The countdown is on! With the release of the 2026 NPLW Victoria season fixture, anticipation is building for what promises to be an unforgettable campaign.
Here's a closer look at some of the must-watch clashes form the opening rounds that will set the tone for an action packed year ahead.
Round 4: Box Hill United v Heidelberg United
The 2025 NPLW Grand Final rematch is locked in, promising a must-watch clash between last season’s Champions, Box Hill United, and Premiers, Heidelberg United in a true test of who is Victoria’s best.
Heidelberg dominated the 2025 regular season, while Box Hill peaked at just the right moment to claim last year’s decider, marking a fairytale farewell for long-time player Olivia Ellis. Heidelberg narrowly missed out on sending off captain Steph Galea with glory.
Both squads will look different this season, with several players earning A-League call-ups although the animosity from last year’s epic Grand Final won’t be lost.
Rosie Wild will anchor Heidelberg’s defence after earning successive Team of the Season honours, and 2025 NPLW Coach of the Season Dennis Georgakopoulos will be out to make his mark. Together, they’ll be pushing to help Heidelberg exact revenge on their rivals.
Round 7: Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City
The Melbourne Derby will write a new chapter this season, as the clash will be played for the first time in NPLW Victoria as both A-League clubs join the state’s top-flight competition.
Melbourne City has the advantage over its cross-town rivals in derby firsts dating back to the very first encounter in the A-League Men's when they came away 2-1 victors. The next slice of history would be made on April 18, 2015, when they would face off in the National Premier League Victoria for the first time in the now VPL2 competition; Melbourne City would once again come away 2-1 winners.
Six months later, history would be made again as City would join Victory in the A-League Women's and once again come away 2-1 winners in the first women's Melbourne Derby.
Another milestone moment beckons once again in 2026 as another chapter in the rivalry is set to be written with the sides facing off in the NPLW for the first time in Round 7. Can Victory claim bragging rights over or will the script continue in City's favour?
This is one for the casual observer as this encounter will have the best young talent in Victoria on show and a genuine glimpse into the future.
Round 4: Avondale v Keilor Park
The newly-promoted sides Avondale and Keilor Park set to face-off in an early battle for supremacy to kick off Round 4.
The Avengers were unstoppable in 2025, sweeping through the VPLW season with 22 straight wins to claim both the Premiership and Championship in a truly dominant campaign. Now stepping up to the NPLW for the first time, they join the ranks of powerhouse clubs with both men’s and women’s teams in Victoria’s top flight.
Keilor Park are back in the top-flight for the first time in 16 years and will be out to prove they belong and this tenure lasts longer than 12 months. They had a standout 2025 season in the VPLW, finishing second with 18 wins from 22 matches and 17 more points than third place.
The two sides faced off twice last season, with Avondale taking all six points, but their first encounter in Round 10 of the VPLW would give Liam Drury's side belief they can cause an early season upset. The close-encounter ended 4-3 with striker Addison Steiner proving the difference between the two sides.
When the sides faced off in Round 21 the Eagles couldn't replicate their efforts, going down 1-8 in front of their home fans with seven goals scored by Steiner and former NPLW Gold Medal and Golden Boot winner Kurea Okino.
If Avondale can keep their squad together they will be a force to be reckoned with as former Matildas Elise Kellond-Knight and Beattie Goad would shoulder the experience load while their attacking duo of Steiner and Okino will be unmatched.
Keilor Park will be hoping 2025 VPLW Best and Fairest Jada Colbert will once again play a starring role for the Eagles, while new recruits An Sugamori, Summer Caponecchia and Ameera Makunja can all make immediate impacts.
Round 12: Spring Hills v Bulleen Lions
Six positions on the 2025 NPLW Victoria table may have seperated these sides, however there will be plenty of intrigue when they meet in Round 12.
This clash will see Maja Markovski coming up against her father, Tom Markovski for the first time in the NPLW.
Maja signed for her father's coached side, Spring Hills in the 2025 mid-season registration window following a stint at A-League side Canberra United and steered the stallions out of the relegation battle in their first season in the top-flight with six goals in eight appearances.
The striker re-joins the back-to-back NPLW Semi-Finalists, Bullleen Lions for the upcoming season who will be in need of forward firepower with reigning Gold Medalist Dani Butrus signed with Melbourne City.
During her last stint at the Veneto Club, she had her best season to date, claiming the 2024 NPLW Gold Medal, Golden Boot and Media Player of the Year. Long-time coach and mentor of Markovski, Caitlin Friend has been unable to clinch that illusive Championship, although has guided the side to back-to-back Premiers Plates in 2023/24.
Round 2: Preston Lions v South Melbourne
‘The Big Show’ has become a marquee fixture in the NPLM, and in 2026 the women’s edition continues to build its own identity as South Melbourne and Preston meet again.
Both clubs will be aiming for improvement after falling short of finals in 2025, with the expanded six-team finals format giving each side more opportunity to push for a post-season return.
The match also marks a notable subplot, with Preston’s new head coach Adam Koledge set to face his former club in his first game in charge after previously serving as an assistant at South Melbourne.
With the men’s rivalry consistently drawing strong crowds, this fixture presents a chance for fans to help the women’s encounter grow into a similarly significant event.
Your Team's Must-Watch Match
Alamein: Alamein v Boroondara (Round 10)
Avondale: Avondale v Keilor Park (Round 4)
Bentleigh Greens: Spring Hills v Bentleigh Greens (Round 4)
Boroondara Eagles: Alamein v Boroondara (Round 10)
Box Hill United: Box Hill United v Heidelberg United (Round 4)
Bulleen Lions: Bulleen v Spring Hills (Round 12)
Essendon Royals: Essendon Royals v Heidelberg United (Round 12)
Heidelberg United: Box Hill United v Heidelberg United (Round 4)
Preston Lions: South Melbourne v Preston Lions (Round 2)
Melbourne City: Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory (Round 2)
Melbourne Victory: Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory (Round 2)
South Melbourne: Preston Lions v South Melbourne (Round 2)
Spring Hills: Spring Hills v Bulleen Lions (Round 12)