TheNational Premier Leagues Victoria (NPL Victoria orNPL VIC) is a semi-professionalsoccer league inVictoria,Australia. The league is a part of theNational Premier Leagues, and is the highest level within theVictorian soccer league system, serving jointly as the second tier within the overallAustralian pyramid.
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Organising body | Football Victoria |
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Founded | 1908; 117 years ago (1908) |
First season | 1909(as Victorian Amateur League) 2014(as NPL Victoria) |
Country | Australia |
State | ![]() |
Number of clubs | 14 |
Level on pyramid | 2 |
Relegation to | Victorian Premier League |
Domestic cup(s) | Australia Cup Dockerty Cup FV Community Shield |
Current champions | Oakleigh Cannons (2024) |
Current premiers | South Melbourne (2024) |
Most championships | Green Gully (4 titles) |
Most premierships | South Melbourne (11 titles) |
Website | nplvictoria.com.au |
Current:2025 NPL Victoria |
Administered byFootball Victoria, NPL Victoria is the latest iteration of first division competitions in the state. Historically known as theVictorian State League and later as theVictorian Premier League, the league was first founded in 1908 as theVictorian Amateur League and would soon become theVictorian First Division. It adopted its current branding in 2014, followingFootball Federation Australia's 2012 National Competition Review.
NPL Victoria is contested by 14 clubs. Running from February to September each year, the league sees teams play 26 regular season fixtures, once at home and once away against each other club. The first-placed team at the conclusion of the regular season is termed the "premier". The top six-placed clubs then play aknock-outfinals series, with the winner becoming the "champion". As of the 2025 season, the three bottom-placed teams at the conclusion of the season are relegated to the division below,Victoria Premier League 1.
In the 2024 season,Football Victoria included a provision that relegation in the 2024 season would be suspended if aNational Second Division commences in 2025; instead assigning two relegation spots in the 2025 season.[1]
The league premier qualifies as Victoria's representative in thenational finals series, whilst the champion plays against theDockerty Cup winner in theFV Community Shield.
History
editThe league commenced as theVictorian Soccer League in1909 withCarlton United being the first champions. It has run continuously except for a three season postponement from 1916 to 1918 owing to World War I. After 1945 the league, like fellow state competitions around the country, received a massive boost in numbers and quality with the post-war influx of European migrants, whose dominance was established so effectively that no club which had won the title before 1952,Juventus' first title, has won one since.
Juventus would go on to dominate the league in the 1950s, winning six titles, including five in a row from 1952 to 1956. In 1958, after the Victorian Amateur Soccer Federation was formed, the league became known as the Victorian State League. From 1962 until 1976 the league was largely dominated bySouth Melbourne Hellas andFootscray JUST, which won 11 titles between them.
With creation of theNational Soccer League (NSL) in 1977, the league gradually lost most of its stronger clubs, a trend that reached its peak between 1984 and 1986, when the NSL used a split conference system. After 1987, however, the league slowly started regaining clubs, firstly those discarded when the conference system experiment was abandoned and later when clubs became permanently relegated by the NSL to their respective state leagues. The dominant side during the years from 1977 to 2004 wasGreen Gully, who won six titles during this period, despite also missing the years 1984–1986 from being in the NSL.
In 1991 the league rebranded again to become the Victorian Premier League and the first finals to determine the champions were staged in 1992, won by the newly promotedNorth Geelong. Following the demise of the NSL in 2004, the remaining two Victorian NSL teamsMelbourne Knights andSouth Melbourne were granted permission to play in the VPL season of 2005. The league received a major boost at the start of the 2005 season whenVodafone became major naming rights sponsors, with the competition being renamed the Vodafone Cup. The 2005 season initially saw crowds attending in record numbers to witness the return of old derbies such as that between South Melbourne andHeidelberg United, but with the formation of the A-League filling the void of a national domestic league, 2006 saw a sharp decline in attendances.
The end of the 2006 season also witnessed a controversial finish to the relegation battle. With three teams finishing on 30 points,Sunshine George Cross were relegated on goal difference. However, a post-season appeal to the tribunal on the grounds thatEssendon Royals had fielded a suspended player (Ilcho Mladenovski in round 24) saw the Royals deducted a point and relegated. Ultimately, both clubs reprised their position in the following season's competition with the inclusion of theAustralian Institute of Sport evening out the numbers to 16, and as the first part of reforms to the competition set to be brought about in 2008.
The Australian Institute of Sport experiment was largely derided by the local clubs, and after their removal from the competition in 2008, the league reverted to 12 teams and a Top 5 Finals-Series in 2009. However, the concept of a youth development squad was reintroduced in 2010 with the National Training Centre team playing in midweek fixtures throughout the season but not for competition points. In 2011 the team, mostly comprising players from theMelbourne Victory youth squad, was renamed Victorian Training Centre Football and was eligible to score competition points for its matches but ineligible to qualify for the finals series or be relegated.
On 15 September 2013, Victoria Police arrested up to ten people, includingSouthern Stars FC players David Obaze,Nick McKoy and Joe Woolley as well as the coach, Zaya Younan, for allegations of match fixing. They are expected to be charged with corrupting the outcome of betting.[2]
In early 2013, it was announced that Victoria would join theNational Premier Leagues, with the Victorian Premier League expected to be rebranded for the 2014 season.[3][4] Although Football Federation Victoria's initial proposal was halted with the announcement of a deferral in November 2013 after several clubs objected to the process for selecting teams. However, by December 2013, a resolution was reached whereby Victorian teams would participate in the 2014 season.[5][6]
Competition format
editNPL Victoria comprises 14 teams. The season is staged during the Australian winter, running from February to September. The league combines aspects of both the traditional European-styleround-robin and Australian-stylefinals series within its competition format.
Regular season
editThe regular season consists of a doubleround-robin. Each club plays every other club twice, once at home and once away, for a total of 26 matches. Teams receivethree points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss. The clubs are ranked first based on the number of points acquired during the season. If two teams have an equal number of points, they are separated firstly bygoal difference and then the number of goals scored, calculated across all matches. The Rules of Competition provide head-to-head aggregate and head-to-headaway goals as further tiebreakers if necessary.[7] The team ranked first at the end of the regular season is termed the premiers, and becomes Victoria's entry for thenational NPL finals.
Finals series
editAt the conclusion of the regular season, the six highest-ranked clubs qualify for the (Victorian) finals series. The finals take place over three weeks, with teams entering the series based on their respective finishes in the regular season. The teams ranked 3–6 enter at the elimination finals stage. The third-ranked team plays the sixth-ranked team, whilst the fourth-ranked team plays the fifth-ranked one. The two winners of the elimination finals meet the teams ranked 1 and 2 in the semi-finals. The premier in the regular season plays the lower-ranked qualifier from the elimination finals, whilst the runner-up plays the higher-ranked qualifier. The finals conclude with thegrand final, played between the two winners of the semi-finals. The winner of the grand final is crowned the champions. As all finals matches require a winner, they are allknock-out fixtures. If a draw occurs at the end of normal time, 30 minutes ofextra time are played. Apenalty shoot-out is played if the teams are still drawn.
Promotion and relegation
editNPL Victoria also operates a system ofpromotion and relegation with the division immediately below,VPL 1. As of the 2025 season, the three bottom clubs at the conclusion of each season are automatically relegated. From VPL 1, the winners and runners-up are automatically promoted to NPL Victoria, with a third club promoted via a playoff between the clubs finishing 3rd through 6th for the season in that league.
Current clubs (2025)
editThe following clubs will take part in the 2025 NPL Victoria season:
Club | Location | Home ground | Capacity |
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Altona Magic | Altona North | Paisley Park | 5,000[8] |
Avondale | Parkville | Avenger Park | 1,000[9] |
Dandenong City | Endeavour Hills | Frank Holohan Reserve | 4,000[10] |
Dandenong Thunder | Dandenong South | George Andrews Reserve | 5,000[11] |
Green Gully | Keilor Downs | Green Gully Reserve | 10,000[12] |
Heidelberg United | Heidelberg West | Olympic Village | 12,000[13] |
Hume City | Westmeadows | Nasiol Stadium | 3,000[14] |
Melbourne Knights | Sunshine North | Knights Stadium | 15,000[15] |
Melbourne Victory | Bundoora | The Home of the Matildas | 3,000[16] |
Oakleigh Cannons | Oakleigh | Jack Edwards Reserve | 4,000[17] |
Port Melbourne | Port Melbourne | SS Anderson Reserve | 1,000[18] |
Preston Lions | Reservoir | B.T. Connor Reserve | 8,000[19] |
South Melbourne | Albert Park | Lakeside Stadium | 12,000[20] |
St Albans Saints | St Albans | Churchill Reserve | 3,500[21] |
NPL honours
edit2014–2015
editThe league ran through two divisions; thePremier Division andDivision 1. The Premier Division was a single league season, whilst Division 1 separated by two zone leagues (East and West) and the winners qualifying for a Grand Final between the two Division 1 Premiers to determine the Champions.
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2016–2019
editThe leagues were renamed with thePremier Division becomingDivision 1, andDivision 1 becomingDivision 2.
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2020–2023
editIn 2020, a third division was added and the second division was no longer ran by two zones (East and West).
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2024–present
editFrom 2024 onwards, the second and third divisions were moved from the NPL Victoria system to theVictorian Premier League system leaving only the top division of NPL Victoria.
Season | Champions | Premiers |
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2024 | Oakleigh Cannons | South Melbourne |
Honours pre-NPL
editHonours table
editChampions | Premiers | State League Cup | Dockerty Cup | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winners | Runners-up | Winners | Runners-up | Winners | Runners-up | Total |
South Melbourne | 11 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 34 |
Green Gully | 9 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 26 |
Brunswick Zebras | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 30 |
Footscray Thistle | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 18 |
Prahran City | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 16 |
Altona Magic | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 |
Footscray JUST | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 15 |
Hakoah | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 24 |
Heidelberg United | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 20 |
Moreland City | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 |
Preston Lions | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13 |
Melbourne Knights | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 33 |
Western Eagles | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 15 |
Northumberland & Durham United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
Melbourne Thistle | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
Yarraville | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
Bentleigh Greens | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 |
Sunshine United | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Brunswick Juventus | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Morwell Falcons | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
Croydon City | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Carlton United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
Caroline Springs George Cross | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 21 |
Oakleigh Cannons | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
St Kilda | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
Brighton | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 12 |
Royal Caledonians | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
Bulleen Lions | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Avondale | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
Dandenong Thunder | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Naval Depot | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
Ringwood City | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
Box Hill United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
Nobels | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
Melbourne Hungaria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Northcote City | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
North Geelong Warriors | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Windsor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Yallourn | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Port Melbourne Sharks | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
Manningham United | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Prahran Slavia | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
St Albans Saints | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Albert Park | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Park Rangers | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
South Yarra | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
Richmond SC | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Hume City FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Former clubs (1963 onwards)
edit- Albion Leyland /Albion Rovers / Albion Turk Gucu / Melton Reds (1978–79, 1982–1985, 1990–1997)
- Altona City (1977–1981)
- Altona East Phoenix (1999–2003)
- Australian Institute of Sport (2007–2008)
- Bentleigh Greens (1996–2005, 2010–2023)
- Box Hill / Box Hill Inter (1969–1973, 1983–1990, 1995–1996)
- Broadmeadows (1984)
- Broadmeadows City (1987)
- Caroline Springs George Cross / Sunshine Georgies / Sunshine George Cross (1958–1983, 1992–1999, 2005–2007, 2009–2010)
- Caulfield City (1986–1990, 1993)
- Croydon City (1979–84)
- Doncaster Rovers (1995)
- Doveton (1981–1984, 1991)
- Eastern Lions (2020–2022)
- Essendon Lions / Lions (1962–1971)
- Essendon Royals / Triestina (1964–1965, 2001, 2003–2007)
- Fawkner Blues /Manningham United Blues (1983–2004, 2007–2008, 2024)
- Fawkner-Whittlesea Blues (2005–2006)
- FC Melbourne Srbija / Fitzroy City (2002)
- Footscray JUST / Melbourne City JUST (1963–1976, 1990)
- Frankston City (1977–1982)
- Frankston Pines (1984–1987, 1989–1990, 2003–2006, 2008)
- Goulburn Valley Suns (2014)
- Hakoah. St Kilda / St. Kilda Hellas-Hakoah (1963–1982)
- Juventus /Brunswick Zebras / Thomastown Zebras / Bulleen Inter Kings / Bulleen Zebras / Whittlesea Zebras /Brunswick Juventus (1963–1983, 1989–93, 1996–2009, 2012)
- Keilor Austria / Austria (1972–1974)
- Kingston City (2006–2007, 2017–2019)
- Knox City (1984–1985, 1992–1993, 2004)
- Maribyrnong Polonia / Polonia (1963–77, 1982–1989)
- Melbourne / Melbourne Hungaria (1963–1975, 1986)
- Moorabbin City (1998)
- Mooroolbark / Mooroolbark United (1974–1976, 1990–1991)
- Moreland City (2023–2024)
- Morwell Falcons (1982–1991)
- North Geelong Croatia / North Geelong Warriors (1992–1997, 2015, 2017, 2023)
- Port Melbourne Slavia / Prahran Slavia (1963–1970, 1973–80)
- Pascoe Vale (2012–2019)
- Richmond SC / Alemannia Richmond (1963, 2006–2013, 2016)
- Ringwood City Wilhelmina / Ringwood City (1963–1966, 1968–1986, 1988–1990)
- Springvale City (1985–1989, 1993–1996)
- Springvale White Eagles (1997–1999, 2007, 2011)
- Sunshine City (1975–1982)
- Thomastown Devils / Thomastown Zebras / Melbourne Raiders /Whittlesea Ranges (1985–1994, 1997–2000, 2002–2004)
- Werribee City (1994–1995, 2014–2015)
- Western Suburbs (1980, 1984–1988, 2007–2008)
- Westvale Olympic (1999)
See also
editNotes
edit- ^Subsequent to the season cancellation, and as a result of a court challenge involvingAvondale FC andFootball Victoria, it was agreed that eight rounds of games from the 2022 NPL Season would also count towards the 2021 NPL league table, enabling sufficient matches to be played to "complete" the season, and be able to declare a Premier for 2021.[24]
References
edit- ^"2024 Rules of Competition Summary of Changes.pdf".Google Docs.Football Victoria. 8 February 2024. p. 65. Retrieved21 February 2024.
- ^"The Age newspaper". 15 September 2013.Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved15 September 2013.
- ^"Gallop aims for Aussie FA Cup".The Australian. Australian Associated Press. 14 February 2013.Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved23 December 2013.
- ^"Second Division 'By 2022'?".Australian FourFourTwo. Sportal Australia. 3 October 2012. Archived fromthe original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved23 December 2013.
- ^"NPL update – message from FFV Board". Football Federation Victoria. 8 November 2013.Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved4 December 2013.
- ^"National Premier Leagues confirmed for Victoria in 2014". Football Federation Australia. 6 December 2013. Archived fromthe original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved23 December 2013.
- ^"2019 Rules of Competition - NPL Mens & Boys"(PDF). Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 21 May 2022.
- ^"Altona Magic SC".Soccerway. Retrieved25 September 2024.
- ^"Avenger Park".Soccerway. Retrieved8 January 2024.
- ^"Frank Holohan Reserve".Austadiums. Retrieved25 September 2024.
- ^"Dandenong Thunder SC".Soccerway. Retrieved25 September 2024.
- ^"Green Gully Reserve".Austadiums. Retrieved25 September 2024.
- ^"Olympic Village".Austadiums. Retrieved25 September 2024.
- ^"Hume City Stadium".Austadiums. Retrieved25 September 2024.
- ^"Knights Stadium".Melbourne Knights. Retrieved3 October 2024.
- ^"Home of the Matildas".Austadiums. Retrieved24 December 2024.
- ^"Jack Edwards Reserve".Austadiums. Retrieved25 September 2024.
- ^"Port Melbourne SC Sharks".Soccerway. Retrieved26 September 2024.
- ^"Genis Steel Stadium".Soccerway. Retrieved25 September 2024.
- ^"Lakeside Stadium".Austadiums. Retrieved25 September 2024.
- ^"Churchill Reserve".Soccerway. Retrieved8 January 2024.
- ^ab"Coronavirus forces FFA Cup to be cancelled".The World Game.SBS. 7 July 2020.Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved7 July 2020.
- ^ab"Metro Melbourne 2021 season status".Football Victoria. 3 September 2021.Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved3 September 2021.
- ^"Outcome of legal proceedings between Avondale FC and Football Victoria announced".Football Victoria. 28 January 2022.Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved4 February 2022.