Australian Shardball League
Current season, competition or edition: 2014 Shardball season | |
| File:ASLlogo.png | |
| Sport | Shardball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 |
| First season | 2011 |
| CEO | (TBD) |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Country | Australia |
| Most recent champion(s) | Adelaide Forge (2013) |
| Most titles | Melbourne Titans (1) Sydney Shardhawks (1) Adelaide Forge (1) |
| TV partner(s) | Seven Network Foxtel / Kayo |
| Official website | shardball.com |
The Australian Shardball League (ASL) is the premier professional competition in the sport of Shardball, contested by eight clubs based across Australia. Established in 2011, the ASL serves as the highest level of organised Shardball and operates on a fully professional basis, featuring a 22-round home-and-away season followed by a four-team finals series culminating in the ASL Grand Final.
The ASL is governed by the Australian Shardball Commission and has quickly grown into one of the country’s most prominent national sporting competitions. Only three teams have won the major premiership title being Melbourne Titans (2011), Sydney Shardhawks (2012), and Adelaide Forge (2013). Similar to the Australian Football League (AFL), teams can be given a minor premiership award, by topping the ladder each season. Only two teams have been given this Melbourne Titans (2011 & 2012) and Adelaide Forge (2013).
History[edit | edit source]
Shardball developed as a hybridised field sport in the late 2000s, combining elements of traditional Australian rules football with experimental ball-shaping designed to emphasise aerial contests and angular kicking strategies. Formal codification of the sport led to the establishment of the Australian Shardball League in 2011, bringing together foundation clubs from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Darwin and Canberra.
The league’s inaugural season in 2011 saw the Melbourne Titans complete an undefeated campaign, defeating the Sydney Shardhawks in the first ASL Grand Final.
Competition format[edit | edit source]
The Australian Shardball League season traditionally runs from March to September, spanning just over six months of competition. The calendar is designed to balance a lengthy home-and-away fixture with a concise finals series, ensuring both consistency and high-stakes drama across the year.
During the home-and-away season, each club plays 22 matches across 22 rounds. With eight clubs in the league, the schedule rotates so that each side faces every opponent three times over the course of the season. This structure ensures a balanced fixture while maintaining rivalries and creating variety for supporters.
At the conclusion of the regular rounds, the top four teams on the ladder progress to the finals. The series is staged across two weeks, beginning with the semi-finals, in which the first-placed team plays the third-placed side and the second meets the fourth. The winners of these matches advance to the ASL Grand Final, which determines the season’s premiers.
Premiership points are awarded throughout the home-and-away season to decide ladder positions. Teams receive four points for a win, two points for a draw, and no points for a loss. This simple structure incentivises consistency across the full 22 rounds, as even a single loss or draw can significantly alter the finals picture.
If two or more teams finish on the same number of premiership points, positions are separated by percentage. This is calculated by dividing the total points scored for by the total points conceded against, multiplied by 100. The percentage system rewards not only victories but also the ability to maintain strong margins, making it a critical factor in the race for finals qualification.
Clubs[edit | edit source]
By the start of the 2011 season, the Australian Shardball League had settled into an eight-team format that would remain in place for much of the decade. The foundation clubs were the Melbourne Titans, Sydney Shardhawks, Brisbane Breakers, Adelaide Forge, Perth Ironfangs, Hobart Crags, Darwin Cyclones, and Canberra Sentinels. That year saw the league produce one of its most memorable campaigns, as Melbourne completed an unprecedented undefeated run, finishing on top of the ladder before defeating Sydney in the Grand Final to claim their first premiership. The Titans’ dominance, coupled with a spirited challenge from Adelaide and Sydney, established a competitive balance among the top sides, while Hobart struggled to find form and finished last.
In 2012 the same eight teams again contested the premiership, with expectations that Melbourne would repeat their success. While the Titans once more secured the minor premiership, the season became defined by rising rivalries and closer competition. Adelaide maintained strong pressure near the top, while Sydney bounced back from a patchy start to upset Melbourne in the finals and advance to the decider. Adelaide remained a consistent challenger, though they fell short in September. At the other end, Hobart showed modest improvement, recording several upset wins, while Darwin and Perth endured rebuilding years. Canberra, despite occasional flashes, again fell short of the finals, underlining the depth gap between the league’s contenders and strugglers.
The Sydney Shardhawks entered the 2013 season as the defending premiers but endured an inconsistent campaign, finishing fifth and becoming the first club to miss the finals in their title defence. Adelaide Forge emerged as the standout side of the year, securing the minor premiership with a 15–7 record and carrying that form into September. After overcoming the Brisbane Breakers in their semi-final, Forge faced the resurgent Hobart Crags—who had stunned the Melbourne Titans in the other semi—in the Grand Final. In front of a strong crowd, Adelaide sealed their first ASL premiership with a 17.11 (113) to 15.12 (102) victory, completing a season in which they claimed both the minor premiership and premiership honours.
Seasons[edit | edit source]
| Year | Premiers (score) | Runners-up (score) | Venue | Date of Play | Minor Premiers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Melbourne Titans 16.12 (108) | Sydney Shardhawks 14.11 (95) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 28 August 2011 | Melbourne Titans |
| 2012 | Sydney Shardhawks 16.14 (110) | Adelaide Forge 14.16 (100) | 19 August 2012 | ||
| 2013 | Adelaide Forge 17.11 (113) | Hobart Crags 15.12 (102) | 18 August 2013 | Adelaide Forge | |
| 2014 | — | — | ? | ? |
Trophy and awards[edit | edit source]
- Aurora Trophy – awarded to the premiership team
- ASL Medal – league best and fairest, voted by umpires
- Coleman Medal (Shardball) – leading goalkicker of the season
- Grand Final Best on Ground Medal – awarded to the standout player in the ASL Grand Final
Media[edit | edit source]
The league holds national broadcast agreements with the Seven Network and Foxtel/Kayo, with all matches televised live. Major finals matches are simulcast on free-to-air television. The ASL also operates digital streaming and highlights services.