Australia Championship. Tasmania Northern Premier League. Women
The Northern Premier League Tasmania Women (NPL Tasmania Women North Premier League) is a regional women's football competition within Australia's national framework. It features Tasmania's top women's teams from the northern region, fostering talent development and boosting women's soccer on the island. Recently, the league has seen steady growth in popularity, drawing increased fan interest and support from Tasmania Football.
History and foundation
Launched in 2021 as part of Tasmania's women's football restructuring, the NPL split into north and south conferences to heighten competition. Prior to this, women's soccer operated under the Tasmania Women's Premier League since the 1990s, but the new setup integrated it into Football Australia's pyramid. A notable event: the 2022 season spotlighted emerging talents, and in 2023, a Devonport Strikers vs. Launceston United match drew over 800 fans—the highest attendance for regional women's soccer. League champions vie for promotion to the statewide Women’s NPL Tasmania Premier League via playoffs.
Tournament format
The competition follows a home-and-away double round-robin format with 6–8 teams playing 14 regular-season matches each. Standings are based on points (3 for a win, 1 for a draw). The top 4 advance to finals: semifinals and a grand final on neutral ground. The season runs from March to September, aligning with the national calendar. In 2024, rules mandated minimum playing time for juniors to aid development.
Interesting facts
Average goals per match hover at 3.5, with derbies often exceeding 5. Top scorer Jessica Wilson (Devonport Strikers) netted 28 goals across 2022–2023. Standouts include midfielder Sasha Hughes (Northern Rangers), Tasmania's top young player nominee in 2023, and goalkeeper Mia Taylor (Devonport) with a 78% save rate. The league has produced talents like Caitlin Foord, who advanced to A-League Women. In 2024, Lydia Green leads with 19 goals. Over three seasons, total goals surpassed 500, highlighting an attacking ethos.