HG again you have outdone yourself...that full document would be a fantastic read in depth.
Merry Christmas
@Hellenic_blue&white 
The document seems to have been removed from most sites, but I found a copy on AAFC. Absolutely worth the read:
Key points or quotes:
They wanted the NST to launch in 2022, the COVID happened.
“A National Second Division should not be a retirement league for former HAL players”
“The overall aim of the National Second Division should be to have a group of Australian players that are fully professional. However, this could consider being professional throughout the course of a year, but generating their income from multiple teams/sources across NPL, HAL and National Second Division using either loan agreements or separate contracts.”
“To enable this, it could include establishing loans and contracts in either of the following ways:
• Loans to/from HAL academies and NPL clubs; and
• Feeder relationships between existing HAL clubs and National Second Division clubs.”
“There were up to 10 catchments that could hypothetically sustain a new HAL club now or in the future. In addition to this, the HAL research also identified that there are a number of markets that have large participation bases, or reasonably sized populations, that could feasibly support a small HAL team further into the future, as they grow. Alternatively, FFA concluded, those areas could be part of a National Second Division.”
“15 expressions of interest were received for a licence to compete in HAL”
“The quality of the bids was mostly strong, suggesting that there could be some existing NPL clubs and new teams that could feasibly step up to the standards required to deliver a National Second Division at a higher standard than the current NPL.”
“A National Second Division could feasibly capture smaller cities that are not currently represented by elite professional football clubs.”
“It is also possible that teams within a National Second Division could tap into new and old demographics. Notably, many football fans who may have been previously connected to the NSL or NPL, but who are not currently connected to the top tier of Australian football.”
“A national second division structure should consider how best it would be bundled with HAL content to maximise the potential size of the audience over time. Any further analysis of the National Second Division should consider this product mix, including the potential markets that it would seek to enter (both geographic and demographic) to maximise the potential footprint for football.”
“A National Second Division should provide a five (5) year “runway” to incubate new teams. These teams could then form part of the future expansion process for HAL. Consideration should be provided to including the existing Y-League, HAL academy and squad players within a national second division. In this way, the best talent should be playing regularly. Moreover, many of these players are already contracted, potentially underwriting the costs of the National Second Division. A National Second Division should identify large geographic areas (including cities and towns) that do not currently have professional football teams. Where there is significant interest in football or a large participant base, thought should be given to including such geographic areas in the National Second Division.”
Season. “A number of options should be considered:
• A winter season which does not conflict with HAL, and provides a winter offering for football fans. This could also coincide with the regular grassroots season enabling connection with the grassroots football community and to work on converting them into fans;
• An abbreviated season (10-16 weeks) that is played on the shoulder season of either the NPL or HAL;
• A full or partial season that runs in parallel with HAL and WWL; or
• A combination/hybrid of any of the above. Each option should be assessed taking into account the broadcast parameters”
“Match day starting line-up:
• Minimum of 2-3 U21 Australian players;
• Minimum of 2-3 U23 Australian players; and
• Maximum of two (2) foreign players
Regulation. “To attain the official sanctioning of FFA, it may be required to demonstrate the following (for example):
• Minimum 75% of clubs in cities with a population catchment of over 250,000;
• A plan to see a minimum of 75% of clubs reaching 3,000 average attendance by year three (3). In the event that a club is not achieving an average of 2,000, it would be required to provide a plan to achieve above that level; and
• Solvency of the league operations, with sufficient levels of working capital and paid up capital.”
“A five (5) year period is also likely to be required to allow for the piloting and stabilisation of the National Second Division competition. This would take both competitions into the new broadcast cycle. No promotion and relegation would apply between NPL 1 and National Second Division during this incubation period.”
“The objective is to synchronise promotion and relegation at year five (5) between NPL 1 and the National Second Division and between the National Second Division and HAL at the appropriate point during this second window.
“Promotion from the National Second Division to HAL will need to take into account a range of criteria beyond simply winning the National Second Division championship.”
“The Working group is generally supportive of a fully professional league, however financial sustainability is also a pre-requisite and may result in some flexibility in the early formation of the National Second Division. The final commercial model should consider the following:
• Broadcast and sponsorship revenues;
• Season timing and length;
• Number of clubs;
• Ability to integrate with existing HAL, Y-League and NPL structures to maximise the use of finite resources.”
