South Melbourne FC opens its 2016 PS4 NPL Victoria season on Sunday afternoon with a home derby against old rivals Heidelberg United at Lakeside Stadium. The two sides have enjoyed many great battles over more than 50 years and Sunday promises to be no different.
Both South Melbourne and Heidelberg had relatively successful 2015 seasons. Chris Taylor’s South Melbourne side won the FFV Community Shield, the Dockerty Cup (defeating Heidelberg along the way) and the Premier’s Plate. The most disappointing aspect of South’s season however was its inability to consistently win key matches, with the most disappointing losses coming against Palm Beach (Westfield FFA Cup), Bentleigh Greens (NPL Victoria Grand Final) and Olympia FC (National Playoffs).
George Katsakis’ Heidelberg side finished the 2015 NPL Victoria home & away season in third place on the ladder. They enjoyed excellent cup runs, with a semi final placing in the Dockerty Cup and a quarter final appearance in the Westfield FFA Cup. Although Heidelberg progressed deep into every competition they competed in during 2015, the most disappointing aspect of their season was their inability to claim any silverware. Possibly the most difficult result for the third-placed Bergers in 2015 may have been their NPL Victoria elimination final loss at home against sixth-placed Pascoe Vale.
For Sunday’s match, South welcomes Milos Lujic back into the team, with the centre-forward missing the recent tour to Sydney due to his honeymoon. Nick Epifano is free to play despite his red card in South’s 3-0 loss to Bentleigh in the FFV Community Shield last Friday night, whilst new signings Matthew Foschini (defensive midfield) and Marcus Schroen (attacking midfield) are expected to start Sunday’s match.
Heidelberg will be looking to its attacking players in Kaine Sheppard, Kenny Athiu and Andreas Govas to cause damage to South on Sunday. Sheppard linked up brilliantly with Dan Heffernan to cause all sorts of problems for opposition defences in 2015 and Katsakis will be hoping that his forward can replicate that form from last season again. At the other end, former Northcote City goalkeeper Chris Theodoridis will be the Bergers’ number one goalkeeper following the recent departure of Griffin McMaster.
Sunday’s match at Lakeside Stadium kicks off at 6pm. 2016 SMFC Memberships will be available for purchase and pick-up outside the traditional entrance at Gate 2.
SMFC v Heidelberg – Head to Head (League & Finals)
Matches Played: 81
Wins (SMFC): 40
Wins (HUFC): 22
Draws: 19
First match: South Melbourne 2-1 Heidelberg (30 March 1964, Middle Park)
Last match: South Melbourne 1-2 Heidelberg (3 July 2015, Lakeside Stadium)
Biggest Winning Margin (SMFC): 5-0 (17 November 1991, Middle Park)
Biggest Winning Margin (HUFC): 5-2 (3 July 1977, Olympic Park)
Most Goals in a Match (SMFC): 7 (7-3 win) – (2 April 1967, Middle Park)
Most Goals in a Match (HUFC): 5 (5-2 win) – (3 July 1977, Olympic Park)
Biggest Finals Win (SMFC): 4-2 (21 October 1984, Olympic Park)
Biggest Finals Win (HUFC): 4-1 (18 October 1980, Olympic Park)
| VSL | Home | Away | Finals |
|
1964 |
2-1 | 3-1 | – |
|
1966 |
2-0 | 4-2 | – |
|
1967 |
7-3 | 1-1 | – |
|
1968 |
3-2 | 3-2 | – |
|
1970 |
1-0 | 2-1 | – |
|
1971 |
0-0 | 1-0 | – |
|
1972 |
0-0 | 1-0 | – |
|
1973 |
2-4 | 1-0 | – |
|
1974 |
4-0 | 0-1 | – |
|
1975 |
0-1 | 0-2 | – |
|
1976 |
2-1 | 2-1 | – |
| NSL | Home | Away | Finals |
|
1977 |
1-1 | 2-5 | – |
|
1978 |
1-1 | 1-4 | – |
|
1979 |
0-1 | 0-3 | – |
|
1980 |
0-0 | 2-1 | 1-4 |
|
1981 |
2-1 | 0-0 | – |
|
1982 |
0-1 | 0-2 | – |
|
1983 |
1-1 | 3-2 | – |
|
1984 |
2-0 2-0 |
2-0 | 4-2 |
|
1985 |
1-0 | 1-0 | – |
|
1986 |
0-1 | 2-3 | – |
|
1987 |
1-1 | 1-1 | – |
|
1989 |
4-1 | 1-1 | – |
|
90/91 |
2-1 | 2-2 | – |
|
91/92 |
5-0 | 3-1 | – |
|
92/93 |
1-2 | 2-0 | – |
|
93/94 |
4-0 | 3-2 | – |
|
94/95 |
4-1 | 3-1 | – |
| NPL | Home | Away | Finals |
|
2005 |
0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 |
|
2006 |
3-1 | 2-0 | – |
|
2007 |
3-3 | 0-3 | – |
|
2008 |
1-2 | 1-2 | – |
|
2009 |
0-1 | 0-1 | – |
|
2010 |
1-1 | 0-2 | – |
|
2011 |
0-0 | 2-2 | 1-0 |
|
2012 |
2-1 | 5-2 | – |
|
2014 |
3-0 | 3-0 | – |
|
2015 |
1-2 | 1-1 | – |
Heidelberg was not in the same division as SMFC in the following seasons: 1965, 1969 (State League); 1988, 1989/90, 1995/96 to 2003/04 (National League); 2013 (Premier League)