Here’s everything you need to know about the NPL 2014 Finals Series including the schedule and match ups for the four Elimination Finals.
The concept

The National Premier Leagues (NPL) Finals Series is a national competition for the winning team of each state division. The Premiers within each Member Federation NPL division progress to the NPL Finals Series.

Five Member Federations competed in the inaugural NPL Finals Series last year, but in 2014 it has been expanded to eight entrants vying to be crowned NPL 2014 Champions.



The format

The NPL 2014 Finals Series will take place over a three week period with matches to be played over the weekends of September 20/21 and September 27/28 culminating in the Final which will be held on either October 4 or 5.

Every match in the Finals Series is to be sudden-death, with extra time and penalties to be played out if required.

The makeup and grouping of the Elimination Finals has been based on geographic location. As such, the Member Federations that have been coupled together are Northern NSW Football and Football Queensland, Capital Football and Football NSW, Football Federation Tasmania and Football Federation Victoria (FFV), and Football West with Football Federation South Australia (FFSA).

Each year, the host Member Federation within the Elimination Finals shall alternate to provide all Federations with the opportunity to host every second year.

In order to determine the host Federation for the Semi Finals and Final, the following points system will apply at the conclusion of each stage of the Finals Series:

Win within regulation time = 3 points

Win during extra time = 2 points

Win in penalty shootout = 1 point

Goals scored (excluding penalty shootouts) = 3 points

Goals conceded (excluding penalty shootouts) = -1 point

Yellow cards = -1 point

Red cards = -3 points



The clubs

A club from Capital Football, Football NSW, Northern NSW Football, Football Queensland, Football Federation South Australia, Football Federation Tasmania, Football Federation Victoria and Football West will compete in the NPL 2014 Finals Series.

The clubs for each Member Federation are as follows:

Cooma Tigers (Capital Football)

Bonnyrigg White Eagles (Football NSW)

Weston Workers (Northern NSW Football)

Palm Beach Sharks (Football Queensland)

MetroStars SC (Football Federation South Australia)

South Hobart (Football Federation Tasmania)

South Melbourne (Football Federation Victoria)

Bayswater City (Football West)



The schedule

The draw for the 2014 Finals Series is as follows:

Elimination Finals
Game 1 – Weston Workers v Palm Beach Sharks
Saturday 20 September 2014 (Kick-Off 7:00pm AEST)
Rockwell Automation Park, Weston NSW

Game 2 – Cooma Tigers v Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Saturday 20 September 2014 (Kick-Off 2:30pm AEST)
AIS Athletics Field, Bruce ACT

Game 3 – South Hobart v South Melbourne
Saturday 20 September 2014 (Kick-Off 1:30pm AEST)
South Hobart Ground, South Hobart TAS

Game 4 – Bayswater City v MetroStars SC
Saturday 20 September 2014 (Kick-Off 2:00pm local time, 4:00pm AEST)
Frank Drago Reserve, Bayswater WA

Semi Finals (27/28 September 2014)
Game 5 – Winner of Game 1 v Winner of Game 2

Game 6 – Winner of Game 3 v Winner of Game 4


Grand Final (4/5 October 2014)
Game 7 – Winner of Game 5 v Winner of Game 6



Click here for the official Match Centre for all of the NPL 2014 Finals Series fixtures.

Aww shit. Squiggly lines in the title. :3

No idea what to expect from South Hobart. Hoping for a stream.... incoming tangent - should look to broadcast all finals in the future though, use the money to cover travel costs allowing for a draw to decide opening fixrtures and the elimination round to two legs.

Quick question why did other states have finals series and Victoria have a first past the post champ?

South Hobart v South Melbourne.



Expecting SM to win, but really hope this is streamed. Hope we get Corndog and Gilly. Those two are the Roy & HG of Football commentary.

South Hobart v South Melbourne.



Expecting SM to win, but really hope this is streamed. Hope we get Corndog and Gilly. Those two are the Roy & HG of Football commentary.

Still some issues with this that i hope get ironed out. Geographic fixtures are pretty unfair and don't exactly allow much variation each year. I'm sure Tassie or ACT winners would like the opportunity to go play in Queensland or WA for example rather than just hosting a VIC or NSW team at home.

Secondly i hope we can move to two legs so all teams can at least guarantee one home game.


Apart from that, bring Corndog for South Hobart vs South Melbourne!

Give it time as they are probably designed this to be as cost effective as possible in the initial stages. Glad they are rewarding the NPL best club nationally a FFA cup spot.

would that mean they would get exempt from the own state cup next year that is used for FFA cup qualification as seems pointless the winners being in

Why pointless? Why wouldn't a club want to win their state cup regardless?

Not pointless, but could really throw a spanner in the works. Say South Melbourne win the NPL Finals this year and then they go on to the Semi Finals in the Dockerty Cup as well, who gets Victoria's 4th spot? Highest non-qualifying NPLV club on the league table? Playoffs of Quarter Finals losers like in NSW this year? In that case we'd have a team in that had lost a knockout qualifying game on the path to the cup, which is not something I want to ever see in the FFA Cup again.

...or not enter the NPL Finals winner in their State Cup...

500 views, oh em gee!! Look at her butt.

-PB

Futbol24 are providing live updates of tonight's match.

"There will also be a LIVE stream of South Hobart v South Melbourne and Weston Workers v Palm Beach Sharks. See the respective home member federation websites, www.footballfedtas.com.au and www.northernnswfootball.com.au for details."

Waiting for the later of the two to come up.

-PB

"There will also be a LIVE stream of South Hobart v South Melbourne and Weston Workers v Palm Beach Sharks. See the respective home member federation websites, www.footballfedtas.com.au and www.northernnswfootball.com.au for details."

Are you an advertiser for them or something? And the OP says all games are tomorrow. What game is on tonight?

Aww shit. Squiggly lines in the title. :3

My FFA cup had alt code ninja stars. =; =; =;

"Don't know if he's got some chewy in his pocket and his whistles stuck"
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

YELLOW!??!?!?!

Kane Pearce the goalkeeper with only a yellow card for a rugby style tackle outside the box.

That should have been a clear red. This ref has been utterly pathetic.

I thought we were pretty ordinary, our passing was incredibly sloppy, eager was the standout player on the field, and our poor finishing may have cost us a home final. We deserved to go through but not a performance worth gloating about.

1-6. After scoring the first, Cooma have conceded the last 6.

+1

Also Bonnyrigg have just scored their fifth! Looks like we know where the final is probably gonna be played this year.... Hoping for 5 red cards in the Metro Stars game for at least a home semi

And 5 second half goals no less.

yeh assuming Bonnyrigg win next week, think we need the other game to go into extra time or penalties.

In order to determine the host Federation for the Semi Finals and Final, the following points system will apply at the conclusion of each stage of the Finals Series:

GOAL! MetroStars up against Bayswater City 1-0.

From the OP


So the QF results won't matter when it comes to who hosts the final. TBH you probably have a better chance of getting more points against Bayswater or metrostars than BWE will against Palm Beach (assuming they win tonight)

Still 0-0

Bad wording on my part. BWE v PB will be an even game is what I meant were as South will be favourites going into their game.

HAHA just realised it was Jamie Coyne that got the red #-o

60th and still no gaols.

Bayswater v metro stars has gone into penalties after a 0-0 scoreline, without knowing how many yellow cards were picked up I'm assuming south will be hosting next week regardless as a shoutout win is only worth one point.

South wins 1-0 so thats 3 points for a win in regulation time and another 3 points for scoring a goal...deduct 3 for the yellow cards leaves south on 6 points, metrostars pick up 1 point for a shoutout win but the yellow card brings them back to 0...if I've done this correct the semi final will be south v metrostars at lakeside.

Score update on the Sharks game?

-PB

80th 2-1 to palm beach.

Edited by tbitm: 20/9/2014 08:31:17 PM

For those talking up Palm Beach, you need to relax. Roar beat the 9-0 in a friendly this week.

Bonnyrigg rampant as Cooma bow out

Bonnyrigg White Eagles players celebrate scoring against Cooma Tigers.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles players celebrate scoring against Cooma Tigers.Saturday, 20 September 2014 - Russ Gibbs, Capital Football Comments
Bonnyrigg White Eagles cruised into the semi-finals of the Playstation 4 National Premier Leagues Finals Series with a thumping 6-1 success over Cooma Tigers at the AIS Athletics Track in Canberra. The NSW League Champions had to come from 1-0 down however before storming to victory with a scintillating second half display to which the Tigers had no answer.
After a cagey opening it was Cooma who took the lead with only ten minutes on the clock. Robbie Cattanach orchestrated it with a defence splitting pass over the top of the White Eagles defence for striker Jordan Lando to run onto. Lando’s first touch appeared heavy but he stretched to reach the ball ahead of the onrushing James Chronopolous and stab his effort past the Eagles’ ‘keeper and into the net.

That seemed to spur on the visitors who were level within twelve minutes. Throughout the match the Tigers’ defence struggled with the aerial threat of the NSW representatives and the goal was a direct result of their inability to compete in the air. Tynan Diaz was the provider, curling in a beautiful delivery which was begging to be headed home and Dylan Fox duly obliged, nodding into the net from close range.

And the Eagles almost had the lead on the half-hour. Another superb free-kick caused havoc in the Cooma defence and was deftly headed past Tigers’ stopper Jack Pettit but, to the relief of the home support, the goal was chalked off for offside. Cooma responded via a long-range Cattanach effort that was pushed away by Chronopolous as the half ended all-square at 1-1.

Bonnyrigg came out firing after the interval and a brace of goals within three minutes of each other swung the momentum of the game inexorably in their favour. From a corner in the 54 th minute Cooma once more failed to deal with the aerial threat and Nikola Zonjic was able to steal in unmarked and head firmly past Pettit from six yards. Two became three within minutes as Arron Peterson took advantage of some hesitant defending to slot home.

By now the White Eagles were showing their power and they went further ahead in the 63 rd minute with a cracking finish. Pettit could only clear a poor back-pass straight to Diaz who coolly picked his spot from thirty metres and cracked a beauty back over the head of the back-pedalling Cooma number one.

There was still more to come from the rampant White Eagles as Peterson was left unmarked on the penalty spot to swivel and pick his spot with nineteen minutes remaining and extend the lead. And the visitors racked up a sixth in the 79 th minute as Peterson turned provider, finding substitute Terik Ercan who in turn laid it on a plate for Alexander Doyle to bring up the half dozen.

Playstation 4 National Premier Leagues – 2014 Finals Series

Cooma Tigers 1 (Jordan Lando 10’)

Bonnyrigg White Eagles 6 (Dylan Fox 22’, Nikola Zonjic 54’, Arron Peterson 57’, 71’, Tynan Diaz 63’, Alexander Doyle 79’)

Statistics

Cooma Tigers: 24. Jack PETTIT, 3. Jordano SAN MARTIN, 4. Iain ELLIOTT, 5. Jeremias IBARRA, 6. Aden JOHNSON, 7. Goran JOSIFOVSKI, 8. Jordan LANDO, 9. Robbie CATTANACH, 10. Dejan SANTRAC (17. Jared TONINI 73’), 11. Stephen DOMENICI (15. Daniel ROBERTS 66’), 16. Phil YARNOLD (21. Sime CELESKI 73’)

Substitutes not used: 12. Domenic COLUCCIELLO, 14. Stefan TODOROSKI

Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 1. James CHRONOPOLOUS, 4. David VRANKOVIC (17. Mitchell OSMAND 68’), 5. Chris TADROSSE, 6. Nikola ZONJIC, 8. Alexander CANAK (26. Terik ERCAN 71’), 10. Tynan DIAZ, 12. Dylan FOX, 14. Jordan CRIGHTON (24. Alexander DOYLE 66’), 16. Howard FONDYKE, 19. Arron PETERSON, 21. Bo Hyun CHUN

Substitutes not used: 2. Alexander MANSUETO, 22. Liam GOBBO

Discipline: YELLOW CARDS: 3. Jordano SAN MARTIN, 5. Jeremias IBARRA, 7. Goran JOSIFOVSKI, 11. Stephen DOMENICI (Cooma Tigers)

Match Officials: Luke WITHELL (referee), Owen GOLDRICK, Adam POWERS, Gary VANDEBURGT (4 th Official)

Attendance: 288

MetroStars eclipse Bayswater on penalties

Bayswater City keeper Devon Spence secures the ball from a corner.
Bayswater City keeper Devon Spence secures the ball from a corner.Saturday, 20 September 2014 - Jonathan Cook, Football West Comments
MetroStars were taken to penalties by 10-man Bayswater City before booking their place in the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues semi-finals.
Goalkeeper Daniel Godley was MetroStars’ hero as both Sam Mitchinson and Trent Kay failed from the spot for Bayswater as the South Australian side scored a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory following 120 minutes of goalless action.

Western Australian outfit Bayswater were up against it after just 12 minutes when former Melbourne Heart, Perth Glory and Sydney midfielder Jamie Coyne was sent off.

Assistant referee Josh Manella had spotted Coyne’s tangle with Perry Mitris and after discussions with referee Adam Fielding, the younger brother of Bayswater coach Chris Coyne was dismissed.

Mitris almost engineered an extra-time winner for MetroStars but his header crashed against a post, while Adam Bachiller and James Isaia were unable to make the most of their late chances for Bayswater.

Despite the numerical advantage in the rising temperature, MetroStars had found it difficult to break down the home side at Frank Drago Reserve – and when they did find a way in behind, they found goalkeeper Devon Spence in excellent form.

Spence had to be alert to deny Anthony Solagna, Scott Tunbridge and Joseph Polisena as Fabian Barbiero pulled the strings in the middle of the park, while Chris Saldaris started and finished Bayswater’s best move of the first half with a shot that went wide.

Bayswater striker David Heagney screwed wide his chance just six minutes into the second half and then blasted into the side-netting from 25m before Godley denied Declan Hargreaves with a fine save.

Andrew Ciarla’s extra-time attempt was thwarted by Spence to ensure the stalemate was preserved and the match went to a shoot-out.

Adam Van Dommele, Barbiero, Stefan Cali and Mitris all made sure of their penalties to win it for the visitors.

Playstation 4 National Premier Leagues – 2014 Finals Series

Bayswater City 0

MetroStars SC 0 MetroStars win 4-3 on penalties

Frank Drago Reserve, Bayswater WA

Sharks comeback to bite Bears

Jarrod Kyle scores what proved to be the winner for Palm Beach Sharks.
Jarrod Kyle scores what proved to be the winner for Palm Beach Sharks.Saturday, 20 September 2014 - Blake Jarrett, Northern NSW Football Comments
Palm Beach Sharks overcame a 1-0 deficit to advance to the semi-finals of the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Finals Series with a 2-1 win over the Weston Workers Bears.
Palm Beach started the better of the two sides, and missed a golden chance to go ahead as Daniel Grzic headed over the bar from a metre out with an open goal looming after Chris Lucas beat Weston keeper James Wand.

Weston finally settled into the game, and in the twentieth minute Garry McDermott headed just wide of the right post. Eleven minutes later skipper Carl Thornton made no mistake, heading in a Nathan Morris free kick to send the Bears into half time with a 1-0 lead.

Ten minutes into the second half Palm Beach won themselves a penalty, and consequently a chance to get themselves back into the game. Chris Lucas stepped up and buried a strike into the bottom left hand corner, sending Wand the wrong way.

In the sixty-fifth minute Weston thought they had regained the lead, however Jack Boxell was all that stood between Jye Mckellar and the goal, clearing his shot off the line.

Eight minutes later Palm Beach struck the final blow, as Jarrod Kyle completed the matches scoring, firing a shot into the bottom left hand corner past a stranded Wand.

The win sees Palm Beach progress to the Semi Final, where they will take on Bonnyrigg White Eagles who defeated Cooma Tigers 6-1 earlier today.

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues - 2014 Elimination Finals

Weston Workers 1 (Thornton 36')

Palm Beach Sharks 2 (Lucas 56', Kyle 73')

Rockwell Automation Park, Weston NSW

South Melbourne strike early to down brave South Hobart

South Melbourne's Jamie Reed's scores from bicycle-kick.
South Melbourne's Jamie Reed's scores from bicycle-kick.Saturday, 20 September 2014 - Damian Gill, Football Federation Tasmania 1 Comment
South Melbourne are through to the Semi-Finals of the PS4 National Premier Leagues Final Series, with an early goal through Jamie Reed enough to see them past a gallant South Hobart at Darcy Street in Hobart.
Chris Taylor’s men started brightly away from home, striking an opener in just the sixth minute. Striker Jamie Reed punished South Hobart for failing to clear the danger, acrobatically finishing off with a bicycle kick from close range after a threatening James Musa header rebounded to the forward off the crossbar.

South Hobart winger Andy Brennan proved a handful for the South Melbourne defence with his pace posing problems to the Victorian’s defence. He very nearly popped home an equaliser for the Hobartians three minutes after South Melbourne’s opener, firing just across the face of goal to the left from an acute angle on the right.

His partner in crime Brayden Mann had a frustrating day at the office, denied a penalty in the 29th minute after he dinked by his marker only to be brought down in the box but to his astonishment play was waved on.

Late in the first half the encounter fired up with tempers flaring on both sides, with both Musa and Brennan shown yellow for poor challenges.

Brennan continued to loom as South Hobart’s most likely goal threat, but failed to find the back of the net, cannoning wide shots on two occasions in the 58th and 59th minutes.

After a great individual opening hour, Stephen Hatzikostas was forced from the pitch through injury after a collision with South Hobart midfielder Hugh Undy saw him helped off the field with a leg injury.

In the 72nd minute, it seemed certain the hosts would be reduced to 10 men, with South Hobart ‘keeper Kane Pierce collecting Milos Lujic, after the South Melbourne forward was put in one on one with the keeper. To the bemusement of the crowd and to the delight of South Hobart, Pierce was shown yellow for his last man professional foul, with officiating Referee Brenton Kopra ruling that full back Liam Scott was back in support.

Brennan looked likely to add to South Melbourne’s frustrations in the 79th minute but failed to finish, burning off his marker with a wonderful turn of speed the South Hobart spearhead squandered a golden chance, failing to test Chris Maynard, firing well wide of goal.

South Melbourne almost increased their advantage a minute later with Lujic forcing a tremendous save out of Pierce, with the gloveman stopping a goal bound shot with an agile effort, denying the Lujic drive with an outstretched boot.

Despite South Hobart’s best efforts, the Victorian Champions ran out deserved winners, with Lujic missing a chance to ice the win in the 95th minute, missing a tap in from close range, firing out of play off the crossbar.

South Melbourne now proceed to face the winner of Bayswater City and MetroStars, South Melbourne were deserved victors and despite leaving empty handed the Tasmanian Victory League Champions South Hobart were far from disgraced in a close contest between the pair at Darcy Street.
Playstation 4 National Premier Leagues - 2014 Finals Series

Elimination Final

South Hobart 0 defeated by

South Melbourne 1 (Jamie Reed 6’)

Darcy Street, South Hobart

Attendance: 800

I'd really like to know the answer to this.