It was almost the season that didn’t happen. 2014 was the first year of NPL football in Victoria but the process to get there was so contentious that some clubs considered a court injunction to stop the season going ahead. After a late mediation process clubs and Football Victoria agreed to allow the first season of NPL football go ahead.

14 teams comprised the new league including Ballarat and Goulburn Valley, who were added to increase regional representation. The season was also notable for not having a Grand Final, with the Champion being decided in the traditional first past the post method.

South and Oakleigh spent much of the season neck and neck, but Hellas finished strongly and secured the Championship. Milos Lujic starred that season with over 20 league goals, taking the Golden Boot and the Gold Medal, the first player to do so since Sash Becvinovski in 2006.

But what happened to the freshly introduced Ballarat and Goulburn at the end of the year? Well… they were relegated.

Team	Pts
South Melbourne (Champions)	66
Oakleigh Cannons	59
Heidelberg United	45
Bentleigh Greens	43
Melbourne Knights	38
Hume City	38
Northcote City	36
Pascoe Vale	34
Green Gully	30
Dandenong Thunder	30
Port Melbourne	28
Werribee City	28
Ballarat Red Devels (relegated)	27
Goulburn Valley Suns (relegated)	10