
State or territory Men's state league Women's state league
Australian Capital Territory John I Dent Cup Premier Women's 15s
New South Wales Shute Shield
Northern Territory
Queensland Hospital Challenge Cup Women's Premier Rugby
South Australia Rugby Union SA Premier Grade Rugby Union SA Women's Grade
Tasmania
Victoria Dewar Shield Lindroth Cup
Western Australia RugbyWA Premier Grade RugbyWA Women's Premier Grade

Netball

State leagues in women's netball form the third tier of competition in Australia, below the elite Super Netball and the second-tier Australian Netball Championships (ANC). However, unlike the ANC – which has been reduced to a week-long series of matches held largely between Super Netball reserves and academy sides – state league netball competitions operate throughout the winter months and provide consistent pathways to players aiming to reach a higher level in the sport.

While men's netball is growing in popularity, the sport is yet to establish a strong history of state league competitions. Half of the current men's state leagues are branded under the M-League name and are operated by the various state-based men's and mixed netball associations.

State leagues in netball
State or territory Men's state league Women's state league
Australian Capital Territory Netball ACT State League Men's League Netball ACT State League
New South Wales Netball NSW Men's Metro League Netball NSW Premier League
Northern Territory
Queensland QLD M-League Men's Sapphire Series
South Australia SA M-League Men's Netball SA Premier League
Tasmania Tasmanian Netball League
Victoria VIC M-League Men's Victorian Netball League
Western Australia West Australian Netball League Men's West Australian Netball League

Cricket

State leagues in cricket are traditionally referred to as grade cricket, with most state-based organisations now operating competitions under the Premier Cricket name following a move by Cricket Australia in 2016 to standardise branding.[1] These leagues form the third tier of Australian cricket, below the elite Sheffield Shield and Women's National Cricket League for men and women respectively, and the second-tier Second XI competition for men.

State or territory Men's state league Women's state league
Australian Capital Territory ACT Premier Cricket Men's ACT Premier Cricket Women's
New South Wales NSW Premier Cricket Men's NSW Premier Cricket Women's
Northern Territory
Queensland Queensland Premier Cricket Men's Queensland Premier Cricket Women's
South Australia South Australian Premier Cricket Men's South Australian Premier Cricket Men's
Tasmania Cricket Tasmania Premier League Men's Cricket Tasmania Premier League Women's
Victoria Victorian Premier Cricket Men's Victorian Premier Cricket Women's
Western Australia Western Australian Premier Cricket Men's Western Australian Female Premier Cricket

References

  1. "Australian Premier Cricket: Club Accreditation Scheme (CAS-02) – Season 2016|17". Cricket Australia (PDF). 2016-08-08. p. 6. Archived from the original on 2017-02-25. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
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