2017 Shardball season
| 2017 ASL premiership season | |
|---|---|
| File:2017SBSlogo.png | |
| Overview | |
| Date | 3 March – 27 August 2017 |
| Teams | 12 |
| Premiers | Sydney Shardhawks 2nd premiership |
| Runners-up | Brisbane Breakers 1st runners-up result |
| Minor premiers | Melbourne Titans 5th minor premiership |
| Brownlow Medallist | Connor Hayes 29 votes |
| Coleman Medallist | Jack Harrington 73 goals |
| Matches played | 132 |
Updated to after 2017 Grand Final. | |
The 2017 Shardball season was the seventh season of the Australian Shardball League (ASL), and the first season contested by twelve clubs following the league’s first major expansion. The season introduced four new clubs: the Geelong Granite, Gold Coast Rays, Newcastle Steel, and Western Sydney Wardens. It was played across a 22-round home-and-away season, with each club facing every other club twice, followed by the league’s first six-team finals series.
The season was won by the Sydney Shardhawks, who defeated the Brisbane Breakers in the 2017 ASL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, 16.11 (107) to 14.16 (100). It was Sydney’s second ASL premiership, following their 2012 title, and made them the second club after the Melbourne Titans to win multiple premierships.
The 2017 season was one of the most important in the ASL’s early history. The addition of four clubs changed the league’s competitive structure, broadcast footprint, player market, and finals system. While the expansion clubs struggled for consistency, they also brought new crowds, new rivalries, and a more national shape to the competition. Melbourne won the minor premiership for the fifth time, Brisbane returned to the Grand Final for the first time since their 2014 premiership, and Sydney completed a late-season surge to win the premiership from third place.
Background and overview[edit | edit source]
Expansion[edit | edit source]
Following the completion of the 2016 season, the Australian Shardball Commission confirmed that the ASL would expand from eight to twelve clubs for 2017. The decision ended six seasons of stability under the foundation-club model and marked the league’s first major structural change since its establishment in 2011.
The four expansion licences were awarded to Geelong, the Gold Coast, Newcastle, and Western Sydney. The Commission argued that each market filled a different strategic need. Geelong strengthened the league’s Victorian base beyond Melbourne, the Gold Coast gave Queensland a second club after Brisbane’s 2014 premiership growth, Newcastle created a regional New South Wales presence, and Western Sydney gave the league a second team in Australia’s largest metropolitan market.
Each expansion club was granted access to an expansion draft, priority academy selections, and additional list spots for its first two seasons. Existing clubs were permitted to protect a core group of senior players, while unprotected players could be selected by the new teams. The rules were designed to make the expansion sides competitive without heavily damaging foundation clubs.
The decision was controversial. Coaches warned that the player pool would be stretched too thin, while several foundation clubs argued that the expansion draft rewarded new clubs before they had developed their own talent. Broadcasters and league administrators strongly supported the move, viewing the expanded national footprint as essential to the next media rights cycle.
Overview[edit | edit source]
The first expanded season produced a clear divide between established clubs and new teams. Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Hobart filled the top six, meaning all finals places were taken by foundation clubs. The expansion clubs showed flashes of promise but lacked the depth and defensive cohesion required to sustain full-season finals challenges.
Melbourne were the strongest home-and-away side, finishing on top with a 17–5 record. The Titans remained the league’s most consistent regular-season club, but their finals campaign again ended in disappointment after losses to Brisbane and Sydney. Brisbane finished second and became the most defensively reliable team in the expanded competition, conceding fewer points than any other club.
Sydney’s premiership was built on timing. The Shardhawks were inconsistent early, sharpened through the middle of the season, and entered the finals with a healthier list than either Melbourne or Brisbane. Their pressure game returned to the level that had defined their 2012 premiership, while Blake Foster, Elliot Mercer, and Jordan Vale became one of the strongest attacking combinations in the league.
Perth and Adelaide both remained competitive without becoming genuine premiership favourites. Hobart returned to finals for the first time since 2013, while Canberra finished seventh and narrowly missed the expanded finals series. Newcastle were the best of the expansion clubs, finishing eighth with a respectable 9–13 record.
League developments[edit | edit source]
The 2017 season introduced the ASL’s first six-team finals series. Under the new system, the top two teams played a qualifying final, while third played sixth and fourth played fifth in elimination finals. The winner of the qualifying final advanced directly to the Grand Final, while the loser entered the preliminary final pathway. The system was adopted as a short-term solution while the league monitored whether twelve clubs justified a longer finals structure.
The home-and-away fixture was also redesigned. With twelve clubs, the ASL moved to a pure double round-robin format, with each club playing every other club once at home and once away. League officials described the fixture as the fairest in ASL history, though travel demands increased significantly for clubs based in Perth, Darwin, and the eastern expansion markets.
A competitive balance tax was introduced alongside the expansion draft. Clubs that exceeded football department spending thresholds were required to contribute to a central equalisation fund, which supported academy programs in the new markets. The measure was unpopular among wealthier clubs but became a key part of the Commission’s argument that expansion would not simply favour established teams.
Clubs[edit | edit source]
| Club | Coach | Leadership group | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain(s) | Vice-captain(s) | Other leader(s) | ||
| Sydney Shardhawks | Daniel Kerrigan | Blake Foster | Aaron Kane, Riley Thomas | Elliot Mercer, Marcus O’Neill, Jordan Vale |
| Melbourne Titans | Matthew Horne | Nathan Cross | Dylan Marks, Corey Ellison | Jack Harrington, Lucas Webb, Trent Miles |
| Brisbane Breakers | Craig Morton | Liam Drummond | Connor Hayes, Josh Farrelly | Tyson Cole, Brandon Harper, Marcus Hale |
| Adelaide Forge | Peter Lawton | Mitchell Grant | Zachary Doyle | Patrick Laird, Cameron Bishop, Noah Ward |
| Perth Ironfangs | Darren McIntyre | Owen Marshall | Jared Collins, Kyle Rivers | Heath Stanton, Damien Cole, Mason Bell |
| Hobart Crags | Andrew McPherson | Samuel Clarke | Oliver Kent | Matthew Dunbar, Lachlan Frost |
| Darwin Cyclones | Paul Hennessy | Jacob Reynolds | Daniel McCallum | Kieran Hunt, Sean Parker, Aaron Talbot |
| Canberra Sentinels | Michael Kerr | Ryan Gallagher | Matthew O’Connor | Dean Wallace, Corey Summers, Josh Hammond |
| Geelong Granite | Brett Callinan | Isaac Rourke | Tom Varcoe, Miles Hanley | Aaron Pike, Caleb Doyle |
| Gold Coast Rays | Simon O’Dea | Marcus Bell | Jayden Walsh, Cooper Voss | Noah Fenwick, Lachlan Reed |
| Newcastle Steel | Adrian Talbot | Patrick Keane | Aidan Bell, Luke Ferris | Cameron Royce, Ben Tranter |
| Western Sydney Wardens | Mark Delaney | Daniel Russo | Eli Sayers, Reece Holland | Jonah McBride, Thomas Vale |
Home-and-away season[edit | edit source]
Opening rounds[edit | edit source]
The opening round was staged as the league’s first expansion showcase, with all four new clubs appearing across the first weekend. Western Sydney produced the first major shock of the expanded era by defeating Melbourne at the MCG, Newcastle debuted against Sydney, the Gold Coast opened with the first Queensland derby against Brisbane, and Geelong began its campaign away to Adelaide before staging its first Kardinia Park home match later in March.
The early rounds showed the scale of the challenge facing the expansion teams. Western Sydney and Geelong struggled defensively, while Gold Coast relied heavily on fast counter-attacking rather than sustained possession. Newcastle were the most organised of the four new sides and produced several early wins that briefly placed them in the finals conversation.
Melbourne began the year strongly, while Brisbane’s defensive system looked immediately suited to the larger competition. Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, and Hobart all traded results through the opening third of the season, creating a tight pack behind the top two.
Mid-season[edit | edit source]
By the middle of the season, the ladder had started to separate. Melbourne and Brisbane established themselves as the most consistent sides, while Sydney’s form began to lift after a shaky opening month. Connor Hayes became the leading contender for the ASL Medal through this period, driving Brisbane’s midfield and becoming the most influential two-way player in the competition.
Adelaide and Perth spent much of the middle part of the year fighting for fourth position. Perth’s premiership defence was honest but less explosive than their 2016 campaign, with opponents better prepared for their contested style. Adelaide were cleaner than in previous seasons but continued to lose important matches away from home.
Hobart’s return to finals contention was one of the more surprising developments. The Crags were not as spectacular as their 2013 Grand Final side, but they were harder to score against and more stable late in matches. Canberra remained close enough to threaten the top six but lost several matches against direct rivals.
Run home[edit | edit source]
The final month was defined by three battles: Melbourne and Brisbane fighting for the minor premiership, Sydney pushing for a top-three finish, and Hobart, Canberra, and Newcastle competing for the final finals position.
Melbourne sealed the minor premiership in Round 22, defeating Geelong while Brisbane were unable to close the percentage gap. Sydney locked in third with a strong final month, while Perth and Adelaide finished fourth and fifth respectively. Hobart claimed sixth place, holding off Canberra and Newcastle despite a heavy Round 21 loss to Brisbane.
The expansion clubs finished outside the finals, but their seasons were not viewed equally. Newcastle’s 9–13 record was considered a strong foundation year, Gold Coast showed commercial promise despite inconsistency, Geelong built a strong home crowd, and Western Sydney endured a difficult but important entry into a crowded Sydney sporting market.
Games[edit | edit source]
| Round 1 – 2017 ASL Season (Expansion Opening Round) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 3 March (7:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 12.16 (88) | lost to | Western Sydney Wardens 14.12 (96) | MCG (42,984) |
| Saturday, 4 March (1:45 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 13.14 (92) | def. | Newcastle Steel 10.11 (71) | Sydney Football Stadium (34,253) |
| Saturday, 4 March (4:40 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 19.7 (121) | def. | Gold Coast Rays 13.10 (88) | The Gabba (29,960) |
| Saturday, 4 March (7:20 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 16.7 (103) | def. | Geelong Granite 12.6 (78) | Adelaide Oval (28,921) |
| Sunday, 5 March (1:10 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 14.18 (102) | def. | Canberra Sentinels 12.18 (90) | Subiaco Oval (30,150) |
| Sunday, 5 March (3:40 pm) | Hobart Crags | 17.10 (112) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 10.12 (72) | Bellerive Oval (20,096) |
| Round 2 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 10 March (7:40 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 11.15 (81) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 17.18 (120) | Hunter Stadium (20,693) |
| Saturday, 11 March (1:45 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 15.6 (96) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 12.18 (90) | Carrara Stadium (18,041) |
| Saturday, 11 March (4:40 pm) | Geelong Granite | 16.9 (105) | def. | Sydney Shardhawks 14.18 (102) | Kardinia Park (23,970) |
| Saturday, 11 March (7:20 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 15.14 (104) | lost to | Brisbane Breakers 18.11 (119) | Manuka Oval (15,968) |
| Sunday, 12 March (1:10 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 8.10 (58) | lost to | Adelaide Forge 14.16 (100) | TIO Stadium (16,199) |
| Sunday, 12 March (3:40 pm) | Hobart Crags | 12.8 (80) | lost to | Perth Ironfangs 13.14 (92) | Bellerive Oval (23,392) |
| Round 3 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 17 March (7:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 16.11 (107) | def. | Gold Coast Rays 9.12 (66) | MCG (40,049) |
| Saturday, 18 March (1:45 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 15.14 (104) | def. | Geelong Granite 15.7 (97) | Hunter Stadium (18,593) |
| Saturday, 18 March (4:40 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 12.17 (89) | lost to | Canberra Sentinels 19.9 (123) | Parramatta Stadium (21,980) |
| Saturday, 18 March (7:20 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 13.14 (92) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 10.14 (74) | Sydney Football Stadium (30,630) |
| Sunday, 19 March (1:10 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 14.9 (93) | def. | Hobart Crags 12.12 (84) | The Gabba (29,608) |
| Sunday, 19 March (3:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 13.13 (91) | lost to | Perth Ironfangs 16.16 (112) | Adelaide Oval (36,923) |
| Round 4 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 24 March (7:40 pm) | Geelong Granite | 12.12 (84) | def. | Melbourne Titans 11.12 (78) | Kardinia Park (24,232) |
| Saturday, 25 March (1:45 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 15.17 (107) | def. | Gold Coast Rays 14.13 (97) | Manuka Oval (19,849) |
| Saturday, 25 March (4:40 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 16.9 (105) | lost to | Newcastle Steel 18.15 (123) | TIO Stadium (13,949) |
| Saturday, 25 March (7:20 pm) | Hobart Crags | 13.17 (95) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 12.8 (80) | Bellerive Oval (20,414) |
| Sunday, 26 March (1:10 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 14.9 (93) | lost to | Sydney Shardhawks 16.9 (105) | Subiaco Oval (30,003) |
| Sunday, 26 March (3:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 11.7 (73) | lost to | Brisbane Breakers 14.14 (98) | Adelaide Oval (32,337) |
| Round 5 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 31 March (7:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 14.12 (96) | def. | Canberra Sentinels 8.17 (65) | MCG (39,624) |
| Saturday, 1 April (1:45 pm) | Geelong Granite | 18.8 (116) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 13.16 (94) | Kardinia Park (25,238) |
| Saturday, 1 April (4:40 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 10.9 (69) | lost to | Hobart Crags 14.10 (94) | Carrara Stadium (19,921) |
| Saturday, 1 April (7:20 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 16.10 (106) | def. | Perth Ironfangs 15.9 (99) | Hunter Stadium (22,446) |
| Sunday, 2 April (1:10 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 11.18 (84) | lost to | Adelaide Forge 15.15 (105) | Parramatta Stadium (20,915) |
| Sunday, 2 April (3:40 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 11.13 (79) | lost to | Brisbane Breakers 15.14 (104) | Sydney Football Stadium (29,183) |
| Round 6 – 2017 ASL Season (Gather Round) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 7 April (7:40 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 15.12 (102) | def. | Melbourne Titans 12.13 (85) | TIO Stadium (14,036) |
| Saturday, 8 April (1:45 pm) | Hobart Crags | 15.15 (105) | def. | Canberra Sentinels 14.15 (99) | Bellerive Oval (20,908) |
| Saturday, 8 April (4:40 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 18.10 (118) | def. | Geelong Granite 15.7 (97) | Subiaco Oval (29,024) |
| Saturday, 8 April (7:20 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 17.9 (111) | def. | Gold Coast Rays 15.16 (106) | Adelaide Oval (31,750) |
| Sunday, 9 April (1:10 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 14.11 (95) | def. | Newcastle Steel 12.11 (83) | The Gabba (30,754) |
| Sunday, 9 April (3:40 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 17.17 (119) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 16.10 (106) | Sydney Football Stadium (33,853) |
| Round 7 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 14 April (7:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 17.14 (116) | def. | Hobart Crags 14.7 (91) | MCG (41,636) |
| Saturday, 15 April (1:45 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 13.17 (95) | def. | Perth Ironfangs 12.12 (84) | TIO Stadium (14,937) |
| Saturday, 15 April (4:40 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 11.18 (84) | lost to | Adelaide Forge 13.10 (88) | Manuka Oval (18,028) |
| Saturday, 15 April (7:20 pm) | Geelong Granite | 13.7 (85) | def. | Brisbane Breakers 11.17 (83) | Kardinia Park (20,368) |
| Sunday, 16 April (1:10 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 10.6 (66) | lost to | Sydney Shardhawks 15.8 (98) | Carrara Stadium (20,656) |
| Sunday, 16 April (3:40 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 14.17 (101) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 12.7 (79) | Hunter Stadium (22,550) |
| Round 8 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 21 April (7:40 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 17.7 (109) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 18.14 (122) | Subiaco Oval (26,620) |
| Saturday, 22 April (1:45 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 19.7 (121) | def. | Hobart Crags 16.15 (111) | Adelaide Oval (28,367) |
| Saturday, 22 April (4:40 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 18.16 (124) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 16.11 (107) | The Gabba (26,305) |
| Saturday, 22 April (7:20 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 15.16 (106) | def. | Canberra Sentinels 13.17 (95) | Sydney Football Stadium (29,510) |
| Sunday, 23 April (1:10 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 12.11 (83) | lost to | Geelong Granite 14.11 (95) | Parramatta Stadium (21,517) |
| Sunday, 23 April (3:40 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 16.8 (104) | def. | Gold Coast Rays 11.17 (83) | Hunter Stadium (19,011) |
| Round 9 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 28 April (7:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 15.17 (107) | def. | Adelaide Forge 14.14 (98) | MCG (42,142) |
| Saturday, 29 April (1:45 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 8.15 (63) | lost to | Brisbane Breakers 13.10 (88) | Subiaco Oval (26,134) |
| Saturday, 29 April (4:40 pm) | Hobart Crags | 11.7 (73) | lost to | Sydney Shardhawks 12.18 (90) | Bellerive Oval (22,355) |
| Saturday, 29 April (7:20 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 12.17 (89) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 9.13 (67) | TIO Stadium (15,312) |
| Sunday, 30 April (1:10 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 15.17 (107) | def. | Newcastle Steel 13.12 (90) | Manuka Oval (16,954) |
| Sunday, 30 April (3:40 pm) | Geelong Granite | 14.9 (93) | lost to | Gold Coast Rays 15.12 (102) | Kardinia Park (23,794) |
| Round 10 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 5 May (7:40 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 14.15 (99) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 16.11 (107) | The Gabba (29,629) |
| Saturday, 6 May (1:45 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 19.9 (123) | def. | Adelaide Forge 16.8 (104) | Sydney Football Stadium (30,564) |
| Saturday, 6 May (4:40 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 8.10 (58) | lost to | Perth Ironfangs 12.17 (89) | Parramatta Stadium (24,976) |
| Saturday, 6 May (7:20 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 14.16 (100) | lost to | Hobart Crags 16.9 (105) | Hunter Stadium (20,525) |
| Sunday, 7 May (1:10 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 15.16 (106) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 14.11 (95) | Carrara Stadium (19,224) |
| Sunday, 7 May (3:40 pm) | Geelong Granite | 11.15 (81) | lost to | Canberra Sentinels 13.11 (89) | Kardinia Park (23,659) |
| Round 11 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 12 May (7:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 16.10 (106) | def. | Sydney Shardhawks 13.7 (85) | MCG (44,966) |
| Saturday, 13 May (1:45 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 16.6 (102) | lost to | Western Sydney Wardens 15.14 (104) | The Gabba (27,146) |
| Saturday, 13 May (4:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 16.11 (107) | def. | Newcastle Steel 14.6 (90) | Adelaide Oval (31,295) |
| Saturday, 13 May (7:20 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 19.9 (123) | def. | Gold Coast Rays 14.12 (96) | Subiaco Oval (25,328) |
| Sunday, 14 May (1:10 pm) | Hobart Crags | 14.16 (100) | def. | Geelong Granite 11.18 (84) | Bellerive Oval (18,800) |
| Sunday, 14 May (3:40 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 11.14 (80) | lost to | Canberra Sentinels 14.9 (93) | TIO Stadium (14,304) |
| Round 12 – 2017 ASL Season (Rivalry Round) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 19 May (7:40 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 13.7 (85) | def. | Melbourne Titans 11.9 (75) | Parramatta Stadium (22,096) |
| Saturday, 20 May (1:45 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 11.11 (77) | lost to | Sydney Shardhawks 12.17 (89) | Hunter Stadium (27,271) |
| Saturday, 20 May (4:40 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 11.10 (76) | lost to | Brisbane Breakers 17.10 (112) | Carrara Stadium (24,921) |
| Saturday, 20 May (7:20 pm) | Geelong Granite | 13.18 (96) | lost to | Adelaide Forge 16.13 (109) | Kardinia Park (23,321) |
| Sunday, 21 May (1:10 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 12.8 (80) | lost to | Perth Ironfangs 12.18 (90) | Manuka Oval (14,552) |
| Sunday, 21 May (3:40 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 14.14 (98) | lost to | Hobart Crags 17.17 (119) | TIO Stadium (17,122) |
| Round 13 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 26 May (7:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 14.17 (101) | def. | Newcastle Steel 10.13 (73) | MCG (40,066) |
| Saturday, 27 May (1:45 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 12.18 (90) | lost to | Gold Coast Rays 14.13 (97) | Parramatta Stadium (24,589) |
| Saturday, 27 May (4:40 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 16.11 (107) | def. | Geelong Granite 13.15 (93) | Sydney Football Stadium (31,204) |
| Saturday, 27 May (7:20 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 12.18 (90) | def. | Canberra Sentinels 10.12 (72) | The Gabba (30,769) |
| Sunday, 28 May (1:10 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 17.8 (110) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 11.16 (82) | Adelaide Oval (33,387) |
| Sunday, 28 May (3:40 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 16.11 (107) | def. | Hobart Crags 14.6 (90) | Subiaco Oval (25,889) |
| Round 14 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 2 June (7:40 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 15.11 (101) | def. | Melbourne Titans 13.13 (91) | Carrara Stadium (17,259) |
| Saturday, 3 June (1:45 pm) | Geelong Granite | 11.13 (79) | lost to | Newcastle Steel 15.9 (99) | Kardinia Park (25,687) |
| Saturday, 3 June (4:40 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 19.10 (124) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 12.17 (89) | Manuka Oval (17,535) |
| Saturday, 3 June (7:20 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 14.11 (95) | def. | Sydney Shardhawks 13.15 (93) | TIO Stadium (13,730) |
| Sunday, 4 June (1:10 pm) | Hobart Crags | 17.6 (108) | lost to | Brisbane Breakers 19.10 (124) | Bellerive Oval (19,451) |
| Sunday, 4 June (3:40 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 18.15 (123) | def. | Adelaide Forge 18.9 (117) | Subiaco Oval (29,921) |
| Round 15 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 9 June (7:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 12.18 (90) | def. | Geelong Granite 10.8 (68) | MCG (47,711) |
| Saturday, 10 June (1:45 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 16.8 (104) | lost to | Canberra Sentinels 18.16 (124) | Carrara Stadium (19,790) |
| Saturday, 10 June (4:40 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 15.14 (104) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 13.7 (85) | Hunter Stadium (18,602) |
| Saturday, 10 June (7:20 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 13.17 (95) | lost to | Hobart Crags 15.14 (104) | Parramatta Stadium (21,159) |
| Sunday, 11 June (1:10 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 19.7 (121) | def. | Perth Ironfangs 17.12 (114) | Sydney Football Stadium (34,435) |
| Sunday, 11 June (3:40 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 17.15 (117) | def. | Adelaide Forge 16.10 (106) | The Gabba (25,847) |
| Round 16 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 16 June (7:40 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 11.9 (75) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 16.14 (110) | Manuka Oval (18,207) |
| Saturday, 17 June (1:45 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 15.16 (106) | lost to | Geelong Granite 17.14 (116) | TIO Stadium (18,846) |
| Saturday, 17 June (4:40 pm) | Hobart Crags | 17.15 (117) | def. | Gold Coast Rays 13.13 (91) | Bellerive Oval (23,023) |
| Saturday, 17 June (7:20 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 14.12 (96) | def. | Newcastle Steel 9.18 (72) | Subiaco Oval (27,134) |
| Sunday, 18 June (1:10 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 15.16 (106) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 14.8 (92) | Adelaide Oval (33,133) |
| Sunday, 18 June (3:40 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 14.17 (101) | def. | Sydney Shardhawks 13.9 (87) | The Gabba (31,172) |
| Round 17 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 23 June (7:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 16.11 (107) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 13.15 (93) | MCG (39,248) |
| Saturday, 24 June (1:45 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 14.8 (92) | lost to | Hobart Crags 15.14 (104) | Manuka Oval (19,582) |
| Saturday, 24 June (4:40 pm) | Geelong Granite | 12.8 (80) | lost to | Perth Ironfangs 17.12 (114) | Kardinia Park (22,421) |
| Saturday, 24 June (7:20 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 16.9 (105) | def. | Adelaide Forge 16.7 (103) | Carrara Stadium (21,922) |
| Sunday, 25 June (1:10 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 12.14 (86) | lost to | Brisbane Breakers 15.12 (102) | Hunter Stadium (18,794) |
| Sunday, 25 June (3:40 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 12.18 (90) | def. | Sydney Shardhawks 10.15 (75) | Parramatta Stadium (26,580) |
| Round 18 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 30 June (7:40 pm) | Hobart Crags | 10.9 (69) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 17.6 (108) | Bellerive Oval (21,697) |
| Saturday, 1 July (1:45 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 19.9 (123) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 16.16 (112) | Subiaco Oval (25,111) |
| Saturday, 1 July (4:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 15.13 (103) | def. | Canberra Sentinels 13.7 (85) | Adelaide Oval (30,314) |
| Saturday, 1 July (7:20 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 16.13 (109) | def. | Geelong Granite 15.10 (100) | The Gabba (27,547) |
| Sunday, 2 July (1:10 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 13.14 (92) | def. | Gold Coast Rays 9.13 (67) | Sydney Football Stadium (31,592) |
| Sunday, 2 July (3:40 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 14.7 (91) | lost to | Newcastle Steel 18.7 (115) | Parramatta Stadium (20,316) |
| Round 19 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 7 July (7:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 14.7 (91) | def. | Perth Ironfangs 10.15 (75) | MCG (42,554) |
| Saturday, 8 July (1:45 pm) | Hobart Crags | 11.15 (81) | lost to | Adelaide Forge 16.8 (104) | Bellerive Oval (19,671) |
| Saturday, 8 July (4:40 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 13.16 (94) | def. | Brisbane Breakers 11.18 (84) | TIO Stadium (14,449) |
| Saturday, 8 July (7:20 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 16.6 (102) | lost to | Sydney Shardhawks 18.8 (116) | Manuka Oval (17,130) |
| Sunday, 9 July (1:10 pm) | Geelong Granite | 18.7 (115) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 17.8 (110) | Kardinia Park (22,195) |
| Sunday, 9 July (3:40 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 12.8 (80) | lost to | Newcastle Steel 14.13 (97) | Carrara Stadium (20,471) |
| Round 20 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 14 July (7:40 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 16.16 (112) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 19.8 (122) | Adelaide Oval (28,796) |
| Saturday, 15 July (1:45 pm) | Brisbane Breakers | 13.10 (88) | def. | Perth Ironfangs 9.9 (63) | The Gabba (29,981) |
| Saturday, 15 July (4:40 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 16.16 (112) | def. | Hobart Crags 14.6 (90) | Sydney Football Stadium (29,747) |
| Saturday, 15 July (7:20 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 11.14 (80) | lost to | Darwin Cyclones 13.13 (91) | Parramatta Stadium (19,690) |
| Sunday, 16 July (1:10 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 12.13 (85) | lost to | Canberra Sentinels 14.11 (95) | Hunter Stadium (21,002) |
| Sunday, 16 July (3:40 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 19.7 (121) | def. | Geelong Granite 16.13 (109) | Carrara Stadium (17,734) |
| Round 21 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 21 July (7:40 pm) | Melbourne Titans | 16.12 (108) | def. | Brisbane Breakers 14.14 (98) | MCG (39,146) |
| Saturday, 22 July (1:45 pm) | Adelaide Forge | 14.12 (96) | lost to | Sydney Shardhawks 17.11 (113) | Adelaide Oval (33,467) |
| Saturday, 22 July (4:40 pm) | Perth Ironfangs | 15.16 (106) | def. | Western Sydney Wardens 14.12 (96) | Subiaco Oval (28,117) |
| Saturday, 22 July (7:20 pm) | Hobart Crags | 17.15 (117) | def. | Newcastle Steel 15.15 (105) | Bellerive Oval (23,257) |
| Sunday, 23 July (1:10 pm) | Darwin Cyclones | 11.11 (77) | lost to | Gold Coast Rays 15.10 (100) | TIO Stadium (18,511) |
| Sunday, 23 July (3:40 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 16.10 (106) | def. | Geelong Granite 13.8 (86) | Manuka Oval (18,649) |
| Round 22 – 2017 ASL Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Home Team | Score | Result | Away Team | Venue (Crowd) |
| Friday, 28 July (7:40 pm) | Sydney Shardhawks | 14.13 (97) | lost to | Melbourne Titans 18.11 (119) | Sydney Football Stadium (36,647) |
| Saturday, 29 July (1:45 pm) | Western Sydney Wardens | 13.7 (85) | def. | Brisbane Breakers 10.11 (71) | Parramatta Stadium (21,654) |
| Saturday, 29 July (4:40 pm) | Newcastle Steel | 13.15 (93) | lost to | Adelaide Forge 18.6 (114) | Hunter Stadium (23,982) |
| Saturday, 29 July (7:20 pm) | Gold Coast Rays | 8.11 (59) | lost to | Perth Ironfangs 13.15 (93) | Carrara Stadium (17,955) |
| Sunday, 30 July (1:10 pm) | Geelong Granite | 10.14 (74) | lost to | Hobart Crags 13.15 (93) | Kardinia Park (22,781) |
| Sunday, 30 July (3:40 pm) | Canberra Sentinels | 18.10 (118) | def. | Darwin Cyclones 16.9 (105) | Manuka Oval (19,603) |
Ladder[edit | edit source]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne Titans | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 2254 | 1922 | 117.3 | 68 | Finals series |
| 2 | Brisbane Breakers | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2222 | 1962 | 113.3 | 64 | |
| 3 | Sydney Shardhawks | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2193 | 2041 | 107.4 | 60 | |
| 4 | Perth Ironfangs | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 2188 | 2034 | 107.6 | 56 | |
| 5 | Adelaide Forge | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2281 | 2160 | 105.6 | 52 | |
| 6 | Hobart Crags | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2142 | 2126 | 100.8 | 48 | |
| 7 | Canberra Sentinels | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2129 | 2135 | 99.7 | 40 | |
| 8 | Newcastle Steel | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2059 | 2138 | 96.3 | 36 | |
| 9 | Gold Coast Rays | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1976 | 2248 | 87.9 | 32 | |
| 10 | Geelong Granite | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 2031 | 2220 | 91.5 | 28 | |
| 11 | Darwin Cyclones | 22 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 2009 | 2256 | 89.1 | 24 | |
| 12 | Western Sydney Wardens | 22 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 1939 | 2181 | 88.9 | 20 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) points for
Finals series[edit | edit source]
The 2017 finals series was the first in ASL history to feature six teams. Melbourne and Brisbane entered as the top two sides, while Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Hobart qualified for the elimination section of the bracket.
Brisbane defeated Melbourne in the qualifying final to advance directly to the Grand Final. The result was built on Brisbane’s defensive pressure and midfield control, with the Breakers holding Melbourne to 92 points despite the Titans entering the finals as the league’s highest-ranked side.
Sydney defeated Hobart in the first elimination final, while Perth ended Adelaide’s season in the second elimination final. Sydney then defeated Perth in the semi-final before producing one of the biggest finals wins in club history, beating Melbourne in the preliminary final to reach the Grand Final.
| Qualifying and elimination finals | Semi-final | Preliminary final | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Sydney Shardhawks | 16.14 (110) | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Melbourne Titans | 13.14 (92) | 4 | Perth Ironfangs | 14.10 (94) | |||||||||
| 2 | Brisbane Breakers | 15.12 (102) | 1 | Melbourne Titans | 14.12 (96) | |||||||||
| 3 | Sydney Shardhawks | 15.15 (105) | ||||||||||||
| 2 | ||||||||||||||
| 3 | Sydney Shardhawks | 17.10 (112) | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Hobart Crags | 12.12 (84) | Grand Final | |||||||||||
| 2 | Brisbane Breakers | 14.16 (100) | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Sydney Shardhawks | 16.11 (107) | ||||||||||||
Grand Final[edit | edit source]
The 2017 ASL Grand Final was played on 27 August 2017 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between the Brisbane Breakers and the Sydney Shardhawks. Brisbane entered the match after winning the qualifying final and receiving a direct path to the decider, while Sydney reached the Grand Final after defeating Hobart, Perth, and Melbourne in consecutive finals.
Brisbane started the match with greater control and led at quarter-time through clean stoppage exits and disciplined defensive positioning. Sydney responded in the second quarter by lifting their forward-half pressure, forcing Brisbane into hurried clearances and creating repeat scoring opportunities.
The match remained close throughout the second half. Brisbane led by three points early in the final quarter, but Sydney kicked three of the final four goals. Blake Foster’s late set-shot goal gave the Shardhawks breathing room before the final siren confirmed Sydney’s second premiership.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Breakers | 4.3 | 7.8 | 11.12 | 14.16 (100) |
| Sydney Shardhawks | 3.2 | 8.5 | 12.8 | 16.11 (107) |
Awards[edit | edit source]
| Award | Winner | Club | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASL Medal | Connor Hayes | Brisbane Breakers | 29 votes |
| Coleman Medal | Jack Harrington | Melbourne Titans | 73 goals |
| Grand Final Best on Ground Medal | Blake Foster | Sydney Shardhawks | 5 goals, 19 disposals, 8 score involvements |
| Rising Star Award | Aidan Bell | Newcastle Steel | First-year midfielder-forward |
| Coach of the Year | Daniel Kerrigan | Sydney Shardhawks | Led Sydney to premiership from third place |
Leading goalkickers[edit | edit source]
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Harrington | Melbourne Titans | 73 |
| 2 | Blake Foster | Sydney Shardhawks | 66 |
| 3 | Brandon Harper | Brisbane Breakers | 62 |
| 4 | Owen Marshall | Perth Ironfangs | 58 |
| 5 | Mitchell Grant | Adelaide Forge | 55 |
| 6 | Kieran Hunt | Darwin Cyclones | 54 |
| 7 | Patrick Keane | Newcastle Steel | 48 |
Club summaries[edit | edit source]
Sydney Shardhawks[edit | edit source]
Sydney became the second club to win multiple ASL premierships. The Shardhawks were not the most consistent side across the home-and-away season, but their finals campaign was the best in the competition. Blake Foster’s Grand Final performance and Elliot Mercer’s late-season form were central to the premiership.
Melbourne Titans[edit | edit source]
Melbourne won the minor premiership for the fifth time but again failed to convert regular-season dominance into a premiership. The Titans remained the league’s most consistent home-and-away club, though their finals losses to Brisbane and Sydney intensified criticism of their late-season adaptability.
Brisbane Breakers[edit | edit source]
Brisbane returned to the Grand Final and produced the best defensive season in the competition. Connor Hayes won the ASL Medal, but the Breakers were left frustrated after losing a Grand Final they had led during the final quarter.
Perth Ironfangs[edit | edit source]
Perth’s premiership defence ended in the semi-final. The Ironfangs remained a hard, disciplined team, but their scoring dropped compared with 2016 and they struggled to generate easy goals against the top three sides.
Adelaide Forge[edit | edit source]
Adelaide returned to finals but exited in the first week. The Forge were more stable than in previous seasons but still lacked the away form and finishing power required to seriously challenge for the premiership.
Hobart Crags[edit | edit source]
Hobart returned to the finals for the first time since their 2013 Grand Final appearance. The Crags finished sixth and were beaten heavily by Sydney in the elimination final, but the season was still viewed as a positive reset.
Canberra Sentinels[edit | edit source]
Canberra narrowly missed the finals despite improving to a 10–12 record. The Sentinels were more competitive than in previous seasons but lost too many matches against direct top-six rivals.
Newcastle Steel[edit | edit source]
Newcastle were the strongest expansion club in their debut season. Their 9–13 record gave the club a credible foundation, and Aidan Bell’s Rising Star win provided the Steel with an early face of the franchise.
Gold Coast Rays[edit | edit source]
Gold Coast finished ninth with an 8–14 record. The Rays were inconsistent but commercially promising, drawing strong crowds for Queensland derby matches and developing a fast, high-risk style of play.
Geelong Granite[edit | edit source]
Geelong finished tenth but built a strong home identity at Kardinia Park. Their defensive structure was often exposed against senior clubs, though several young players showed long-term potential.
Darwin Cyclones[edit | edit source]
Darwin slipped to eleventh in the expanded competition. Kieran Hunt remained one of the league’s best forwards, but the Cyclones conceded too heavily and struggled away from home.
Western Sydney Wardens[edit | edit source]
Western Sydney finished last in their first season. The Wardens found the step into the ASL difficult, particularly defensively, but their derby matches against Sydney drew strong attention and gave the league a new rivalry to build around.
Notable events[edit | edit source]
- The ASL expanded from eight clubs to twelve clubs.
- Geelong Granite, Gold Coast Rays, Newcastle Steel, and Western Sydney Wardens entered the competition.
- The home-and-away season became a true double round-robin fixture.
- The finals series expanded from four teams to six teams.
- Sydney won their second premiership, becoming the second multiple-premiership club in ASL history.
- Melbourne won their fifth minor premiership.
- Newcastle Steel became the highest-finishing expansion club.
- Western Sydney finished last in their debut season.
Media coverage[edit | edit source]
The 2017 season delivered the largest broadcast footprint in ASL history to that point. The expanded fixture increased the number of weekly matches from four to six, giving Foxtel and Kayo additional live inventory and allowing Seven to introduce more flexible Friday night and Sunday afternoon windows.
Expansion markets became a major focus of coverage. The Sydney–Western Sydney derby and Brisbane–Gold Coast derby were heavily promoted, while Geelong’s home matches drew strong regional audiences. Although the quality of expansion-team performances was uneven, the league considered the first expanded season a commercial success.
The Grand Final between Sydney and Brisbane rated strongly nationally, particularly in New South Wales and Queensland. Sydney’s premiership was viewed as an important result for the league’s largest media market, while Brisbane’s return to the decider reinforced the value of Queensland’s growing Shardball audience.
Notes[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Template:2017 Australian Shardball League season Template:Shardball