National Premier Leagues Victoria Women Explained

Pixels:120px
Organiser:Football Victoria
Country:Australia
Founded:2016
Teams:12
Relegation:VPL Women's
Levels:2
League Cup:Nike F.C. Cup
Champions:South Melbourne (2023)
Premiers:Bulleen Lions (2023)
Tv:NPL.TV
Most Champs:Box Hill United (7 titles)
Most Prems:Box Hill United (7 titles)
Current:2023 NPL Victoria Women's

The National Premier Leagues Victoria Women, known commonly as the NPL Victoria Women's or NPLV Women's, is a professional women's association football league in Victoria, Australia. It is the highest league for women in Victoria, and has been a part of the National Premier Leagues Women’s structure, and which is administered by Football Victoria. Prior to the introduction of the NPL in Victoria in 2016, the league was known as the Women's Victorian Premier League.[1]

The league is contested by eleven clubs, playing a 22 round season, with the regular season running from February to September. The finals series is contested between the top four clubs, with the top two playing against third and fourth in a semi-final and the winners contesting the grand final.

WNPL Years (2016–present)

The initial members of the WNPL were Alamein, Bayside United, Bulleen Lions, Box Hill United, Calder United, Heidelberg United, Geelong Galaxy United, Senior NTC and Southern United. In the following season, South Melbourne was admitted to the league who went on to win the inaugural Finals Series, 5–4 on penalties against Geelong Galaxy United.[2] South Melbourne again made the Grand Final the following season losing 3–1 to Bulleen Lions.[3] [4] Despite not being crowned Champions, South Melbourne were successful in the regular season who were crowned Premiers of the 2018 season.[5] This was a feat achieved by the club as well in their initial season in the renewed league.[6] Calder United were crowned Grand Final Champions for the second time defeating Bulleen Lions 1–0.[7] This was after Calder were crowned league champions prior to the finals series.[8]

On the 27th of October 2021, Football Victoria officially announced the league would be professionalised, scrapping the amateur nature of the league.[9]

After the cancellation of both the 2020 season[10] and the 2021 season[11] due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided that no promotion/relegation would apply for the following season.

The 2023 season was the first time teams could be promoted since the restructuring of the women's divisions for the 2020 season.[12] Preston Lions FC, Boroondara-Carey Eagles, and Southern United were the teams promoted from the VPL Women's after they finished in the top three positions during the 2022 season.[13]

Current clubs (2024)

Brunswick Juventus and Essendon Royals were promoted from the Victorian Premier League Womens for the 2024 season bringing the number of teams in the competition to 12. The following clubs will take part in the 2024 NPL Victoria Women's season:

TeamLocationStadium
AlameinGlen IrisDorothy Laver West Reserve
Bayside UnitedCheltenhamKingston Heath Soccer Complex
Boroondara-Carey EaglesBulleenDavid Barro Stadium
Box Hill UnitedBox HillWembley Park
Brunswick JuventusFawknerCB Smith Reserve
Bulleen LionsBulleenDavid Barro Stadium
Calder UnitedKeilor ParkKeilor Park Recreation Reserve
Essendon RoyalsEssendonCross Keys Reserve
FV EmergingWantirna SouthKnox Regional Football Centre
Heidelberg UnitedHeidelberg WestOlympic Park
Preston Lions FCReservoirB.T. Connor Reserve
South MelbourneAlbert ParkLakeside Stadium

Honours

SeasonLeagueGrand Final Champions League Premiers
1999VPLCranbourne Comets
2000Ringwood City
2001Box Hill Inter
2002Cranbourne Comets
2003Box Hill Inter
2004Box Hill InterCranbourne Comets
2005Box Hill InterCranbourne Comets
2006Box Hill InterBox Hill Inter
2007Heidelberg UnitedHeidelberg United
2008Box Hill InterBox Hill Inter
2009Box Hill InterBox Hill Inter
2010Box Hill InterBox Hill Inter
2011South MelbourneSandringham
2012Box Hill UnitedBox Hill United
2013SandringhamSouth Melbourne
2014South MelbourneSouth Melbourne
2015South MelbourneBoroondara Eagles
2016NPLCalder UnitedCalder United
2017South MelbourneSouth Melbourne
2018Bulleen LionsSouth Melbourne
2019Calder UnitedCalder United
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.
2021Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.
2022Calder UnitedCalder United
2023South MelbourneBulleen Lions

Player records

As of 1 January 2023 (prior to commencement of 2023 NPLVW season). Players listed in bold are still actively playing in the NPLVW.

RankPlayerAppearances
1 Natasha Dakic140
2 Kirstie Shearing135
3 Tessa Sernio131
4 Emma Robers130
5 Elly Torre127
6 Emily Dolzan126
Emily Shields
8 Stephanie Galea124
9 Sienna Fogarty121
10 Erin Hudson120

Top scorers

As of 1 January 2023 (prior to commencement of 2023 NPLVW season).

RankSeasonsNameGoals
1 81
2 78
3 2016–2019 Rachel Alonso 60
4 2017–2022 Aleksandra Sinclair 57
Melanie Camilleri
6 48
7 47
8 Lia Privitelli 46
9 Kelsey Minton 41
10 Cindy Lay 35

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Women's National Premier Leagues Victoria – Final Table. www.ozfootball.net. 2019-04-12.
  2. Web site: - Season Results. www.ozfootball.net. 2019-04-12.
  3. Web site: Results for NPL Women VIC. SportsTG. en. 2019-04-12.
  4. Web site: Heidelberg and Bulleen Champions of NPL Victoria. Football Victoria. en. 2019-04-12.
  5. Web site: Ladder for NPL Women VIC. SportsTG. en. 2019-04-12.
  6. Web site: Ladder for PS4 NPL VIC Women. SportsTG. en. 2019-04-12.
  7. Web site: VIC NPLW Grand Final – Match Report. Downes. Cheryl. 2019-09-15. Beyond 90. en-US. 2019-10-30.
  8. Web site: Ladder for NPL VIC Women. SportsTG. en. 2019-10-30.
  9. Web site: 2021-10-27. 'A landmark day': NPLW to become a Professional Competition. 2021-10-27. Football Victoria. en.
  10. Web site: 16 October 2020 . 2021 Start Up . 18 October 2020 . Football Victoria.
  11. Web site: 3 September 2021 . Metro Melbourne 2021 season status . 3 September 2021 . Football Victoria.
  12. Web site: Football Victoria Approves New Women’s Division For 2020 Season. www.footballvictoria.com.au.
  13. Web site: 2022 Victorian Women's Premier League Table. www.ozfootball.net.