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
Founded4 October 2023; 14 months ago (2023-10-04)[a]
CountryAustralia
StateVictoria
ConfederationAFC
Number of clubs28
  • Division 1: 14
  • Division 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 championsMelbourne Victory Youth (VPL 1) (2024)
Melbourne Srbija (VPL 2) (2024)

The Victorian Premier League (VPL) is an Australian soccer league based in Victoria that was founded in 2023 and administered by Football Victoria. It consists of two divisions that were named after the VPL's breakaway of the National Premier Leagues Victoria (NPL Victoria) second and third divisions, which had run in the NPL Victoria system from 2014 until 2023.[1]

History

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In October 2023, Football Victoria renamed the NPL Victoria second and third divisions to form the Victorian Premier League (VPL) as a prominent name to the previously named Victorian Premier League; a former name of the NPL Victoria first division. NPL 2 became VPL 1, and NPL 3 became VPL 2.[1] Melbourne Victory Youth were the inaugural champions of the VPL securing promotion to the NPL Victoria, whilst Melbourne Srbija became second division champions securing promotion to the leagues first division.[2]

Format

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As of the 2025 season, the Victorian Premier League first and second divisions are contested by 14 teams each. Each team plays home and away against teams against all other teams in the league for a total of 26 fixtures each season. The top two finishing clubs the first division gain automatic promotion to National Premier Leagues Victoria, while those clubs finishing in positions 3rd through 6th play off for a promotion berth. The VPL first division's bottom three teams at the conclusion of the season are relegated to the VPL's second division, and the VPL second division's bottom three are relegated to the Victorian State League first division.[3]

Current members

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These are the clubs who will take part in the 2025 Victorian Premier League.

Division 1

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class=notpageimage|
Locations of 2025 VPL 1 clubs within metropolitan Melbourne.
Team Location Stadium Capacity Club Heritage
Bentleigh Greens Cheltenham Kingston Heath Soccer Complex 3,300 Cypriot (Greek)
Brunswick City Brunswick West Dunstan Reserve 1,000 Greek
Bulleen Lions Bulleen David Barro Stadium 3,000 Italian (Venetian)
Caroline Springs George Cross Fraser Rise City Vista Recreation Reserve 3,000 Maltese
Eastern Lions Burwood Gardiners Reserve 1,500 British
Kingston City Clayton South The Grange Reserve 2,000 Greek
Langwarrin Langwarrin South Lawton Park Reserve 5,000 Dutch
Manningham United Blues Templestowe Pettys Reserve 1,000[4] Italian
Melbourne City Youth Cranbourne East City Football Academy 1,500 N/A
Melbourne Srbija Burnley Kevin Bartlett Reserve 2,500 Serbian
Moreland City Coburg Campbell Reserve 1,000[5] British
Northcote City Thornbury John Cain Memorial Park 5,000 Greek
North Sunshine Eagles St Albans Larisa Reserve 500 Albanian
Western United Youth Tarneit Wyndham Regional Football Facility 5,000 N/A

Division 2

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class=notpageimage|
Locations of 2025 VPL 2 clubs within metropolitan Melbourne.
Club Location Grounds Capacity Club Heritage
Altona City Altona HC Kim Reserve 1,000 Maltese and British
Boroondara-Carey Eagles Bulleen Carey Bulleen Sports Complex 100 Italian
Box Hill United Box Hill Wembley Park 1,000 Greek
Brunswick Juventus Fawkner CB Smith Reserve 2,000 Italian
Eltham Redbacks Eltham North Eltham North Reserve 1,000 Australian
Essendon Royals Essendon Cross Keys Reserve 500 Italian (Triestine)
Geelong SC Corio Stead Park 1,500 Macedonian
Goulburn Valley Suns Shepparton John McEwan Reserve 3,200 Australian
North Geelong Warriors Lara Elcho Park 5,000 Croatian
Nunawading City Forest Hill Mahoney's Reserve 1,000 Australian and Greek
Pascoe Vale Fawkner CB Smith Reserve 2,000 Macedonian (Vlach)
Springvale White Eagles Keysborough Serbian Sports Centre 5,000 Serbian
Werribee City Werribee Galvin Park Reserve 1,000 Italian
Whittlesea United Lalor Mosaic Reserve 1,000 Turkish

Champions

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Season Division 1 Division 2
2024 Melbourne Victory Youth Melbourne Srbija

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The first division was founded in 2014 as National Premier Leagues Victoria 2, and the second division was founded in 2020 as National Premier Leagues Victoria 3, as part of the NPL Victoria system before they formed the Victorian Premier League in 2023.

References

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  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. ^ Deliyannis, James (12 October 2023). "Changes continue in Australian football". Neos Kosmos. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "Pettys Reserve Pitch 1". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Well Money Park Campbell Reserve Pitch 1". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
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