The league may best be described as "semi-professional", with many players holding down day jobs and salaries considerably lower than AFL or rugby. The standard is also much lower than most European leagues. None of the current members of the Australian national team play in the NSL, though many played there for a year or two on their way to European clubs.
Many of the clubs formed from various European migrant communities, and still draw much of their support base from them, despite edicts from the governing body in the 1990s forcing the clubs to drop national or ethnic names and logos. A notable exception is Perth Glory, a relatively new and strikingly successful club which finally won the championship in 2002-3 after near-misses several years previous.
The competition structure is unlike most club soccer, with a regular season and the ultimate premier decided by a finals series culminating in a grand final. There are no separate "cup" and "league" competitions.
The league and clubs have struggled financially for many years. The league's administration is widely regarded as incompetent, though the recent appointment of a new board headed by billionaire businessman Frank Lowy may change this. A complete review of the league's structure is promised.
| Champions in previous seasons | |
|---|---|
| Season | Winner |
| 2002-03 | Perth Glory |
| 2001-02 | Olympic Sharks |
| 2000-01 | Wollongong Wolves |
| 1999-00 | Wollongong Wolves |
| 1998-99 | South Melbourne |
| 1997-98 | South Melbourne |
| 1996-97 | Brisbane Strikers |
| 1995-96 | Melbourne Knights |
| 1994-95 | Melbourne Knights |
| 1993-94 | Adelaide City |
| 1992-93 | Marconi Stallions |
| 1991-92 | Adelaide City |
| 1990-91 | South Melbourne |
| 1989-90 | Olympic Sharks |
| 1989 | Marconi Stallions |
| 1988 | Marconi Stallions |
| 1987 | Leichhardt |
| 1986 | Adelaide City |
| 1985 | Brunswick |
| 1984 | South Melbourne |
| 1983 | St. George |
| 1982 | Sydney City |
| 1981 | Sydney City |
| 1980 | Sydney City |
| 1979 | Marconi Stallions |
| 1978 | Adelaide Sharks |
| 1977 | Sydney City |