Football Victoria confirm new NPL structures for 2020

Football Victoria (FV) have announced its new NPL Victoria structures for the 2020 season.

The upcoming season will see the introduction of an NPL3 competition, which will alter the structures of the NPL men’s competitions.

FV CEO Peter Filopoulos claims the new structures would lead to the best teams playing each other week in, week out. He said it was a fairer setup than what was previously implemented.

“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 in the 2020 season. However, there will no longer be a promotion-relegation playoff match. Instead, the top two teams in NPL2 will be promoted to the first division whilst the bottom two teams in NPL Victoria will be relegated to NPL2.

In accordance with the 2019 NPL Rules of Competition, the promotion and relegation policy has been applied by FV. These are the positional changes that have now been made in the NPL1 men’s league.

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

The NPL2 and NPL3 competitions will have 12 teams in each league in 2020. The top six on the ladder in NPL 2 (West) and NPL 2 (East), as well as the top two from Men’s State League 1 (North West) and Men’s State League 1 (South East), will form the new NPL3 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

After the completion of the NPLW licence audit process, Southern United FC and Galaxy United FC won’t participate in the NPLW senior women’s and Under 19 competition in 2020. Because of this, the NPLW Senior Women’s and Under 19 competitions will have eight teams in each league in 2020.

The junior girls’ structure remains the same. Further changes are expected after the 2020 season.

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

Following extensive reviews, the Junior Boys’ NPL has been separated from the Senior NPL for the purpose of promotion and relegation.

48 clubs will be involved in Victoria’s Junior Boys’ NPL competition in 2020.

These clubs will be involved in a pre-qualification phase in their geographical zones in early February.

In the 2020 season the Junior Boys’ NPL will comprise of only U13, U14, U15 and U16 teams.

Clubs in the zones below will compete in an 11 round pre-qualification phase in their specified regions. After the completion of this, clubs will be put in 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

 

 

 

 

 

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The Athlete Management System changing the Data Game

In today’s high-performance sports landscape, data is a game-changer, and the Teamworks AMS has been regarded as the gold standard in Athlete Management Systems (AMS)

Teamworks is a company dedicated to helping athletes, and the people who support them, reach their full potential through innovative technology.

The company is built by athletes, for athletes, and exists to serve and support the world of sport.

Since its founding in 2006, Teamworks has experienced strong and steady growth.

By continually investing in its team and bringing together top-tier tech companies through strategic acquisitions, Teamworks has been able to offer even greater value and service to its customers.

What started in Durham, North Carolina, has now grown into a global presence—spanning 11 countries and supporting athletes and elite sports organisations around the world.

As of 2025, the company has grown to over 450 employees and has secured $165 million in funding.

The company offers a variety of products and services, however, it’s one of their products, the Teamworks AMS that is changing the data game.

Teamworks AMS is part of the Teamworks Performance lineup, which also includes Teamworks Nutrition (formerly Notemeal).

Together, these connected tools help practitioners and sports scientists provide personalised, well-coordinated care for athletes—boosting performance while helping to prevent injuries.

Teamworks’ AMS helps integrated and multidisciplinary sports performance teams deliver personalised and unified support to elite athletes.

By bringing all the data into one place, it gives coaches and specialists a clear, real-time picture of each player and the team as a whole—so they can make smarter decisions that drive performance every single week.

Teamworks AMS focuses on three key areas to support athlete performance: keeping athletes ready, reducing injuries, and driving long-term development.

Keep Athletes Ready to Perform

By bringing together data on workload, fitness testing and nutrition, users can create tailored programs that help each athlete stay healthy, prepared, and performing at their best.

Reduce Injury Risk and Support Recovery

Integrating performance and medical data makes it easier to identify athletes at risk or in recovery. Foster collaboration to speed recovery and help the athlete return to peak performance.

Develop Each Athlete’s Potential

Leverage data to create personalised development plans built around each athlete’s strengths and areas for improvement—supporting growth both physically and mentally.

Teamworks AMS aggregates performance, health, and medical data from over 100 connected wearables and technologies—giving users more time to focus on analysis and action.

Through the use of the Teamworks AMS app, athletes can build custom, visually rich dashboards to spot trends, make smarter decisions, and help boost performance while reducing injury risk.

So why should Australian soccer clubs and organisations use Teamworks AMS?

In a sport where every detail matters—player readiness, injury prevention, and long-term development—Teamworks AMS offers a cutting-edge solution that will Australian soccer clubs elevate performance and stay competitive at all levels.

Soccer is fast-paced, physically demanding, and leaves little room for unpreparedness.

Teamworks AMS pulls together data to create tailored programs that keep players fit, fresh, and ready for matchday.

With a long season and tight schedules, injury risk is constant.

Teamworks AMS integrates medical and performance data to help identify early warning signs and streamline return-to-play strategies.

This collaborative approach ensures better communication at clubs between coaches and medical staff—minimising downtime and maximising impact on the field.

Whether nurturing academy talent or refining senior players, Teamworks AMS helps coaches and performance staff build data-driven Individual Development Plans.

These plans are tailored to each player’s strengths and weaknesses, supporting both physical growth and mental resilience—critical for consistent performance in competitive soccer.

With the A-Leagues, NPL, and youth academies continuing to grow in professionalism and player expectations, Australian soccer clubs need tools that keep pace.

In a world where performance is defined by precision, Teamworks AMS stands out as the gold standard in athlete management—empowering teams with the data, tools, and insights they need to unlock peak potential and stay ahead of the game.

Inaugural Female Referee Mentoring Program Launched by Football NSW

Football NSW has launched the Female Referees Mentoring Program, a groundbreaking initiative which aims to support and develop  female referees throughout the state.

This unique program builds on the groundwork set by recent NSW Football Legacy scholarship initiatives, continuing to create opportunities and support greater gender diversity in football officiating.

It’s another strong example of Football NSW’s ongoing commitment to developing and supporting female referees.

Football NSW’s Referees Development & Education Manager Emma Kocbek highlighted the organisation’s commitment to empowering female referees through mentorship, fostering inclusion and strengthening the game with greater diversity.

“Football NSW is committed to creating an inclusive environment that encourages women to thrive in all aspects of the game,” Kocbek said in a press release.

“This mentoring program is a significant step forward in empowering female referees, providing them with the tools, confidence, and mentorship needed to succeed at higher levels.

“We believe that diverse refereeing panels lead to a more dynamic, fair, and engaging game for everyone.”

The Mentoring Program is designed to support Level 3 and Level 4 female referees by connecting them with experienced mentors.

Through tailored guidance, real-world advice, and ongoing support, participants will grow their skills, build confidence, and develop as leaders on and off the field.

This support will help them advance in their refereeing careers while also playing a part in encouraging more women to get involved in officiating—across NSW and beyond.

This innovative initiative is part of Football NSW’s wider commitment to increasing female involvement and leadership at all levels of the game.

By backing and developing female referees, Football NSW hopes to inspire more women to take up officiating and help build a football community that is more inclusive, diverse, and representative of everyone who loves the game.

Football NSW’s Head of Women’s and Schools Football Hayley Todd emphasised that ongoing government funding is vital to grow mentoring programs, boost referee numbers, and build a stronger, more supportive sporting community.

“Government funding plays a crucial role in the successful implementation and growth of the mentoring programs,” Todd said in a press release.

“As participation numbers continue to rise, sustained investment is essential to ensure we are not only increasing the number of referees but also enhancing their skills and confidence.

“By prioritising this investment, we can build a more robust and well-supported sporting community that benefits players, coaches, and referees alike.”

In the coming weeks, Football NSW will be working closely with Referee Branches to identify both mentors and mentees for the program.

This project is proudly backed by the NSW Office of Sport through the NSW Football Legacy Program, and by the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care through its Play Our Way Program.

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