South Melbourne opened their 2025 campaign with a determined 1-0 victory over Port Melbourne at JL Murphy Reserve, securing three points in a tense and physical contest.

The match started with high intensity, as both teams battled fiercely in midfield, with no shortage of strong challenges. South controlled possession early and created several chances through Max Mikkola, George Mells, and Jake Marshall, but Sharks goalkeeper Kondoleon produced crucial saves to keep the game level.

The game’s turning point came in the 19th minute when Port Melbourne’s Nathan Dib was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Nahuel Bonada. The foul sparked a heated exchange between both teams, but South remained focused and capitalised on their numerical advantage.

Soon after, South found the breakthrough as Mikkola displayed smart control and a sharp turn inside the box before firing past Kondoleon, giving South a deserved 1-0 lead.

Both teams continued to create opportunities, with new signing Chairle Leech coming close to an equaliser, only to be denied in a one-on-one by Kontoleon once more. South, however, continued to press forward, with chances falling to Moller, Mells, and Andy Brennan, but Kondoleon remained resilient in goal for the Sharks.

Despite not adding to the scoreline, South defended strongly, with Lopez barely tested in goal. The team managed the final moments well, ensuring they secured all three points to kick-start their campaign in positive fashion.

Next Fixture

Round 2: South Melbourne vs Melbourne Knights
Lakeside Stadium, 7.30pm
Monday, February 17

South now turn their focus to their first home game of the season, a highly anticipated clash against traditional rivals Melbourne Knights at Lakeside Stadium.

The post South commence 2025 with a win over Port Melbourne appeared first on South Melbourne FC.

South Melbourne Hellas is in mourning following the sad passing of Jimmy Armstrong on Monday 19 August 2024 at the age of 81.

Born on 21 March 1943 in Scotland, Jimmy played his youth football at Redfrew and Yoker Athletic before deciding to adventure to Australia and see where his life would take him. He arrived in Australia in 1966 and began his new life abroad playing for Hakoah in the Victorian State League. As a Middle Park co-tenant, Hakoah’s star player was soon on South Melbourne’s radar and Hellas eventually paid $5000 to secure his services ahead of the 1970 season.

Jimmy’s love affair with South Melbourne commenced immediately. On Friday 13 March 1970, he scored the winning goal in second half extra time to guide Hellas to a 3-2 win over Footscray JUST in the pre-season AMPOL Cup final replay at Olympic Park. Jimmy’s first league goal for the club came a few weeks later against the same opponents, this time at Schintler Reserve in a 3-1 away victory. Hellas finished in a disappointing fifth place finish in the league that season but Jimmy led the club’s goal scoring in all competitions with 15 goals. He also represented the Victorian state side against Werder Bremen in June of that year.

In 1971, Jimmy scored 13 league goals as Hellas finished second in the league and he netted in the State League Cup final as Hellas lost 3-2 to Croatia. 1972 was a breakout year, with Armstrong and Davie Gorrie scoring over 30 league goals between them as Hellas pipped George Cross to the league championship on goal difference. Jimmy’s remarkable 20 goal haul was recognised with selection for the Socceroos and he scored for them against South Korea in Seoul in October 1972. 1973 yielded 13 league goals and Jimmy memorably scored the winning goal for Victoria against Bristol Rovers at Olympic Park in May of that year.

1974 was arguably Jimmy’s greatest season in a South shirt. Hellas dominated the State League and won the title by four points as Jimmy scored 22 league goals, a record he held alone for 40 years until Milos Lujic equalled it in 2014 and overtook it in 2016 (25 league goals). One of the most iconic photos of the 1970s era is a half-naked Jimmy being chaired off Olympic Park by jubilant Hellas supporters when his two late goals secured the State League golden boot over Paul Murphy of George Cross in the final game of the season against Juventus. Jimmy’s goal scoring form continued as he scored in the Dockerty Cup final to help Hellas secure that trophy for the first time in its history with a 4-1 win over Ringwood City Wilhelmina. Not surprisingly, Jimmy was the 1974 Bill Fleming Medal winner.

The following season did not yield league success but Jimmy scored the winning penalty in the Dockerty Cup final as Hellas beat Sunshine City to win this historic trophy two seasons in a row. 1976 was Jimmy’s final season with the club and he began strongly with a goal in a 4-1 win over JUST in the Ampol Cup final. In the league, Hellas finished a whopping nine points clear of JUST to win its seventh State League championship in style. After seven incredible seasons at the club, 34-year-old Jimmy transferred to Melbourne Juventus in early 1977 as South Melbourne began life in the new National Soccer League. In all, Jimmy scored 152 goals in Victoria’s top flight, 89 of them for his beloved Hellas.

Following his retirement, Jimmy began coaching several clubs including at South Melbourne, where he coached juniors, the reserves team and assisting with the first team during the 1980s. He remained involved at the club in administration, performing various roles including as a committeeman, Club Secretary and liaison officer. Not surprisingly, he was added in Football Australia’s Hall of Fame in 1999 and was made a Life Member of Football Victoria. In 2002, he was named as the starting centre-forward in the South Melbourne Team of the Century, demonstrating the high regard in which he is held within theclub.

The outpouring of emotion – not just from the South Melbourne community but the wider Victorian and Australian football community – shows how many football people loved Jimmy Armstrong not only as a player but as a human being. “I’m not doing too bad for an old guy” and “I’ve been around here so long you may as well call me Dimitrios Armstrong-opoulos” were two of his favourite sayings when greeting people at the matches.

Perhaps fittingly, 50 years on from Hellas’ dominant 1974 season, the 2024 edition of South Melbourne Football Club saw Jimmy off in style by securing first place in the league (albeit with the finals series still to come) by winning their final game of the season at home featuring a team largely made up of players that had come from the club’s youth teams.

No matter what happens for the remainder of this season, there is no doubt that the great Jimmy Armstrong’s name will live on forever as a genuine all-time great for our beloved football club. Vale Jimmy Armstrong (1943-2024) – thanks for the memories.

The post Vale Jimmy Armstrong (1943-2024) appeared first on South Melbourne FC.

NPL WOMEN / GIRLS

• Note: The NPL season for boys/men concluded last weekend.

The post NPL Scores (Sep 22-23) appeared first on South Melbourne FC.

FINAL SCORE: SOUTH MELBOURNE 1-3 BULLEEN LIONS (HT: 0-0)

Goals:
0-1: Caitlin Friend (53’p)
0-2: Amy Jackson (60′)
0-3: Daniela Gudelj (85′)
1-3: Melina Ayres (90+2′)

South Melbourne:
1. Alexia Karatzikos (GK), 2. Tiffany Eliadis (c) (16. Sofia Sakalis 83′), 3. Alexandra Gummer, 5. Aimee Medwin, 7. Chelsea Blissett, 8. Jamie Pollock, 9. Julia Nicolaci (11. Lisa De Vanna 63′), 10. Natalie Martineau (12. Sarah Richardson 58′), 14. Alex Cheal, 17. Melina Ayres, 54. Ella Mastrantonio.
Unused Substitutes: 4. Leah Scroggie, 15. Leia Varley.
Yellow Cards: Cheal 71′.

Bulleen Lions:
1. Emily Shields (GK), 4. Claudia Fruscalzo (3. Lexi Anastassiou 90+3′), 6. Caitlin Friend (c), 8. Alex Natoli, 9. Lia Privitelli (2. Tessa Sernio 89′), 11. Whitney Knight, 12. Liana Iaconis (22. Emily Dolzan 71′), 13. Hayley Richmond (17. Daniela Gudelj 58′), 15. Amy Jackson, 19. Tyla Vlajnic, 20. Kayla Morrison.
Unused Substitutes: 16. Shelby Green.
Yellow Cards: Iaconis 63′, Privitelli 80′.

The post SMFC Women v Bulleen Lions (GF) – Roundup appeared first on South Melbourne FC.

SMFC v Bulleen Lions – AAMI Park, Melbourne – Sunday 23 September 2018 at 3:30pm

Previous Five League Meetings – click individual game for highlights

2018 (R27): Bulleen Lions 2-3 SMFC (Veneto Club)
2018 (R18): SMFC 5-1 Bulleen Lions (Lakeside Stadium)
2018 (R09): SMFC 2-0 Bulleen Lions (Lakeside Stadium)
2017 (R25): Bulleen Lions 0-7 SMFC (Veneto Club)
2017 (R16): Bulleen Lions 0-2 SMFC (Veneto Club)

Overall Head to Head since 2013 (League & Finals):
Played: 12
SMFC Wins: 11
Bulleen Lions Wins: 0
Draws: 1

The post SMFC Women v Bulleen Lions (GF) – Preview appeared first on South Melbourne FC.

NPL MEN / BOYS

NPL WOMEN / GIRLS

The post NPL Scores (Sep 15-16) appeared first on South Melbourne FC.

FINAL SCORE: SOUTH MELBOURNE 4-0 ALAMEIN (HT: 0-0)

Goals:
1-0: Sarah Richardson (46′)
2-0: Julia Nicolaci (51′)
3-0: Jamie Pollock (73′)
4-0: Melina Ayres (77′)

South Melbourne:
28. Beth Mason-Jones (GK), 5. Aimee Medwin, 7. Chelsea Blissett, 8. Jamie Pollock (c), 9. Julia Nicolaci (10. Natalie Martineau 64′), 11. Lisa De Vanna (16. Sofia Sakalis 77′), 12. Sarah Richardson (4. Leah Scroggie 81′), 14. Alex Cheal, 15. Leia Varley (3. Alexandra Gummer 67′), 17. Melina Ayres, 54. Ella Mastrantonio (2. Tiffany Eliadis 81′).
Unused Substitutes: None.
Yellow Cards: Mastrantonio 60′.

Alamein FC:
1. Erin Hudson (GK), 4. Olivia Ellis, 8. Candela Ferreyra Bas (18. Lucy Richards 81′), 9. Kelsey Minton (6. Bryannen Gurr 85′), 11. Janna Lawson, 13. Lucy Adamopoulos (23. Jacqueline Lemieux 81′), 14. Rachel Alonso, 16. Amanda Doyle, 20. Jacynta Galabadaarachchi, 22. Alexis Rossi, 51. Emma Checker (c).
Unused Substitutes: 7. Katherine Goff, 40. Daniela Skocic.
Yellow Cards: Checker 41′.

The post SMFC Women v Alamein FC (SF) – Roundup appeared first on South Melbourne FC.

South Melbourne v Alamein FC – Lakeside Stadium – Saturday 15 September 2018 at 4:30pm

Previous Five League Meetings – click individual game for highlights
2018 (R25): SMFC 1-2 Alamein (Lakeside Stadium)
2018 (R16): SMFC 3-2 Alamein (Lakeside Stadium)
2018 (R07): Alamein 3-2 SMFC (H.A. Smith Reserve)
2017 (R24): SMFC 4-2 Alamein (Lakeside Stadium)
2017 (R15): Alamein 1-3 SMFC (AAMI Park, Melbourne)

Overall Head to Head (League & Finals):
Played: 6
SMFC Wins: 3
Alamein Wins: 3
Draws: 0

The post SMFC Women v Alamein FC (SF) – Preview appeared first on South Melbourne FC.

FINAL SCORE: BULLEEN LIONS 2-3 SOUTH MELBOURNE (HT: 1-0)

Goals:
1-0: Caitlin Friend (22′)
1-1: Jamie Pollock (49′)
2-1: Lia Privitelli (62′)
2-2: Lisa De Vanna (70′)
2-3: Sarah Richardson (79′)

Bulleen Lions:
1. Emily Shields (GK), 2. Tessa Sernio (3. Lexi Anastassiou 80′), 4. Claudia Fruscalzo (22. Emily Dolzan 55′), 6. Caitlin Friend (c), 9. Lia Privitelli, 11. Whitney Knight, 12. Liana Iaconis, 13. Hayley Richmond, 15. Amy Jackson (14. Cristina Cardaci 55′), 17. Daniela Gudelj (16. Shelby Green 75′), 20. Kayla Morrison (18. Cassandra Carman 88′).
Unused Substitutes: None.
Yellow Cards: None.

South Melbourne:
21. Beth Mason-Jones (GK), 3. Alexandra Gummer, 7. Chelsea Blissett, 8. Jamie Pollock, 9. Julia Nicolaci, 10. Natalie Martineau (c), 14. Alex Cheal (5. Aimee Medwin 58′), 15. Leia Varley (12. Sarah Richardson 64′), 16. Sofia Sakalis (11. Lisa De Vanna 55′), 17. Melina Ayres, 54. Ella Mastrantonio.
Unused Substitutes: 1. Alexia Karatzikos (GK), 4. Leah Scroggie.
Yellow Cards: None.

The post SMFC Women v Bulleen Lions (R27) – Roundup appeared first on South Melbourne FC.

NPL MEN / BOYS

NPL WOMEN / GIRLS

The post NPL Scores (Sep 08-09) appeared first on South Melbourne FC.