A state league is a level of competition in Australian sport directly below that of a national league. Most of these competitions are based in a single state or territory, and from this the term originates. State leagues are generally semi-professional and of a lower playing standard compared to national leagues. Several state leagues act as quasi-reserves competitions for teams that also compete in national leagues, while others are entirely separated from their national counterparts.
The Australian federation consists of six states and two territories. Historically, the highest level of club-based sports were the various leagues based in each state and territory. The change to national leagues began in 1977 when the National Soccer League was formed with clubs in most capital cities. Australian football and rugby leagues followed suit during the 1980s when the Victorian and New South Welsh leagues began to admit clubs from other states.
The state league system in men's association football (soccer) is generally underpinned by the National Premier Leagues (NPL), which administers individual competitions in eight state-based member federations. Each of the state league competitions represent the second tier in the Australian soccer league system. Following the imminent introduction of the National Second Division in 2024, the premier NPL competitions will shift down to level 3 in the system. The term 'state league' is also used as a divisional name in several member federations' lower-tier competitions.
In women's soccer, the state league system is largely operated by National Premier Leagues Women's, which currently consists of seven state-based member federations.
| Australian Capital Territory | NPL Men's Capital Football | NPL Women's Capital Football | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | NPL NSW Men's | NPL NSW Women's | |
| NPL Men's Northern NSW | NPL Women's Northern NSW | ||
| Northern Territory | Women's Premier League | ||
| Queensland | NPL Queensland Men's | NPL Queensland Women's | |
| South Australia | NPL South Australia Men's | Women's NPL South Australia | |
| Tasmania | NPL Tasmania | Women's Super League | |
| Victoria | NPL Victoria Men's | NPL Women's Victoria | |
| Western Australia | NPL Western Australia Men | NPL Western Australia Women |
| Australian Capital Territory | AFL Canberra Men | AFL Canberra Women | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | AFL Sydney Men's | AFL Sydney Women's | |
| Northern Territory | Northern Territory Football League | Women's Premier League | |
| Queensland | Queensland Australian Football League | QAFL Women's | |
| South Australia | South Australian National Football League | SANFL Women's League | |
| Tasmania | Tasmanian State League | ||
| Victoria | Victorian Football League | VFL Women's | |
| Western Australia | West Australian Football League | WAFL Women's |
| Australian Capital Territory | Canberra Raiders Cup | Katrina Fanning Shield | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | NSW Cup | NSWRL Women's Premiership | |
| Northern Territory | NRL NT Men's | NRL NT Women's | |
| Queensland | Queensland Cup | QRL Women's Premiership | |
| South Australia | NRL SA Metro | NRL SA Women's | |
| Tasmania | |||
| Victoria | Storm Premiership Men's | Storm Premiership Women's | |
| Western Australia | NRL WA Premiership | NRL WA Women's Premiership |
| Australian Capital Territory | John I Dent Cup | Premier Women's 15s | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Shute Shield | ||
| Northern Territory | |||
| Queensland | Hospital Challenge Cup | Women's Premier Rugby | |
| South Australia | Rugby Union SA Premier Grade | Rugby Union SA Women's Grade | |
| Tasmania | |||
| Victoria | Dewar Shield | Lindroth Cup | |
| Western Australia | RugbyWA Premier Grade | RugbyWA Women's Premier Grade |
State leagues in women's netball form the third tier of competition in Australia, below the elite Super Netball and the second-tier Australian Netball Championships (ANC). However, unlike the ANC – which has been reduced to a week-long series of matches held largely between Super Netball reserves and academy sides – state league netball competitions operate throughout the winter months and provide consistent pathways to players aiming to reach a higher level in the sport.
While men's netball is growing in popularity, the sport is yet to establish a strong history of state league competitions. Half of the current men's state leagues are branded under the M-League name and are operated by the various state-based men's and mixed netball associations.
| Australian Capital Territory | Netball ACT State League Men's League | Netball ACT State League | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Netball NSW Men's Metro League | Netball NSW Premier League | |
| Northern Territory | |||
| Queensland | QLD M-League Men's | Sapphire Series | |
| South Australia | SA M-League Men's | Netball SA Premier League | |
| Tasmania | Tasmanian Netball League | ||
| Victoria | VIC M-League Men's | Victorian Netball League | |
| Western Australia | West Australian Netball League Men's | West Australian Netball League |
State leagues in cricket are traditionally referred to as grade cricket, with most state-based organisations now operating competitions under the Premier Cricket name following a move by Cricket Australia in 2016 to standardise branding.[1] These leagues form the third tier of Australian cricket, below the elite Sheffield Shield and Women's National Cricket League for men and women respectively, and the second-tier Second XI competition for men.
| State or territory | Men's state league | Women's state league | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | ACT Premier Cricket Men's | ACT Premier Cricket Women's | |
| New South Wales | NSW Premier Cricket Men's | NSW Premier Cricket Women's | |
| Northern Territory | |||
| Queensland | Queensland Premier Cricket Men's | Queensland Premier Cricket Women's | |
| South Australia | South Australian Premier Cricket Men's | South Australian Premier Cricket Men's | |
| Tasmania | Cricket Tasmania Premier League Men's | Cricket Tasmania Premier League Women's | |
| Victoria | Victorian Premier Cricket Men's | Victorian Premier Cricket Women's | |
| Western Australia | Western Australian Premier Cricket Men's | Western Australian Female Premier Cricket |