Victorian Premier League

This article is about the league founded in 2023 after the breakaway of the NPL Victoria second and third divisions. For the league formerly known as Victorian Premier League from 1991 to 2013, see National Premier Leagues Victoria.
Victorian Premier League
Organising bodyFootball Victoria
Founded2023; 3 years ago (2023)
CountryAustralia
StateVictoria
ConfederationAFC
Number of clubs28
  • VPL 1: 14
  • VPL 2: 14
Level on pyramid3 and 4
Promotion toNational Premier Leagues Victoria
Relegation toVictorian State League
Domestic cup(s)National
Australia Cup
State
Dockerty Cup
Current championsVPL 1: Bentleigh Greens (2025)
VPL 2: North Geelong Warriors (2025)
Current: VPL 1 (2025), VPL 2 (2025)

The Victorian Premier League (VPL) is an Australian soccer league based in Victoria. It is administered by Football Victoria, covering the second-to-third-highest tiers in the Victorian soccer league system (and the third-to-fourth-highest nationally).[1]

As of 2025, the VPL consists of two divisions (VPL 1 and VPL 2), with promotion from VPL 1 to the National Premier Leagues (NPL) and relegation from VPL 2 to the Victorian State League (VSL).

History

Following the introduction of the National Premier Leagues (NPL) for the 2014 season, Football Federation Victoria (FFV) introduced a second-tier NPL 1 competition.[2] It was renamed to NPL 2 in 2016 and split into two zones (east and west).[3] A further change occurred in 2020, with the establishment of NPL 3 as the third-tier competition in the Victorian soccer pyramid.[4]

In October 2023, Football Victoria renamed NPL 2 and NPL 3 to VPL 1 and VPL 2 respectively, using the name "Victorian Premier League" name previously used by the first division in Victoria.[1][5]

Format

As of the 2025 season, the VPL first and second divisions are contested by 14 teams each. The top two finishing clubs in VPL 1 gain automatic promotion to the NPL, while those clubs finishing in positions third-to-sixth compete in play-offs for a promotion berth.

The bottom three teams in VPL 1 at the conclusion of the season are relegated to VPL 2, and the bottom three teams in VPL 2 are relegated to the Victorian State League first division.[6]

Current members

The following clubs will take part in the 2026 Victorian Premier League season.

Division 1

class=notpageimage|
Locations of 2026 VPL 1 clubs within metropolitan Melbourne.
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Brunswick City Brunswick West Dunstan Reserve 1,000
Brunswick Juventus Fawkner CB Smith Reserve 2,000
Bulleen Lions Bulleen David Barro Stadium 3,000
Eltham Redbacks Eltham North Eltham North Reserve 1,000
Langwarrin Langwarrin South Lawton Park Reserve 5,000
Manningham United Blues Templestowe Pettys Reserve 1,000[7]
Melbourne Knights Sunshine North Knights Stadium 15,000[8]
Melbourne Srbija Burnley Kevin Bartlett Reserve 2,500
Melbourne Victory Bundoora The Home of the Matildas 3,000[9]
Northcote City Thornbury John Cain Memorial Park 5,000
North Geelong Warriors Lara Elcho Park 5,000
North Sunshine Eagles St Albans Larisa Reserve 1,000
Port Melbourne Port Melbourne SS Anderson Reserve 1,000[10]
Western United Tarneit Wyndham Regional Football Facility 5,000

Division 2

class=notpageimage|
Locations of 2026 VPL 2 clubs within metropolitan Melbourne.
Club Location Grounds Capacity
Altona City Altona HC Kim Reserve 1,000
Bayside Argonauts Cheltenham Shipston Reserve 500
Box Hill United Box Hill Wembley Park 1,000
Eastern Lions Burwood Gardiners Reserve 1,500
Essendon Royals Essendon Cross Keys Reserve 500
Goulburn Valley Suns Shepparton John McEwan Reserve 3,200
Keilor Park Keilor Park Keilor Park Recreation Reserve 1,000
Kingston City Clayton South The Grange Reserve 2,000
Malvern City Kooyong Sir Zelman Cowen Reserve 500
Moreland City Coburg Campbell Reserve 1,000[11]
Nunawading City Forest Hill Mahoney's Reserve 1,000
Springvale White Eagles Keysborough Serbian Sports Centre 5,000
Werribee City Werribee Galvin Park Reserve 1,000
Whittlesea United Epping Epping Stadium 10,000

Champions

Season Division 1 Division 2
2024 Melbourne Victory Youth Melbourne Srbija
2025 Bentleigh Greens North Geelong Warriors

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "NPLM/W 2024 Update". Football Victoria. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  2. ^ Gorman, Joe (9 December 2013). "Why the NPL matters for Australian football". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  3. ^ "City commences 2016 National Premier Leagues (NPL) Season". Melbourne City FC. 25 February 2016. Archived from the original on 29 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Football Victoria Announces New 2020 NPL Structures". Football Victoria. 15 October 2019. Archived from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  5. ^ Deliyannis, James (12 October 2023). "Changes continue in Australian football". Neos Kosmos. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  6. ^ "NPLM and VPLM competition structures in 2025 & 2026". Football Victoria. 26 September 2024. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Pettys Reserve Pitch 1". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Knights Stadium". Melbourne Knights. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Home of the Matildas". Austadiums. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Port Melbourne SC Sharks". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Well Money Park Campbell Reserve Pitch 1". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Premier_Leagues_1