Victorian NPLW gets a revamp – What does it mean for your club?

Liam Watson

Looking ahead to 2020, Football Victoria have announced big changes to the way the NPLW competition will be structured.

The huge development for next season is that Southern United FC and Galaxy United FC have not been offered the full NPLW license, meaning they will not participate in the top flight for women’s soccer in Victoria.

In a bid to make the league a little more competitive, the NPLW senior competition will feature eight teams from last season – Calder United SC, FC Bulleen Lions, Alamein FC, South Melbourne FC, Box Hill United, Heidelberg United, Bayside United and Senior NTC.

With a revamped eight-team league, there will be 21 rounds plus finals starting from 2020.

While Southern United and Galaxy United won’t be part of it, they will be able to continue playing in the Victorian Senior women’s State League 1 level, while current U12, U14 and U16 junior teams are unaffected, with that competition remaining a 27-week season in 2020.

This is all a proposal that both clubs are evaluating and are given until Friday August 30 to respond. Acceptance of the offer will mean the senior and U19 (reserves) teams will be moved to the State League 1 tier for women’s soccer in Victoria.

While a decision has been made for NPLW status of Southern United and Galaxy United next year, both clubs will at least have the chance to reapply to get back into the NPLW in the lead up to season 2021, which is part of an open and transparent process for all FV clubs.

FV remains committed to the development for the women’s game and striving towards an optimal competition structure for junior girls.

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Chelsea and Tottenham Arrive in Sydney as Premier League Giants Launch Australian Pre-Season Tour

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Image Credit: Chelsea FC

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have touched down in Sydney ahead of their pre-season tour of Australia for the Sydney Super Cup. Both clubs have wasted little time settling into life in Sydney, beginning preparations for a busy week of training sessions, fan events and pre-season fixtures.

The London rivals will each face A-League opposition before meeting meeting in the marquee fixture of the tour at Accor Stadium, bringing two of England’s biggest clubs to Australian shores as they build towards the 2026-27 Premier League season.

For Chelsea, the tour represents the first opportunity for supporters to see new manager Xabi Alonso lead the Blues. Meanwhile, Spurs fans will be eager to see improvements from Roberto De Zerbi’s men following their narrow escape from relegation last season.

Chelsea will open their tour against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday 28 July, while Tottenham will face Sydney FC on Wednesday 29 July, before the clubs meet in the headline fixture of the tour on Saturday 1 August.

The clash will mark the first time the London rivals have faced each other outside the UK. The tour is another sign of Australia’s growing stature as a destination for elite European clubs during the northern hemisphere off-season

With Chelsea and Tottenham among the Premier League’s biggest global brands, the fixtures are expected to attract strong crowds and give Australian football fans a rare opportunity to watch top-flight English footballers in person.

The tour will also feature the Chelsea Women’s team, which will take on the A-League Women’s All Stars in a showcase fixture on Wednesday 12 August.

Football Australia Chairman Reflects on Socceroos World Cup Campaign, Points to Reform Agenda Ahead

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Image Credit: Football Australia

Football Australia Chairman Anter Isaac has released a statement reflecting on the Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, which ended in a penalty shootout loss to Egypt in the Round of 32 on 3 July.

Isaac thanked the players, coaching staff, medical and performance teams, and volunteers who supported the campaign, saying they represented the country with professionalism, humility and pride.

He said the tournament had brought Australians together across every state, culture and generation, calling it one of the few sporting moments capable of uniting the country.

Isaac linked the campaign to Football Australia’s broader governance work, pointing to the organisation’s recently announced reform agenda and the Enduring Principles adopted last year: Better Access to Football for All, More Football, Better Football, More People Enjoying Football, and Winning Football.

He said those principles, together with the organisation’s values of Welcome, Ready, Connect, Excel and Protect, formed the basis for every decision Football Australia makes.

“World Cups do not define our leadership,” Isaac said, adding that they instead reveal progress made long before a ball is kicked.

He said Football Australia’s responsibility extended beyond preparing for the next tournament to strengthening the institution that supports every tournament that follows.

Isaac said progress in a sporting ecosystem of Australian football’s scale depends less on any single body’s authority than on the willingness of clubs, federations, leagues and government to align around shared goals.

He said the organisation would study the lessons of the campaign carefully and continue refining its approach.

“Adaptability is not changing direction with every headline,” Isaac said. “It is improving the path while remaining true to the destination.”

Isaac framed his own role in terms of long-term stewardship, saying the game should be left in a stronger position for the generations that follow than it was for those who built it.

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