With the 2022 regular season nearing its conclusion, Football Victoria wishes to clarify the promotion and relegation structure as stipulated in the 2022 Rules of Competition.
Promotion, Relegation & Play-Offs will proceed as detailed in the relevant 2022 National Premier League Rules of Competition & 2022 Community Rules of Competition. These can be found under the relevant subheadings below.
Women & Girls: Rules of Competition
National Premier League Women & Girls
Victorian Premier League Womens & Women’s State League
Victorian Premier League Womens (VPLW) promotion into National Premier League Womens (NPLW)
Those Clubs finishing in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th position of VPLW at the end of the VPLW Regular Season may be eligible for promotion from VPLW to NPLW in the following season, provided those Clubs meet the requirements outlined in the NPLW license agreement as promulgated by FV from time to time.
To be eligible for promotion into NPLW, Clubs will be required to adhere to the licensing requirements for that level of competition. FV reserves the right to review Clubs who cannot meet the criteria. Clubs who breach or cannot meet the criteria may be fined, removed, or not offered a position into that tier of competition.
Men & Boys Rules of Competitions
National Premier League Men’s & BoysMen’s State League
National Premier League Men’s 2 (NPL2) Promotion into National Premier League Men’s (NPLM)
The Premier and Runner up of National Premier League 2 (NPL2) may be eligible for promotion from NPL2 to NPL in the following season, provided those Clubs meet the requirements outlined in the NPL license agreement as promulgated by FV from time to time.
These Regulations are in addition to the Participation License signed by each NPL Club. Participation in NPL Competitions is subject to compliance with both the relevant Regulations and the terms of the Participation License.
Men’s State League 1 (MSL1) Promotion into National Premier League Men’s 3 (NPL3)
The Premier and Runner up of each League of MSL1 (NW and SE) may be eligible for promotion from MSL1 to NPL3 in the following season, provided those Clubs meet the requirements outlined in the NPL3 license agreement as promulgated by FV from time to time.
To be eligible for promotion into NPL3, Clubs will be required to adhere to the licensing requirements for that level of competition. FV reserves the right to review clubs who cannot meet the criteria. Clubs who breach or cannot meet the criteria may be fined, removed, or not offered a position into that tier of competition.
Men’s State League 4 (MSL4) Relegation
There will be no Men’s State League 4 Play Off for relegation to Men’s State League 5. As per the Rules of Competition, the highest finishing Team which is to be relegated in accordance with the relevant Regulations from the Division in which the vacancy arises will fill the current vacancy in Men’s State League 4.
Men’s State League 5 (MSL5) Vacancies
Vacancies within the Men’s State League 5 structure are to be filled by new team entries through the Men's State League New Club Application Process. Further information regarding the application process will be communicated to Clubs in October.
Any promotion and relegation provisions referred to in the relevant Rules of Competition are subject to NPL & Community Competitions continuing in 2022/2023 in the same, or substantively the same, structure. For the avoidance of doubt any promotion and relegation of teams is at the absolute discretion of FV. There is no right to promotion.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the relevant Competitions Team below:
Community Competitions – competitions@footballvictoria.com.au
NPL Competitions – nplvictoria@footballvictoria.com.au