South Melbourne, Preston Lions and Avondale react to National Second Division acceptance

Australia’s most famous club, a rising power of Victorian football and a traditional suburban giant. Three Melbourne clubs have been accepted into the National Second Division.

Preston Lions will play in the National Second Division.

Australia’s greatest club, a traditional suburban giant and a rising power of Victorian football.

South Melbourne, Preston Lions and Avondale are three of eight inaugural National Second Division clubs announced on Monday.

For South, it’s a return to the national stage where it has always believed it belonged.

For Preston, it continues a club resurgence after finding itself mired in the state’s fourth tier only three seasons ago.

For Avondale, it’s the culmination of an ambitious and rapid rise through the ranks in the past decade.

South Melbourne officials (centre three) Andrew Mesourouni, Nicholas Maikousis and Tass Roufos with James Johnson (left) and Natalie Lutz (right).

South Melbourne president Nicholas Maikousis said the last 20 years, since the club was exiled back to state football, was the “dark ages” for a club awarded FIFA’s Oceania Club of the Century.

“It’s a historic day for us, the last two decades have been a period in the club’s history, I guess you could say are the dark ages for the club,” Maikousis said.

“This is a real renaissance for us, a platform for us to relaunch and rebuild again.

“Returning to the national stage has never really disappeared from our thoughts, we tried getting into the A-League and were rejected a couple of time and also tried to buy a couple of franchises.

“This platform is appropriate for us and allows us to achieve what we continue to believe in.”

Preston is the only NSD club currently playing in a second-tier competition but has arguably the strongest supporter base in Victorian football.

President David Cvetkovski said it was proof club’s with aspirations can reach for higher honours.

“Over the last decade we’ve challenged ourselves to elevate the club from the State Leagues, so for us it’s a bit of a unique journey,” he said.

Preston Lions president David Cvetkovski (centre) with James Johnson (left) and Natalie Lutz (right).

“It’s one that shows that clubs with aspirations, that put the right mechanisms at clubland, can aspire because a lot of people know the Preston story and our journey has been filled with ups and downs.

“The club continues to grow, on average we’d have 4000 attendees at the club, and people ask why – it’s all about the gameday experience, we’re in the entertainment industry.”

Meanwhile, Avondale, established in 1984, is the youngest club accepted into NSD.

In 2009, the Avengers were in the sixth tier of state football but have surged up the ranks and this season achieved a history-making NPL Victoria premiership-championship double.

President Anthony Wardan said acceptance into the NSD alongside some of Australia’s most storied clubs was a dream come true.

“It’s been 10 years, we earned promotion in five of six years, so we’ve come a long way and to think we’re going to have an opportunity to showcase our brand on a national stage, it’s surreal,” he said.

“We’re a very ambitious club, the past 10 years shows that.

“We’re a young club, different dynamics, ambitious and to create that different spark in the league, we’re the perfect fit for that.

Avondale officials (centre three) Marino Mustica, Anthony Warden and Robert Marinkovic with James Johnson (left) and Natalie Lutz (right)

“The last five years we’ve been up there in the top-three or top-five and this year is showed, we won the double.

“Across the whole board, we’ve got more than 500 registered participants, senior women have been promoted two years in a row, so yes this is senior men’s football but it’s through every rank of our club, which makes me a very proud president.”

South Melbourne, Preston and Avondale may not be the only Victorian clubs participate in the NSD when it kicks off in 2025 either.

Melbourne Knights, another of Australia’s most famous clubs, pulled out of the application process but it is hoped could still be involved.

“It’s a tragedy that Melbourne Knights aren’t in there, at least not yet anyway,” Hellas president Maikousis said.

“A journalist at the announcement said it would be the first comp since 1961 that South haven’t played Knights or Heidelberg (United).

“It’s going to be a bit strange if Knights aren’t in the comp, they should be.

“Preston will be huge, I’d expect 10,000 to 12,000 people at Lakeside, while our rivalry against Avondale will build over time.”

All three leaders praised the decision to delay the competition until early 2025 to allow clubs to prepare.

It will create unprecedented recruiting opportunities for clubs involved to showcase some of Australia’s best talent.

“There’s a lot of talent that’s not necessarily being used in the A-League, although it’s improving,” Maikousis said.

“For the faults of the old NSL it did have one particular strength and that was playing Australian talent and that’s going to certainly be the NST’s focus.”

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Lions president Cvetkovski added: “If we can get this right and create healthy rivalry will create incredible gameday experiences that will be a benchmark.”

“This process has helped a lot of clubs create a guide for their club ... we’ve mapped three years in advance of financials, resourcing and I think that’s going to keep us in good stead.”

Along with the three Victorian clubs, five NSW teams Marconi, Sydney United, Sydney Olympic, APIA Leichardt and Wollongong Wolves – were also accepted.

Queensland clubs Brisbane United, Gold Coast United and Sunshine Coast Fire are in negotiations with Football Australia.