# 1986 National Soccer League

The National Soccer League 1986 season was the tenth season of the National Soccer League in Australia. The season was again played with two Conferences as separate leagues, followed by a conference playoff final. The Grand Final was won by Adelaide City over Sydney Olympic.

## League tables

Northern Conference
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Sydney Croatia | 22 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 43 | 18 | +25 | 32 | Qualification for the Finals series |
| 2 | Sydney Olympic | 22 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 33 | 22 | +11 | 27 | Qualification for the Finals series |
| 3 | St George-Budapest | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 33 | 29 | +4 | 27 | Qualification for the Finals series |
| 4 | Marconi Fairfield | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 35 | 22 | +13 | 25 | Qualification for the Finals series |
| 5 | Sydney City | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 36 | 27 | +9 | 24 | Qualification for the Finals series and Oceania Cup Winners' Cup |
| 6 | Newcastle Rosebud United (R) | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 36 | 33 | +3 | 24 | Relegation to the 1987 NSW State League |
| 7 | APIA Leichhardt | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 23 | +2 | 24 | |
| 8 | Wollongong City (R) | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 26 | 25 | +1 | 23 | Relegation to the 1987 NSW State League |
| 9 | Blacktown City (R) | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 24 | 36 | −12 | 20 | Relegation to the 1987 NSW State League |
| 10 | Canberra City (R) | 22 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 27 | −6 | 16 | Relegation to the 1987 NSW State League |
| 11 | Canterbury Marrickville (R) | 22 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 41 | −24 | 11 | Relegation to the 1987 NSW State League |
| 12 | Inter Monaro (R) | 22 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 17 | 43 | −26 | 11 | Relegation to the 1987 NSW State League |
* ↑ Sydney City qualified for the 1987 Oceania Cup Winners' Cup as the 1986 NSL Cup winners.
Southern Conference
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Brunswick Juventus | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 37 | 21 | +16 | 28 | Qualification for the Finals series |
| 2 | Footscray JUST | 22 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 29 | 27 | +2 | 28 | Qualification for the Finals series |
| 3 | Adelaide City (C) | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 32 | 19 | +13 | 27 | Qualification for the Finals series and Oceania Club Championship |
| 4 | Sunshine George Cross | 22 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 26 | 17 | +9 | 27 | Qualification for the Finals series |
| 5 | Heidelberg United | 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 35 | 25 | +10 | 26 | Qualification for the Finals series |
| 6 | Preston Makedonia | 22 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 30 | 20 | +10 | 25 | |
| 7 | South Melbourne | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 27 | 20 | +7 | 25 | |
| 8 | Brisbane Lions (R) | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 27 | 28 | −1 | 19 | Relegation to the 1987 Brisbane Premier League |
| 9 | West Adelaide (R) | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 26 | 34 | −8 | 18 | Relegation to the 1987 South Australian Division One |
| 10 | Melbourne Croatia | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 25 | 33 | −8 | 18 | |
| 11 | Brisbane City (R) | 22 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 18 | 46 | −28 | 13 | Relegation to the 1987 Brisbane Premier League |
| 12 | Green Gully (R) | 22 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 16 | 38 | −22 | 10 | Relegation to the 1987 Victorian State League |

## Finals series

Northern Conference
| Elimination and qualifying Finals | Elimination and qualifying Finals | Elimination and qualifying Finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Preliminary Final | Preliminary Final | Preliminary Final | Northern Final | Northern Final | Northern Final |
| | | | 1 | Sydney Croatia | 0 | | | | 2 | Sydney Olympic | 3 |
| | | | 3 | St George-Budapest | 3 | | | | 3 | St George-Budapest | 2 |
| 2 | Sydney Olympic | 0 | | | | 1 | Sydney Croatia | 3 | | | |
| 3 | St George-Budapest | 1 | | | | 2 | Sydney Olympic | 4 | | | |
| | | | 2 | Sydney Olympic | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Marconi Fairfield | 0 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Marconi Fairfield | 3 (4) | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Sydney City | 3 (3) | | | | | | | | | |
Southern Conference
| Elimination and qualifying Finals | Elimination and qualifying Finals | Elimination and qualifying Finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Preliminary Final | Preliminary Final | Preliminary Final | Southern Final | Southern Final | Southern Final |
| | | | 1 | Brunswick Juventus | 0 | | | | 2 | Footscray JUST | 1 |
| | | | 3 | Adelaide City | 2 | | | | 3 | Adelaide City | 2 |
| 2 | Footscray JUST | 2 | | | | 1 | Brunswick Juventus | 1 | | | |
| 3 | Adelaide City | 3 | | | | 2 | Footscray JUST | 2 | | | |
| | | | 2 | Footscray JUST | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Sunshine George Cross | 0 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Sunshine George Cross | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Heidelberg United | 1 | | | | | | | | | |

### Grand Final

* Adelaide City win 3-2 on aggregate

## Individual awards

* Referee's Player of the Year: Bobby Russell (South Melbourne)
* Player's Player of the Year: Graham Arnold (Sydney Croatia)
* U-21 Player of the Year: Ernie Tapai (Melbourne Croatia)
* Top Scorer(s): Graham Arnold (Sydney Croatia) 15 goals
* Coach of the Year: Drago Sekularic (Melbourne Croatia)