Which Victorian/National Premier League clubs have been the most successful since 2000?

We’ve dived into the history books to see which Victorian/National Premier League clubs have been the most successful since 2000. See the full rankings here.

The clubs with the most wins in NPL Victoria since 2000.

In the year 2000, the Victorian football landscape was very different.

The Victorian Premier League was the state’s top-flight competition but the old National Soccer League was still the pinnacle.

There was no South Melbourne or Melbourne Knights at the time, instead the likes of Altona East Phoenix and Fawkner Blues were among the top clubs.

Oakleigh Cannons was relegated that season, while Heidelberg United survived by the skin of its teeth, won the championship the following year before going down in 2022.

It shows the ever-changing landscape of Victorian football.

Oakleigh and Heidelberg rebuilt to become two of Victoria’s most powerful clubs, while Altona East currently sits in State League 2 – the fifth tier – and Fawkner merged two different times and is now Manningham United.

Australian and Victorian football underwent seismic change in 2004-05 with the introduction of the A-League.

It saw South Melbourne and Melbourne Knights drop back to the VPL.

The two powerhouses have never been relegated in their 20 years in the competition.

Oakleigh and Heidelberg have been in the top-flight for 22 years.

However, Green Gully holds the record – having never been relegated this millennium – having played all 25 years in the Victorian/National Premier League.

It’s no surprise then that the Cavaliers hold the record for the most wins in that time.

The club also has the most premierships and championships, with nine in total.

In total, 41 clubs have spent at least one season in the top-flight, whether it be the Victorian Premier League or National Premier League Victoria.

Melbourne Raiders, which is now Whittlesea Ranges, spent the best part of a decade at the top but was relegated in 2000, never to return.

Fitzroy City, which is now FC Melbourne, Knox City, Ballarat and GV Suns have all made one-year cameos in the past 25 years.

Southern Stars spent two seasons in the VPL but had one almost entirely wiped out after match-fixing charges were brought against several members of the club.

Like some of those one-and-done clubs, relegation has been the beginning of hard times.

Western Suburbs is now in State League 1, Altona East, Whittlesea Ranges and Knox City are all in State League 2.

Richmond won a VPL premiership in 2010 but is now struggling in State League 3, playing under the name Greater Dandenong.

At the other end of the scale, Avondale only entered the NPL in 2015 and has rocketed up the all-time wins ladder, smashing through the 100-win barrier.

Only five clubs – Green Gully, Oakleigh, South Melbourne, Heidelberg United and Bentleigh Greens – have more than 200 wins.

Melbourne Knights isn’t far behind.