by Georgie Lewis (22/8/25)
From 2026, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City will field teams in Victoria’s NPL Women’s (Senior U23) and U20 competitions, while Football Victoria refocuses its Academy to U15 and exits senior state leagues.
Football Victoria (FV) has confirmed a major restructure of the female talent pathway in the state, with A-League Women clubs Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City entering the NPL Women’s (Senior U23) and U20 competitions from 2026. Western United has also expressed interest, with a decision to come in the coming weeks.
Under the new model, the FV Academy Girls program will concentrate on players up to U15. From the age of 16 onwards, athletes will graduate into club environments which will be A-League academies, established NPLW programs, or other advanced pathways—while FV shifts its role to talent identification and state team selection. Promotion and relegation in NPLW will remain unchanged, with the league expanding to accommodate the new entrants and provide more minutes for players.
What it means for Melbourne Victory
After more than a decade lobbying for entry, Victory has been issued intent for NPLW Senior (U23) and U20 licences from 2026—marking the first time an A-League Women club will be represented in Victoria’s top state competition.
“This is an incredible step forward for Melbourne Victory and our Women’s Academy,” Managing Director Caroline Carnegie said. “Obtaining an NPLW and U20 license is an important part of achieving our goals for our wider Academy and pathway programs… We expect the senior teams to integrate seamlessly within our existing programs, creating exciting new opportunities for women and girls.”
Director of Football John Didulica framed the move as the missing piece in a truly professional pathway. “Elite Victorian players will now… have access to a cohesive 52-week program where their development will be prioritised in a fully professional environment. This can only help Victoria create more national team representatives.”
What it means for Melbourne City
Melbourne City will launch its first Women’s Academy and enter NPLW and U20 from 2026, basing the program at the City Football Academy in Casey Fields. Players will access the same facilities and high-performance environment as the club’s A-League squads. The Academy formalises a pathway that mirrors the men’s side and complements City’s Football Schools and Female Select Squads.
“This is a historic moment for our Club,” CEO Brad Rowse said. “By creating a clear pathway from grassroots to elite, we can now provide young female players with the same opportunities their male counterparts have enjoyed for years… We’re excited to help nurture the next generation of City stars.”
City points to recent national-team debuts for Holly McNamara, Leah Davidson, and Laura Hughes as evidence of its development track record that a formal Academy can now scale.
What changes at Football Victoria
From 2026, FV will:
- Focus the FV Academy Girls on U15 and below.
- Exit both the NPLW and U20 team participation, instead supporting player transitions into club programs.
- Maintain responsibility for talent identification and state teams, building a comprehensive player database across clubs.
- Keep promotion/relegation in NPLW intact while expanding the competition to create more matches and minutes.
FV Interim CEO Dan Birrell acknowledged the impact on current Academy players while emphasising broader opportunity. “We understand this news will be disappointing for the impacted players who have proudly called the FV Academy home. But while this chapter is closing, a new one is beginning… to create greater and additional opportunities for more Victorian players to grow, compete and excel at the highest level.”
Why it matters
For players 16–23, the introduction of A-League Women academies into NPLW plugs the development gap between youth programs and the professional game. For clubs, it aligns coaching, sports science, and playing style across a full pathway, potentially lifting standards week-to-week and reducing the jump to A-League Women. For the league, it should deepen competition without altering the merit principles of promotion and relegation.
There are still details to land—competition format with expansion, integration timelines, and Western United’s final position—but Victoria’s pathway is set for a significant reset: FV nurturing the pre-academy years, and A-League/NPLW clubs driving the senior development runway into professional football.
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