National Premier Leagues Victoria Women

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]

National Premier Leagues Victoria Women
Organising bodyFootball Victoria
Founded2016
CountryAustralia
State Victoria
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid2
Relegation toVPL Women's
League cup(s)Nike F.C. Cup
Current championsSouth Melbourne (2023)
Current premiersBulleen Lions (2023)
Most championshipsBox Hill United (7 titles)
Most premiershipsBox Hill United (7 titles)
TV partnersNPL.TV
Websitewww.footballvictoria.com.au
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)

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.[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)

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:

Locations of 2023 NPL VIC Women clubs within metropolitan Melbourne.
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
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

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 Australia Natasha Dakic 140
2 Australia Kirstie Shearing 135
3 Australia Tessa Sernio 131
4 Australia Emma Robers 130
5 Australia Elly Torre 127
6 Australia Emily Dolzan 126
Australia Emily Shields
8 Australia Stephanie Galea 124
9 Australia Sienna Fogarty 121
10 Australia Erin Hudson 120

Top scorers

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

Rank Seasons Name Goals
12018–2021United States Catherine Zimmerman81
22016–2021Australia Melina Ayres78
32016–2019Australia Rachel Alonso60
42017–2022Australia Aleksandra Sinclair57
2016–2019Australia Melanie Camilleri
62016–2019Australia Caitlin Friend48
72017–2019Philippines Angela Beard47
82016–2022Australia Lia Privitelli46
92017–2019Australia Kelsey Minton41
102016–2019Australia Cindy Lay35

See also

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