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]
| Organising body | Football Victoria |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 |
| Country | Australia |
| State |  Victoria |
| Number of clubs | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Relegation to | VPL Women's |
| League cup(s) | Nike F.C. Cup |
| Current champions | South Melbourne (2023) |
| Current premiers | Bulleen Lions (2023) |
| Most championships | Box Hill United (7 titles) |
| Most premierships | Box Hill United (7 titles) |
| TV partners | NPL.TV |
| Website | www |
| Current: 2023 NPL Victoria Women's | |
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)
editThe 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.[1] 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)
editBrunswick 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:
| Team | Location | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
| Alamein | Glen Iris | Dorothy Laver West Reserve |
| Bayside United | Cheltenham | Kingston Heath Soccer Complex |
| Boroondara-Carey Eagles | Bulleen | David Barro Stadium |
| Box Hill United | Box Hill | Wembley Park |
| Brunswick Juventus | Fawkner | CB Smith Reserve |
| Bulleen Lions | Bulleen | David Barro Stadium |
| Calder United | Keilor Park | Keilor Park Recreation Reserve |
| Essendon Royals | Essendon | Cross Keys Reserve |
| FV Emerging | Wantirna South | Knox Regional Football Centre |
| Heidelberg United | Heidelberg West | Olympic Park |
| Preston Lions FC | Reservoir | B.T. Connor Reserve |
| South Melbourne | Albert Park | Lakeside Stadium |
Honours
edit| Season | League | Grand Final Champions | League Premiers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | VPL | – | Cranbourne Comets | |
| 2000 | – | Ringwood City | ||
| 2001 | – | Box Hill Inter | ||
| 2002 | – | Cranbourne Comets | ||
| 2003 | – | Box Hill Inter | ||
| 2004 | Box Hill Inter | Cranbourne Comets | ||
| 2005 | Box Hill Inter | Cranbourne Comets | ||
| 2006 | Box Hill Inter | Box Hill Inter | ||
| 2007 | Heidelberg United | Heidelberg United | ||
| 2008 | Box Hill Inter | Box Hill Inter | ||
| 2009 | Box Hill Inter | Box Hill Inter | ||
| 2010 | Box Hill Inter | Box Hill Inter | ||
| 2011 | South Melbourne | Sandringham | ||
| 2012 | Box Hill United | Box Hill United | ||
| 2013 | Sandringham | South Melbourne | ||
| 2014 | South Melbourne | South Melbourne | ||
| 2015 | South Melbourne | Boroondara Eagles | ||
| 2016 | NPL | Calder United | Calder United | |
| 2017 | South Melbourne | South Melbourne | ||
| 2018 | Bulleen Lions | South Melbourne | ||
| 2019 | Calder United | Calder United | ||
| 2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[10] | |||
| 2021 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[11] | |||
| 2022 | Calder United | Calder United | ||
| 2023 | South Melbourne | Bulleen Lions | ||
Player records
editAs of 1 January 2023 (prior to commencement of 2023 NPLVW season). Players listed in bold are still actively playing in the NPLVW.
| Rank | Player | Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Natasha Dakic
|
140 |
| 2 | Kirstie Shearing
|
135 |
| 3 | Tessa Sernio
|
131 |
| 4 | Emma Robers
|
130 |
| 5 | Elly Torre
|
127 |
| 6 | Emily Dolzan
|
126 |
| Emily Shields
| ||
| 8 | Stephanie Galea
|
124 |
| 9 | Sienna Fogarty
|
121 |
| 10 | Erin Hudson
|
120 |
Top scorers
editAs of 1 January 2023 (prior to commencement of 2023 NPLVW season).
| Rank | Seasons | Name | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018–2021 |  Catherine Zimmerman |
81 |
| 2 | 2016–2021 | Melina Ayres |
78 |
| 3 | 2016–2019 | Rachel Alonso |
60 |
| 4 | 2017–2022 | Aleksandra Sinclair |
57 |
| 2016–2019 | Melanie Camilleri
| ||
| 6 | 2016–2019 | Caitlin Friend |
48 |
| 7 | 2017–2019 |  Angela Beard |
47 |
| 8 | 2016–2022 | Lia Privitelli |
46 |
| 9 | 2017–2019 | Kelsey Minton |
41 |
| 10 | 2016–2019 | Cindy Lay |
35 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Women's National Premier Leagues Victoria – Final Table". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ^ "- Season Results". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ^ "Results for NPL Women VIC". SportsTG. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ^ "Heidelberg and Bulleen Champions of NPL Victoria". Football Victoria. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ^ "Ladder for NPL Women VIC". SportsTG. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ^ "Ladder for PS4 NPL VIC Women". SportsTG. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ^ Downes, Cheryl (15 September 2019). "VIC NPLW Grand Final – Match Report". Beyond 90. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "Ladder for NPL VIC Women". SportsTG. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "'A landmark day': NPLW to become a Professional Competition". Football Victoria. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ a b "2021 Start Up". Football Victoria. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Metro Melbourne 2021 season status". Football Victoria. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "Football Victoria Approves New Women's Division For 2020 Season". www.footballvictoria.com.au.
- ^ "2022 Victorian Women's Premier League Table". www.ozfootball.net.