1996–97 National Soccer League

NSL 1996-97
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[]

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

Location of teams in 1996–97 National Soccer League

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

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Sydney United	26	17	5	4	67	33	+34	56	1997 National Soccer League Finals
2	Brisbane Strikers (C)	26	15	2	9	55	40	+15	47	1996-97 National Soccer League Champions
3	South Melbourne	26	14	4	8	39	25	+14	46	1997 National Soccer League Finals
4	Adelaide City	26	11	10	5	32	22	+10	43
5	Marconi Stallions	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 (R)	26	6	9	11	32	44	−12	27	Disbanded at end of season
14	Canberra Cosmos	26	2	5	19	30	69	−39	11

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

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