Only three of the 12 teams in the Women’s Premier League’s swan song year will continue in the rebranded Women’s National Premier League season for 2016, with only Box Hill United, FC Bulleen Lions and Heidelberg United offered a licence for the league’s inception.
This however spells bad news for powerhouse clubs Bundoora United, Boroondara Eagles and South Melbourne WFC – three of the WPL’s top five this season – who all missed out on licences in the eight-team competition despite each presenting strong proposals.
Ashburton United, Sandringham SC and Casey Comets will also feature in the new competition, with the former undergoing a re-branding to Melbourne United, to allow them to keep Ashburton as a community club in the State Leagues.
The latter two join the competition as part of consortium bids Bayside United (Sandringham & Brighton SC) and Southern United (Casey Comets, Langwarrin SC, Seaford United, Mornington SC and Peninsula Strikers).
A further two new clubs also join the mix, with Keilor United (another consortium bid) and the regional Galaxy United (Geelong) filling the final two spots.
Promoted sides Caulfield United Cobras and South Yarra – who didn’t apply – will also not feature, with the Senior NTC also not fielding an outfit for next season’s competition.
Football Federation Victoria President Kimon Taliadoros believes the restructuring will provide better opportunities for women footballers in the state.
“We have established a dedicated Talented Player Pathway for girls and women across Melbourne and Geelong to achieve their football dreams,” Taliadoros said in a press release.
“This is a significant step forward for the beautiful game in Victoria.”
CEO Peter Gome believes the move will see a brighter future for women’s football, delivering a stronger competition at the top level.
“This new league will create the strongest, most competitive women’s and girl’s competition in Victoria, both on and off the field,” Gome said.
“The clubs chosen will enable us to significantly improve the rapidly growing women’s game in Victoria.”
South Yarra’s caretaker coach Jeff Thomas believes the restructuring at the top will also create a good run off effect into the State Leagues as well, improving the football structure at all levels.
“There’s a lot of football that gets played in Victoria, but there’s not a lot of high quality football that gets played. When you look at it objectively, the level of football is low, the facilities are poor, the club support – especially for women’s – is poor,” he said.
“So I think anything that raises the quality [not only at the top but] at the next level down can only be helpful. South Yarra certainly don’t have anything to fear from the teams that don’t make [WNPL] because we’ve had a competitive match with them this year.”