 | |
| Organising body | Football Victoria |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1958 (1958) |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Victoria |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of clubs | 166
|
| Level on pyramid | 5–9 |
| Promotion to | VPL 2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | National Australia Cup State Dockerty Cup |
| Current champions | VSL 1 NW: Whittlesea United VSL 1 SE: Eltham Redbacks (2024) |
The Victorian State League (VSL), known as the VETO Sports State League[1] for sponsorship reasons, is an Australian soccer league based in Victoria.[2][3] It is administered by Football Victoria, covering the fourth-to-eighth-highest tiers in the Victorian soccer league system (and the fifth-to-ninth-highest nationally).[4][5]
As of 2025, it consists of five divisions (separated by two zones for divisions 1–3, and four zones for divisions 4–5). Clubs promoted from VSL 1 enter the Victorian Premier League (VPL), while clubs relegated from VSL 5 enter the regional leagues.
History
The league was formed in 1958 as the Victorian Metropolitan League (VML), becoming the second-highest league in Victoria. It was renamed to the Victorian League in 1985, before adopting the VSL name in 1991.
In 2014, the first-tier Victorian Premier League was rebranded as the National Premier Leagues (NPL).[6] The introduction of the NPL 1 (later renamed to NPL 2) competition resulted in the VSL becoming the third-highest Victorian competition.[7] A further change to the pyramid structure occurred in 2020 with the establishment of NPL 3, making the VSL the fourth-highest Victorian competition.[8]
Format
In the 2014 season, the VSL 1 champions and runners-up (Eastern Lions and Moreland City respectively) were promoted to NPL 1, although no relegation to the VSL took place.[9][10] This system was removed for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, but promotion and relegation was reintroduced in 2017, with the VSL 1 champions promoted and the bottom two placed clubs in NPL 2 relegated.[11][12]
Beginning from the 2026 season, VSL 4 and VSL 5 will move from having to four zones to two, resulting in the creation of sixth and seventh VSL divisions.[13] This will result in all VSL divisions having North-West and South-East zones.[14]
Current members
These are all clubs who are competing in the Victorian State League in the 2025 season.
Locations
Division 1
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Division 2
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Division 3
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Division 4
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Division 5
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Champions
1958–1963
| Season | Division 1 North | Division 1 South | Division 2 North | Division 2 South |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Footscray Capri | Yarra Park | Corio | West Melbourne Sicilia |
| 1959 | Preston Croatia | Melbourne Hungaria | Moonee Ponds | Sandringham City |
| 1960 | South Melbourne Hellas | Richmond | Lions | Ferntree Gully |
| 1961 | Lions | Preston Croatia | Alexander | Preston Makedonia |
| 1962 | Croatia | Richmond | Coburg United | Triestina |
| 1963 | Alexander | Triestina | Libertas | Park Rangers |
1964–1999
| Season | Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 | Division 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Croatia | Moonee Ponds | Ringwood United | Waverley City |
| 1965 | Alexander | St Albans | Frankston City | Princes Park Hercules |
| 1966 | Preston Makedonia | Sunshine City | Albion Rovers | Keilor City |
| 1967 | Ringwood City | Altona City | Keilor City | Yallourn |
| 1968 | Box Hill | Keilor City | Yallourn | Ballarat |
| 1969 | Alexander | Prahran City | Princes Park Hercules | Mooroolbark United |
| 1970 | Box Hill | Yallourn | Mooroolbark United | North Carlton Olympic |
| 1971 | Elwood Austria | Green Gully | Heidelberg | Newport |
| 1972 | Prahran Slavia | Western Suburbs | Ferntree Gully | Eltham |
| 1973 | Mooroolbark United | Preston Makedonia | North Carlton Olympic | Essendon City |
| 1974 | Sunshine City | Waverley City | Brighton | East Melbourne Helvetic |
| 1975 | Preston Makedonia | Box Hill | Heidelberg | Doncaster Rovers |
| 1976 | Green Gully | Dandenong City | Bell Park | Broadmeadows City |
| 1977 | Albion Rovers | Doveton | Knox City | Doncaster Rovers |
| 1978 | Croydon City | Melbourne Hungaria | South Melbourne Hellas | Fawkner Blues |
| 1979 | Western Suburbs | Keilor | Park Rangers | Frankston Pines |
| 1980 | Doveton | Park Rangers | Frankston Pines | Werribee City |
| 1981 | Maribyrnong Polonia | Fawkner Blues | Bell Park | Mornington |
| 1982 | Fawkner Blues | Melbourne Hungaria | Thomastown Devils | Caulfield City |
| 1983 | Western Suburbs | St Albans Saints | Caulfield City | Hamlyn Rangers |
| 1984 | Springvale City | Mornington | Hamlyn Rangers | Yarraville |
| 1985 | Melbourne | South Oakleigh | Prahran City | Rosanna |
| 1986 | Oakleigh | Bulleen | Mooroolbark | Clarinda |
| 1987 | Bulleen Lions | Westgate | West Brunswick | Lalor United |
| 1988 | Frankston Pines | Sandringham City | Geelong | Holland Park |
| 1989 | Mooroolbark | North Geelong | Bell Park | Clayton Inter |
| 1990 | Doveton | Bell Park | Altona City | East Brunswick-Ivanhoe |
| 1991 | North Geelong | Richmond | Oakleigh Suburbs | Regent |
| 1992 | Springvale City | Broadmeadows City | Springvale United | Pascoe Vale |
| 1993 | Werribee City | Box Hill Inter | Lalor United | Altona East |
| 1994 | Doncaster Rovers | Clarinda | Altona East | Westvale |
| 1995 | Bentleigh Greens | Springvale White Eagles | Westvale | South Springvale |
| 1996 | Springvale White Eagles | Westvale | Frankston | Geelong |
| 1997 | South Dandenong | Ringwood City | Cranbourne | Malvern City |
| 1998 | Westvale | Oakleigh | Geelong | Moreland City |
| 1999 | Oakleigh | Frankston Pines | South Wantirna | Langwarrin |
2000–2012
| Season | Division 1 | Division 2 North-West | Division 2 South-East | Division 3 North-West | Division 3 South-East |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | South Dandenong | Fitzroy City | Frankston Strikers | Croxton Park | Langwarrin |
| 2001 | Whittlesea Stallions | Albion Rovers | Knox City | Keilor Park | Monbulk Rangers |
| 2002 | Frankston Pines | Northcote City | Kingston City | North Sunshine Eagles | Brunswick City |
| 2003 | Oakleigh Cannons | Sunshine Georgies | Richmond | Keilor Park | Clayton |
| 2004 | Heidelberg United | Brunswick City | Langwarrin | Yarraville Glory | Chelsea |
| 2005 | Kingston City | North Geelong Warriors | Springvale White Eagles | Maribyrnong Greens | Waverley Wanderers |
| 2006 | Western Suburbs | Westgate | Cranbourne Comets | Werribee City | Heatherton United |
| 2007 | Frankston Pines | Keilor Park | Clifton Hill | Ballarat Red Devils | Frankston Strikers |
| 2008 | Sunshine Georgies | Pascoe Vale | Northcote City | Geelong Rangers | Morwell Pegasus |
| 2009 | Northcote City | North Geelong Warriors | Malvern City | Banyule City | Berwick City |
| 2010 | St Albans Saints | Port Melbourne | Southern Stars | Westgate | Noble Park United |
| 2011 | Whittlesea Zebras | Werribee City | Dandenong City | Keilor Park | Kingston City |
| 2012 | Pascoe Vale | Fawkner Blues | Eastern Lions | Avondale Heights | Doveton |
2013–present
| Season | Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 | Division 4 | Division 5 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North-West | South-East | North-West | South-East | North-West | South-East | East | North | South | West | East | North | South | West | ||
| 2013 | Heidelberg United | Moreland City | Springvale White Eagles | Cairnlea | Doncaster Rovers | Mooroolbark | Heidelberg Stars | Seaford United | Corio | Ringwood City | Bundoora United | St Kilda | Melton Phoenix | ||
| 2014 | Moreland City | Eastern Lions | North Sunshine Eagles | Frankston Pines | Essendon Royals | Sandringham City | Croydon City Arrows | Upfield | St Kilda | Hoppers Crossing | Eltham Redbacks | Greenvale United | Dandenong South | Keilor Wolves | |
| 2015 | Western Suburubs | Mornington | Banyule City | Berwick City | Hoppers Crossing | St Kilda | Eltham Redbacks | Fawkner | Brighton | Melbourne City | Kings Domain | Mill Park | Springvale City | Spring Hills | |
| 2016 | Altona Magic | Mornington | Geelong | St Kilda | Geelong Rangers | Mazenod United | Brandon Park | Epping City | Skye United | Brimbank Stallions | Healesville | RMIT | Rosebud Heart | Notrh Melbourne Athletic | |
| 2017 | Altona Magic | Langwarrin | Altona City | Eltham Redbacks | Brimbank Stallions | Knox City | Whitlehorse United | Boroondara-Carey Eagles | Bayside Argonauts | Point Cook | East Brighton United | Craigieburn City | Sandown Lions | Laverton Park | |
| 2018 | Geelong | Manningham United Blues | Whittlesea United | Doveton | Epping City | Boroondara-Carey Eagles | Ashburton United | Lalor United | Monash University | Western Eagles | Monash City | Heidelberg Eagles | Chelsea | Westside Strikers Caroline Springs | |
| 2019 | Preston Lions | Nunawading Ciity | Fitzroy City | Boroondara-Carey Eagles | Lalor United | Collingwood City | Hampton East Brighton | Heidelberg Eagles | Rowville Eagles | Altona North | Waverley Wanderers | Uni Hill Eagles | Somerville Eagles | Barnstoneworth United | |
| 2020 | No competition played due to COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria. | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria. | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Caroline Springs George Cross | Beaumaris | Upfield | Collingwood City | Westvale Olympic | Hampton East Brighton | Chisholm United | Uni Hill Eagles | Dandenong South | Westside Strikers | St Kilda | Moonee Valley Knights | White Star Dandenong | Barwon | |
| 2023 | Altona City | Melbourne Srbija | Clifton Hill | Mazenod | Uni Hill Eagles | Chisholm United | St Kilda | Bundoora United | White Star Dandenong | Laverton | Knox United | Yarra Jets | Hampton Park United Sparrows | Balmoral | |
| 2024 | Whittlesea United | Eltham Redbacks | Keilor Park | Bayside Argonauts | Western Eagles | St Kilda | Croydon City Arrows | Plenty Valley Lions | Hampton Park United Sparrows | Surf Coast | Mount Waverley City | Heidelberg Stars | Rosebud | Lara United | |
| 2025 | |||||||||||||||
See also
References
- ^ "Football Victoria Welcomes VETO Sports as Official Goal & Equipment Partner". Football Victoria. 28 November 2024. Archived from the original on 7 April 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ "Some of the faces to shape NPL narrative in 2017". The Corner Flag. 9 December 2016. Archived from the original on 29 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ "MEN'S STATE LEAGUE 2024 FINAL LEAGUE STRUCTURES" (PDF). Football Victoria. February 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ Berthier, Thibault (4 March 2022). "Victorian State League heavyweights set for Cup clash". Australia Cup. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ Bunnell, Connor (2 August 2024). "Australia Cup Round of 32: 'Cinderella story' of the year beckons as fourth-tier side hunt 'glorious' upset". The Roar. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ Gorman, Joe (9 December 2013). "Why the NPL matters for Australian football". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ "FFV announces NPL structure for 2014". Football Federation Victoria. 13 February 2014. Archived from the original on 29 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ "Football Victoria Announces New 2020 NPL Structures". Football Victoria. 15 October 2019. Archived from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ "Australia 2013/14". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 29 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ "NPL 2015 league structures announced". GameDay. Football Victoria. 14 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ "FFV announces NPL 2, SL1 promotion and relegation in 2017". The Corner Flag. 11 February 2016. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ "Football Federation Victoria Promotion & Relegation System between National Premier Leagues 2/Men's State League 1" (PDF). Football Federation Victoria. November 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ "Changes to VETO Sports State League Mens & Womens structures from 2026 season". Football Victoria. 18 December 2024. Archived from the original on 5 April 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ "VETO SPORTS State League Men's 2025 promotion and relegation reminder". Football Victoria. 2 July 2025. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
