Soccer in Victoria

Soccer in the Australian state of Victoria is organised by Football Victoria (FV). FV is a member of the national Football Australia.

National representation Many clubs represented Victoria in the now defunct National Soccer League (NSL), three of which, South Melbourne FC, Melbourne Knights and Brunswick Juventus became champions. Along with South Melbourne, Heidelberg United, Footscray JUST and Mooroolbark United were NSL foundation clubs. At various times the following Victorian sides also competed in the NSL: Preston Lions FC; Carlton SC; Gippsland Falcons (also known as Eastern Pride); Collingwood Warriors; Sunshine George Cross; and Green Gully.

Victoria is currently represented in the top-flight A-League Men by Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City and Western United. Victory and City also have associated teams in the A-League Women and A-League Youth.

League system

Men's system LevelTotal clubsLeague(s) / division(s)114National Premier Leagues Victoria Men's14 clubs – 3 relegations214Victorian Premier League Men's 114 clubs – 3 promotions, 3 relegations314Victorian Premier League Men's 214 clubs – 3 promotions, 3 relegations424Victorian State League Men's 1 North-West12 clubs – 1.5 promotions, 2 relegationsVictorian State League Men's 1 South-East12 clubs – 1.5 promotions, 2 relegations524Victorian State League Men's 2 North-West12 clubs – 2.5 promotions, 2 relegationsVictorian State League Men's 2 South-East12 clubs – 2.5 promotions, 2 relegations624Victorian State League Men's 3 North-West12 clubs – 2.5 promotions, 2 relegationsVictorian State League Men's 3 South-East12 clubs – 2.5 promotions, 2 relegations724Victorian State League Men's 4 North-West12 clubs – 2.5 promotions, 2 relegationsVictorian State League Men's 4 South-East12 clubs – 2.5 promotions, 2 relegations824Victorian State League Men's 5 North-West12 clubs – 2.5 promotions, 2 relegationsVictorian State League Men's 5 South-East12 clubs – 2.5 promotions, 2 relegations924Victorian State League Men's 6 North-West12 clubs – 2.5 promotions, 2 relegationsVictorian State League Men's 6 South-East12 clubs – 2.5 promotions, 2 relegations1024Victorian State League Men's 7 North-West12 clubs – 2.5 promotionsVictorian State League Men's 7 South-East12 clubs – 2.5 promotions

Women's system LevelTotal clubsLeague(s) / division(s)114National Premier Leagues Victoria Women's14 clubs – 2 relegations214Victorian Premier League Women's12 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegations320Victorian State League Women's 1 North-West10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegationsVictorian State League Women's 1 South-East10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegations420Victorian State League Women's 2 North-West10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegationsVictorian State League Women's 2 South-East10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegations520Victorian State League Women's 3 North-West10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegationsVictorian State League Women's 3 South-East10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegations620Victorian State League Women's 4 North-West10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegationsVictorian State League Women's 4 South-East10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegations720Victorian State League Women's 5 North-West10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegationsVictorian State League Women's 5 South-East10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegations820Victorian State League Women's 6 North-West10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegationsVictorian State League Women's 6 South-East10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegations920Victorian State League Women's 7 North-West10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegationsVictorian State League Women's 7 South-East10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegations1020Victorian State League Women's 8 North-West10 clubs – 2 promotionsVictorian State League Women's 8 South-East10 clubs – 2 promotions

League and Cup systems Leagues The highest state based league is the National Premier Leagues Victoria, which forms a division of the National Premier Leagues. The winner of which enters a national play-off series against the winners of other NPL divisions. The league below that is the National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 and National Premier Leagues Victoria 3. Below that, State Leagues 1 and 2 are split into North/West and South/East divisions. Below that, three divisions of the Provisional Leagues follow, also split into North/West and South/East divisions. The participating clubs are almost entirely located within metropolitan Melbourne, however there are separate regional leagues organised by associations subsidiary to the FFV, such as the Geelong Regional Football Association, Ballarat & District Soccer Association and the Gippsland Soccer League.

Cup The Dockerty Cup, a knockout cup competition for Victorian clubs, ran every year from 1909 until 1996, with the exception of the years 1916–18 owing to World War I. Since then it has been in recess, except for season 2004.

The idea of a Victorian Cup competition was revived in 2011 with the Mirabella Cup, which was to feature all Victorian clubs, from the A-League through to the regional leagues, however the FFA later pulled Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart from the competition. In 2012 and 2013 the competition was known as the FFV State Knockout Cup. In 2014 the competition returned to the traditional Dockerty Cup title. Since 2014 the Dockerty Cup has been used to qualify Victorian clubs, with the exception of A-League clubs which already automatically qualify, for the national FFA Cup.

Honours Honours since reorganization with NPL in 2014. YearVictoria League ChampionsVictoria League PremiersDockerty Cup WinnersCommunity Shield Winners2014South MelbourneSouth MelbourneMelbourne Knights N/A2015Bentleigh GreensSouth MelbourneSouth MelbourneSouth Melbourne2016South MelbourneBentleigh GreensBentleigh GreensBentleigh Greens2017Bentleigh GreensHeidelberg UnitedHeidelberg UnitedBentleigh Greens2018Heidelberg UnitedHeidelberg UnitedBentleigh GreensHeidelberg United2019Bentleigh GreensHeidelberg UnitedHume CityBentleigh Greens2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in AustraliaBentleigh Greens2021Not Held (COVID-19)Oakleigh CannonsAvondale FCNot Held2022Oakleigh CannonsSouth MelbourneBentleigh GreensNot Held2023Avondale FCAvondale FCOakleigh CannonsOakleigh Cannons2024Oakleigh CannonsSouth MelbourneSouth MelbourneAvondale FC2025Heidelberg UnitedAvondale FCSouth MelbourneSouth Melbourne

Community Soccer Leagues and Cups

The Geelong Community Cup is an annual pre-season soccer tournament held in the city of Geelong since 1981.

Soccer in Victoria

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