Australian Shardball League
Current season, competition or edition: [[2012]] | |
| File:ASLlogo.png | |
| Sport | Shardball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 |
| First season | 2011 |
| CEO | (TBD) |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Country | Template:AUS |
| Most recent champion(s) | Melbourne Titans |
| Most titles | Melbourne Titans (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.
History
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
The ASL season runs from March to September.
- **Home-and-away season:** Each club plays 22 matches across 22 rounds, facing every other team three times in a rotating schedule.
- **Finals series:** The top four clubs qualify for the finals, played over two weeks. 1st plays 3rd and 2nd plays 4th in semi-finals, with winners meeting in the ASL Grand Final.
- **Premiership points:** Teams receive 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, and 0 for a loss. Ladder positions are determined by points, then percentage (points for vs. against).
Clubs
As of the 2012 season, the ASL consists of eight clubs:
- Melbourne Titans
- Sydney Shardhawks
- Brisbane Breakers
- Adelaide Forge
- Perth Ironfangs
- Hobart Crags
- Darwin Cyclones
- Canberra Sentinels
Seasons
| Year | Premiers (score) | Runners-up (score) | Venue | Attendance | Best on Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Melbourne Titans 16.12 (108) | Sydney Shardhawks 14.11 (95) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 64,500 | Jaxon Reid (Melbourne) |
| 2012 | – | – | (TBD) | (TBD) | (TBD) |
Trophy and awards
- **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
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.