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]
 | |
| Organising body | Football Victoria |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1958 |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Victoria |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of clubs | 167
|
| Level on pyramid | 5–11 |
| Promotion to | VPL 2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | National Australia Cup State Dockerty Cup |
| Current champions | VSL 1 NW: Lalor United Sloga VSL 1 SE: Malvern City (2025) |
As of 2026, it consists of seven divisions (separated by two zones, North/West and South/East). Each division would have 24 teams, with 12 in each division. Mazenod FC would withdraw from the VETO State League 1 South/East on the 23rd of January 2026 leaving the State League 1 with only 23 teams. Clubs promoted from VSL 1 enter the Victorian Premier League (VPL). There is no relegation from the State League 7.
History
editThe 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
editIn 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
editThese are all clubs who are competing in the Victorian State League in the 2025 season.
Locations
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  Banyule City Beaumaris Brandon Park Brimbank Stallions Doveton Clifton Hill Collingwood City Gippsland United Hampton East Brighton Mazenod Mornington Old Scotch South Springvale Sydenham Park Upfield SC Western Suburbs Westgate Westvale Olympic Whittlesea United Yarraville Glory  Albion Rovers Altona East Phoenix Bentleigh United Cobras Berwick City Casey Comets Chisholm United Craigieburn City Doncaster Rovers Dallas City Knox City Lalor United Sloga Mill Park Mooroolbark Noble Park United North Caulfield Peninsula Strikers Skye United St Kilda Strathmore Split Uni Hill Eagles Western Eagles Whittlsea Ranges Williamstown  Ashburton United Altona North Brunswick Zebras Bundoora United Croydon City Arrows Dandenong South Diamond Valley United Elwood City Epping City Greater Dandenong Heatherton United Heidelberg Eagles Hoppers Crossing Laverton Plenty Valley Lions Point Cook Rowville Eagles Sandringham South Yarra Sunbury United Waverley Wanderers White Star Dandenong  Albert Park Balmoral Barnstoneworth United Baxter Boronia Chelsea Darebin United Docklands Athletic Endeavour United  ETA Buffalo Fawkner Frankston Pines Glenroy Lions Greenvale United Hampton Park United Sparrows Heidelberg Stars Keilor Wolves Keon Park Keysborough Kings Domain Knox United Lyndale United Manningham Juventus Melbourne City Melbourne University Melton Phoenix Mentone Monash City Villarreal Monash University Monbulk Rangers Moonee Ponds United Moonee Valley Knights Moreland United Ringwood City Riversdale Sandown Lions Somerville Eagles Springvale City Thornbury Athletic Truganina Hornets Watsonia Heights West Point Westside Strikers Yarra Jets Alphington Aspendale Barton United Birrarung Brighton Bunyip District Casey Panthers Cleeland United Doreen United East Bentleigh East Kew Endeavour Hills Footscray Gisborne Glen Waverley La Trobe University Lilydale Montrose United Maidstone United Meadow Park Moreland Eagles Mount Eliza Mount Martha Mount Waverley City Newport Noble Hurricanes Noble Park Old Ivanhoe Old Melburnians Old Trinity Grammarians Pakenham United Rosebud Seaford United St Kevin's Old Boys Tarneit United Roxburgh Park United Spring Hills Templestowe Wolves Tullamarine University of Melbourne Whitehorse United Wyndham |
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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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Division 6
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Division 7
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Champions
edit1958–1963
edit| 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
edit2000–2012
edit2013–present
edit| 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 Suburbs | 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 | Keilor Park | Malvern City | Lalor United | St Kilda | Altona North | Waverley Wanderers | Manningham Juventus | Fawkner SC | Endeavour United | Balmoral FC | East Bentleigh | Meadow Park | Fortuna 60 SC | Newport Storm FC | |
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "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.