Western United has come through the first quarter of the NPL Victoria season, continuing to provide opportunities for young footballers in the west to succeed.
Adding in a new squad in 2026, seven Academy teams are competing in the Green and Black colours for the first time and have all got their seasons off to promising starts.
With a new squad at his disposal, Andreas Papanicolaou has been pleased with the performances from his senior side thus far, though not every one has secured the result it might have deserved.
United currently sit in eighth place on the VPL 1 Men table ahead of a trip to face seventh-placed FC Bulleen Lions on Saturday, with a win taking United above their opponents.
The Under 23’s team has secured almost identical results to the seniors with 10 points from the first seven matches leaving them right in the middle of the division in seventh.
It’s been the junior categories where Western United have dominated thus far with all five teams performing superbly through the first nine rounds.
Going at a league-high three goals per game, the Under 13’s are in second place on their league table while the Under 14’s sit atop an incredible tight competition on goal difference.
The Under 15’s squad sit in fifth position, the Under 16’s are third and the Under 18’s are flying at the top of the table with seven wins, two draws and no defeats through nine rounds.
An unbeaten week against Melbourne City across all five age groups has highlighted the season thus far in the new-look Youth Premier League system as each team looks to continue growing.
Ahead of the Emerging Socceroos Championship coming up – which will feature eight promising Western United youngsters – the junior sides will take on Essendon Royals at Ironbark Fields in Round 10, including some midweek action on Wednesday and Thursday night next week.
