Football Victoria (FV) today unveiled its new NPL Victoria structures for the upcoming 2020 season.

For the first time, the 2020 season will see the implementation of an NPL 3 competition, which results in league structure alterations across the NPL men’s competitions.

FV CEO Peter Filopoulos said the new NPL Victoria structures would ensure the best teams went head to head on a weekly basis across all competitions. He said it was a fairer and more streamlined way to run Victoria’s top-tiers of football.

“These new structures are the result of a lot of consultation, deep thought and a very thorough review of the many options available to us. The application process was also very extensive, and we were thrilled with the overall quality of the club applications we received,” Mr Filopoulos said.

NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE (NPL) VICTORIA MEN'S PREMIER COMPETITION

The top-tier NPL Victoria competition remains with 14 teams, as in 2019. However, season 2020 will no longer stage a playoff match, meaning that the top two teams in NPL 2 will be automatically promoted into the premier NPL competition. Equally, the bottom two teams of the NPL will be directly relegated into the NPL 2 competition.

In accordance with the 2019 NPL Rules of Competition, FV has applied the promotion and relegation policy to its full effect. The following positional changes have now been made in the NPL 1 men’s competition.

Promoted Clubs Relegated Clubs to NPL 2 Eastern Lions SC Pascoe Vale FC St. Albans Saints SC Kingston City FC

NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE (NPL) VICTORIA MEN'S 2 & 3 LEAGUE STRUCTURES

In 2020, the NPL 2 & NPL 3 competitions will comprise 12 clubs in each respective tier. The top six ladder positions from the NPL 2 (West) and top six ladder positions from the NPL 2 (East) will form the second-tier competition in NPL 2.

The bottom four ladder positions from the NPL 2 (West) and bottom four ladder positions from the NPL 2 (East), along with the top two teams from Men’s State League 1 (North West) and top two teams from Men’s State League 1 (South East), will form the new NPL 3 competition.

Promoted / Relegated / Current Clubs to NPL 2 from NPL 2 – West Promoted / Relegated /Current Clubs to NPL 2 from NPL 2 – East Moreland Zebras FC FC Bulleen Lions Werribee City FC Northcote City FC Moreland City FC Langwarrin SC North Geelong FC Manningham United FC Brunswick City SC Goulburn Valley FC Pascoe Vale FC (Relegated into NPL2) Kingston City FC (Relegated into NPL2)

Promoted / Relegated Clubs to NPL 3 from NPL 2 – West Promoted / Relegated Clubs to NPL 3 from NPL 2 – East Geelong SC Melbourne City FC Whittlesea Ranges FC Murray United FC Melbourne Victory FC Box Hill United SC Ballarat City FC Springvale White Eagles FC Preston Lions FC (Promoted into NPL 3) Nunawading City FC (Promoted into NPL 3) North Sunshine Eagles SC (Promoted into NPL 3) Doveton SC (Promoted into NPL 3)

Promoted Clubs to NPL 3 from MSL 1 – North West Promoted Clubs to NPL 3 from MSL 1 – South East Preston Lions FC Nunawading City FC North Sunshine SC Doveton SC

NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE VICTORIA (NPLW) WOMEN’S AND GIRLS’ LEAGUE STRUCTURES

Following the recent NPLW licence audit process, Southern United FC and Galaxy United FC will not compete in the NPLW senior women’s and Under 19 competition in 2020. Both clubs will continue to participate in Victorian senior football next year. As a result, the NPLW Senior Women’s and Under 19 competitions will comprise eight teams.

The following positional changes have been made in NPL W and Under 19 competitions:

Promoted Clubs Continued Participation in 2020 N/A Galaxy United FC N/A Southern United FC

The junior girls’ structure remains unchanged with 10 teams. NTC will field all teams except for an Under 12 team.

Further changes are expected to be implemented post the 2020 season. FV’s recently released Football Competition Review: Women and Girls’ report can be accessed here.

NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE VICTORIA (NPL) JUNIOR BOYS’ LEAGUE STRUCTURE

After an extensive review of FV Men’s and Boys’ football competitions, including the awarding of 13 new licences to existing community clubs, the Junior Boys’ NPL has now been decoupled from the senior NPL for the purpose of promotion and relegation.

The new structures follow an extensive review and application process, aimed at ensuring a new era with 48 clubs involved in Victoria’s Junior Boys’ NPL competition.

Junior Boys’ NPL teams will take part in the pre-qualification phase in their geographical zones on the weekend of February 9, 2020.

In season 2020, the Junior Boys’ NPL will include U13, U14, U15 & U16 teams only. The current NPL U12s will be included in the existing FV U12 community competitions.

Clubs in the zones below (see diagram) will compete in an 11-round pre-qualification phase in their allocated regions. At the completion of this phase, the clubs will be allocated to a three-tier competition.

JUNIOR BOYS’ NPL VICTORIA LEAGUE ALLOCATIONS & STRUCTURES

JBNPL Northern League JBNPL Western League JBNPL Southern League JBNPL Eastern League Brunswick City SC Altona Magic SC Bentleigh Greens SC Ashburton United SC Eltham Redbacks FC Avondale FC Berwick City SC Box Hill United SC Essendon Royals SC Ballarat City FC Dandenong City SC Eastern Lions SC Goulburn Valley Suns FC Bendigo City FC Dandenong Thunder FC FC Bulleen Lions Heidelberg United FC Brimbank Stallions FC Gippsland FC Malvern City FC Hume City FC Caroline Springs George Cross FC Glen Eira FC Manningham United FC Melbourne Victory FC Geelong SC Kingston City FC Melbourne City FC Moreland City FC Green Gully SC Langwarrin SC Northcote City FC Moreland Zebras FC Melbourne Knights FC Mornington SC Nunawading City FC Murray United FC North Geelong Warriors FC Oakleigh Cannons FC Port Melbourne Sharks SC Pascoe Vale FC St Albans Saints SC Peninsula Strikers FC Ringwood City FC Whittlesea Ranges FC Werribee City FC Springvale White Eagles FC South Melbourne FC

For more information on the Men’s & Boys’ Football Competition Structures for 2020 click here.