Football Victoria (FV) is pleased to declare the provisional league structures for the 2025 NPL, NPLW, VPL, VPLW, JBNPL and JGNPL seasons.
A club’s participation in NPL/VPL leagues for the 2025 season is contingent upon final league design, affiliation confirmation, promotion and relegation, approval and compliance of a variety of conditions (mandatory or otherwise) contained within various participation license agreements.
FV’s Executive Manager – Football Operations, Dan Birrell was excited to confirm the updated league structures and what they mean for the development opportunities of the players in the State.
"In alignment with the Our Football: 2024-2028 strategy, our focus is on player development through a wide variety of participation options and, ultimately, a clear pathway is a top priority,” he said.
“The Provisional Declaration of Leagues is based on finishing positions from the 2024 season across the Senior Men’s and Women’s competitions. All clubs will now undergo affiliation and the licensing application process to ensure they comply with the criteria to be considered or awarded a position in their respective league."
“We look forward to working closely with our clubs across the state as they undertake the affiliation and licensing process ahead of the 2025 season.”
The declaration also gives fans a chance to see the implications of the changes to the Victorian Premier League Men’s 2 structure, which will be extended from a 12-team competition to 14 in 2025.
This expansion, which adds four matches to the club’s fixtures, comes from FV’s ongoing review of competition structures and collaboration with Clubs to ensure more opportunities for Community Clubs and Players to grow and develop within the Victorian football pyramid.
“Adding four games to each club’s fixture offers an extra 360-minutes of football and first team opportunities the State’s young players have to develop their skills.” Birrell said.
FV also confirmed that NTC Boys will fill the previously vacant spot in the Junior Boys National Premier League South for the 2025 season.
The final key point for the declaration is the confirmation of the six new clubs awarded a Junior Girls National Premier League license for the 2025 season.
The expansion will create more opportunities for young girls to participate in the sport across the state as well as provide a clear pathway for players to progress within the sport.
A club’s appearance in the ‘Provisional Declaration of Leagues’ is not a confirmation of inclusion in the ‘Final Declaration of Leagues'. No participation is guaranteed to any club in any league until the final declaration of leagues is issued by FV.
National Premier League Men's & Victorian Premier League Men's 1 & 2
National Premier League Women's & Victorian Premier League Women's