Melbourne Victory’s Senior NPL preparations are underway for the 2026 VPL1 season, with the competition beginning in February of next year.
The team are targeting another year of great learning and development after spending 2025 in the state’s top-flight NPL competition for the first time in a decade.
The team will be led by Besart Berisha, after the former Victory striker was named the Club’s Head Coach of the Senior Academy team in September.
As a player, he won four pieces of silverware across 133 appearances for the Boys in Blue and now brings a wealth of experience to coach Victory’s next generation of stars.
Speaking to MelbourneVictory.com.au, he detailed the importance of him and the other coaching staff developing players capable of transitioning into senior football.
“The biggest challenge and job is to make them mature and prepare them well against adult teams we’re going to face this year, and so far, the response has been absolutely amazing.
Victory have completed several fixtures as they build up to the next campaign, recording wins against the likes of Port Melbourne Sharks, St Albans Dinamo SC, FC Bulleen Lions and North Sunshine Eagles FC.
The team has featured A-League Men’s players, including the likes of Oliver Dragicevic, Luka Kolic, Kayne Razmoski and Emre Saglam, with the full Senior NPL squad to be named before the start of the season.
“The way we approached the games has been very aggressive, intense and brave.
“We are going to be facing some big teams, so we’re expecting a lot of tough games from now on.
“What I expect is the bar to keep rising and not drop. We understand that yes, we are a young squad, but we are Melbourne Victory, and you have to work hard to play the Victory way and understand that you are representing the biggest club in Australia.”
Victory’s NPL senior sides will open the campaign by hosting newly promoted VPL2 Champions Eltham Redbacks at the Home of the Matildas on Monday, February 16 2026.
A full fixture schedule can be viewed by clicking here.
