It all comes down to Lakeside Stadium on Saturday, with two Play-Off Finals set to decide the final promotion places for the 2027 season.
Bayside Argonauts and Essendon Royals will meet for a place in VPLM1 before Melbourne Victory and Northcote City lock horns in a bid to return to the NPLM, with both games carrying huge stakes for the four clubs.
Venue: Lakeside Stadium
Date/Time: Saturday, September 19 | VPLM2 12:00PM | VPLM1 7:30PM
VPLM1 Play-Off Final
Melbourne Victory and Northcote City will battle it out for promotion back to the Senol NPL Victoria when they meet at Lakeside Stadium on Saturday, September 19.
The two sides finished third and fourth respectively in the VPLM1 regular season, with goal difference the only thing separating them on the table and one final game stands between them and a return to Victoria’s top flight.
Melbourne Victory was the competition’s highest-scoring side during the regular season, finding the net 55 times across their 26 matches. Led by A-League legend Besart Berisha in the dugout, Victory will be eager to earn an immediate return to the NPL following their relegation last season.
The last ever winners of the Victorian Premier League in 2013, Northcote City will be looking to spoil the party and make their own return to the top-flight, having last appeared in the NPL in 2018.
Max Clarke’s side had one of the competition’s strongest defensive records throughout the season and will look to use that defensive organisation to contain Victory’s attacking threat.
Victory booked their place in the Play-Off Final with a 2-0 win over Eltham Redbacks. Jack Mihailidis broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 17th minute before Ben Dunbar sealed the result with 10 minutes remaining.
Northcote produced a dramatic finish against Bulleen Lions, claiming a 3-2 victory in their Semi Final. Nicholas Morton opened the scoring before Bulleen levelled 10 minutes after the break via Connor Bell. Morton restored the lead before Matheus Assumpcao equalised again in the 70th minute.
Just when the game looked destined for extra time, Angus Taylor struck late to send Northcote into the Play-Off Final and the John Cain faithful into raptures.
Northcote took the honours in both regular-season meetings between the sides. Kasper Hallam scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at John Cain Memorial Park, while Giorgio Serdenes converted from the spot to secure another 1-0 victory at The Home of The Matildas.
Victory will look to Mikey Ghossaini and Jack Mihailidis for attacking inspiration. Ghossaini finished as the league’s Golden Boot winner with 18 goals, while Mihailidis has also played an important role throughout the campaign.
Alex Lee has been another standout for Victory this season, although his availability remains uncertain after he was forced off with an injury in the semi-final.
For Northcote, Giorgio Serdenes will be one to watch after finishing as the club’s leading scorer with 12 goals. Nicholas Morton and Angus Taylor will also provide plenty of attacking threat.
With Northcote winning both regular-season meetings and Victory boasting the competition’s strongest attack, Saturday’s decider sets up an intriguing battle between attacking firepower and defensive organisation.
The VPLM1 Play-Off Final kicks off at 7:30pm at Lakeside Stadium on Saturday, September 19, immediately following the Senol NPLM Grand Final.
VPLM2 Play-Off Final
The final VPLM1 promotion spot for 2027 is up for grabs when Bayside Argonauts and Essendon Royals meet at Lakeside Stadium on Saturday, September 19.
The two sides finished third and fourth respectively in the VPLM2 regular season, with just two points separating them after 26 rounds.
Bayside finished third on 50 points, recording 15 wins, five draws and six defeats. The Argonauts scored 47 goals across the campaign while conceding just 32, finishing with one of the competition’s strongest defensive records.
Essendon Royals finished fourth on 48 points, also recording 15 wins. The Royals scored 63 goals, the second-highest total in the competition, while conceding 42.
The two sides could not be separated in their regular-season meetings, playing out draws in both encounters. That leaves Saturday’s Play-Off Final as the deciding meeting between two evenly matched sides.
Bayside booked their place in the final with a thrilling 3-2 win over Box Hill United in their Semi Final.
Scott Jamieson opened the scoring before Box Hill levelled just before half-time. Mitch Cooper restored Bayside’s lead early in the second half before an own goal put the Argonauts two goals clear. Box Hill continued to push and pulled one back late, but Bayside held on to secure their place in the decider.
Essendon Royals faced Keilor Park in their semi-final and needed penalties to book their place in the final. Marcus Kotronis opened the scoring before Keilor Park turned the game around through Ryouta Yanagisono and Sam Litchfield. Dean Clarke then levelled late in normal time to force extra time.
Neither side could find a winner across the additional 30 minutes, sending the contest to penalties. The Royals held their nerve to win the shootout 4-2.
Essendon’s attacking firepower will be one of their key weapons, with the Royals scoring 63 goals during the regular season. Bayside will look to their defensive strength, having conceded just 32 goals across their 26 matches.
The Argonauts could well be set for a unique piece of history if they win on Saturday evening. Having finished runners up to Chisholm United in Men's State 3 South-East in 2023, they claimed the State 2 South-East Championship in 2024 before another runner-up finish in State 1 South-East to Malvern City in 2025. After trailing Banyule City at half-time at the Home of the Matildas, the Argonauts stormed back with a brace in the second-half to clinch a 2-1 win and promotion into VPL2. They will be drawing from that experience in a bid for a fourth successive promotion.
With just two points separating the clubs and neither side able to claim a win in their two regular-season meetings, Saturday’s Play-Off Final promises to be another close contest.
The VPLM2 Play-Off Final kicks off at 12:00pm at Lakeside Stadium on Saturday, September 19.