As a result of the introduction of changes by Football Queensland to the NPL Women’s and Football Queensland Premier League competitions, Football Brisbane has been required to amend its competition structures for the 2021 season.
Under Football Brisbane’s Rules of Competition, clubs who participate in senior NPL, NPLW and FQPL competitions are ineligible to enter teams into its Premier League and Capital Leagues and as a result, necessitated changes to existing structures.
Football Brisbane undertook a period of consultation with clubs prior to the final decision being made.
WOMEN
In the women’s space, with Brisbane City FC, Olympic FC, Peninsula Power FC and Virginia United being granted a NPL licence, these teams have been removed from Football Brisbane’s competition structures.
As a consequence, the Brisbane Women’s Premier League and Women’s Capital League will be 10-team competitions for season 2021. Teams have been re-organised into these competitions based on their 2020 final table position. The following clubs and teams have been confirmed for each league:
| Brisbane Women’s Premier League | Women’s Capital League 1 |
| Ipswich City | Pine Hills |
| Coomera | North Brisbane |
| UQFC | Taringa |
| Annerley | Toowong |
| AC Carina | Albany Creek |
| Robina City | Caboolture |
| Grange Thistle | North Star |
| The Lakes | Southside Eagles |
| Broadbeach | Ipswich Knights |
| Kangaroo Point Rovers | New entrant |
An expression of interest has been called from clubs to fill the vacancy that exists in Women’s Capital League 1. This will be announced by December 18, 2020.
10-team competitions mean an 18-round league fixture scheduled to commence on the weekend after Easter, 9-11 April 2021. To complement the league and provide competitive football prior to the Easter break, a new format of the Elaine Watson Cup will take place with the competition played in a round-robin pool stage in its initial phase. Further details of this will be provided early in the new year.
MEN
Consistent with the Rules of Competitions, those clubs who have gained a FQPL2 licence (Caboolture, Grange Thistle, Taringa Rovers, Virginia United, Samford Rangers and North Star) have been removed from the competition structures. The remaining teams have been re-organised based on their 2020 final table position.
The Brisbane Men’s Premier League and Vilic Law Men’s Capital League 1 remain as 12-team competitions while Vilic Law Men’s Capital Leagues 2 and 3 will be 10-team competitions.
Like the women, a new format of the Canale Cup will take place with the Vilic Law Capital 2 and 3 clubs playing in a round-robin pool stage prior to Easter before the Premier League and Vilic Law Capital 1 clubs enter via the knockout stages. Further details of this will be provided early in the new year.
The final structure has been decided based on feedback provided by clubs during the consultation phase with the following clubs confirmed for each league:
| Brisbane Men’s Premier League | Vilic Law Men’s Capital League 1 | Vilic Law Men’s Capital League 2 | Vilic Law Men’s Capital League 3 |
| St George Willawong | Brisbane Athletic | Kangaroo Point Rovers | Jimboomba |
| Albany Creek | North Pine | Clairvaux | Logan Village |
| Toowong | AC Carina | Bardon Latrobe | Tarragindi |
| Centenary | Annerley | North Brisbane | Bethania Rams Athletic |
| Acacia Ridge | Ipswich City | Westside Grovely | Brighton Bulldogs |
| Bayside United | New Farm | Oxley | Park Ridge |
| Brisbane Knights | Pine Hills | Narangba | North Lakes Mustangs |
| The Gap | Logan Metro | Springfield United | Teviot Downs |
| Mt Gravatt | Ripley Valley | Willowburn | New entrant 1 |
| The Lakes | Slacks Creek | Redcliffe PCYC | New entrant 2 |
| UQFC | Moggill | ||
| Western Spirit | Newmarket |
* Despite their 2020 final table position, Brisbane Athletic are ineligible for consideration to join the Brisbane Premier League due to outstanding monies owed to Football Brisbane for the 2020 season. The club will also be deducted six competition points from their Vilic Law Men’s Capital League 1 and Reserves team for 2021.
Expressions of interest for the two vacant positions in Vilic Law Men’s Capital League 3 have been called from clubs. This will be announced by December 18, 2020.
The Finals Series will be reintroduced into all Premier and Capital Leagues for season 2021.
Football Brisbane General Manager, Rafe Griffin in explaining the structures said, “Given the timeframes involved in needing to provide clubs surety around 2021 leading into what is a condensed off-season and pre-season, we feel this is the most efficient way in implementing the changes required without making substantial changes to competition structures which would have required additional consultation and implementation time.”
Consultation with clubs took place to finalise Veto City Leagues, Brisbane Youth Premier Leagues, Junior Divisional and Mini-Roos 2021 competition structures and schedules, with a view to release the final calendar by December 18. Final decisions will be made in accordance with feedback received from clubs during the consultation process.
