Author: George Kouroumalis

South Melbourne FC would like to confirm the signing of goalkeeper Keegan Coulter for the 2018 season.

Coulter joins the club from Box Hill United, where he featured in all 28 matches for the season and established himself as a very accomplished shot stopper in NPL 2.

As well as his experience with Box Hill, Coulter was also part of the Melbourne Victory youth setup and is coming off an extremely impressive pre-season with our club.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Football Director Nicholas Maikousis was pleased with the acquisition. “Keegan is a very impressive young goalkeeper and we welcome him to the club. He has worked hard throughout pre-season and is someone we are pleased to have join our squad.”

We welcome Keegan to SMFC and wish him all the best for the 2018 season.

South Melbourne FC would like to announce that it has signed Andy Brennan for the 2018 NPL Victoria season.

Brennan re-joins the club following stints with Newcastle Jets in the A-League and most recently at Bentleigh Greens.

Prior to joining Newcastle, Brennan played in 15 matches for the club in an electrifying first half to the 2015 season, playing an integral role in the front third and helping the club qualify for the FFA Cup National stage. As well as scoring on four occasions, he also linked up well with Milos Lujic and Nick Epifano as one of the more dangerous combinations in Victorian Football.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Football Director Nicholas Maikousis was pleased to have Brennan re-join the club. “We are pleased to have a player of Andy’s calibre and experience re-join the club for the upcoming season. As well as adding some speed to our front third, Andy’s ability to change a match through his immense work rate is something that we are excited to add to our team. He has had a fantastic pre-season to date, so we look forward to see him translate that form into the upcoming season.”

We wish Andy all the best for the 2018 season and look forward to seeing him again in blue for the upcoming year.

South Melbourne FC would like to confirm that it has re-signed defender Kristian Konstantinidis for the next two seasons.

Having played 35 matches for the club, Konstantinidis is a key member of Chris Taylor’s squad and will once again play an integral role in the club’s defensive structure for the upcoming season.

With the ability to play in numerous positions across the back four and in midfield, the championship winner also provides the coach with an experienced and highly accomplished option as one of the best defenders in the state.

Speaking to smfc.com.au Football Director Nicholas Maikousis was pleased with retaining Konstanintidis. “He is a very important player in our back half and we are pleased to see him re-commit to the club for the next two seasons. His impact throughout the league and during our FFA Cup run of late was extremely important so we are naturally pleased to have someone with his ability and experience part of our squad”

We wish Kristian all the best for 2018 and beyond.

South Melbourne FC would like to confirm that it has re-signed star forward Tiffany Eliadis for the 2018 season.

Eliadis is a name that should be familiar with many South fans, having made her debut with the Club as a 14-Year-Old during the 2010 season in the Women’s Premier League. Since then, she has gone on to become one of the dangerous forwards in the state.

Her outstanding performances in a South shirt saw her win the FFV Gold Medal twice and numerous Golden Boot Awards for both Club and Competition, having scored 78 goals in her last four seasons with the club. While doing this, she also is a three time championship winning player with the club, while capturing the best on ground award for her outstanding 2017 Grand Final performance.

It was also with this amazing form behind her, that saw Tiffany rewarded with a W-League contract at Melbourne Victory for the current 2017/18 season, along side fellow South players Alex Gummer and Melina Ayres.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Head of Women’s Football Gabrielle Giuliano was excited to have Tiffany back for 2018. “South is Tiff’s home and we are over the moon to have such a quality player and person re-join the club for the upcoming season. As well as an attacking force, Tiffany showed her versatile nature throughout the season, including a stint at centre back during the Grand Final where she was best on ground. We are very pleased to have her in our colours once again.”

We wish Tiffany all the best for the 2018 season.

South Melbourne FC would like to confirm that it has re-signed Matthew Millar for the 2018 NPL Victoria season.

Millar has extended his contract following an excellent two year stint with the club, playing across many different roles in his 68 matches for the club. In those matches he has also scored on 26 occasions in all competitions, whilst also proving to be one more the more dangerous midfielders in the competition.

The hard working 21 year old will be looking to build on a strong season and FFA Cup campaign in 2018.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Football Director Nicholas Maikousis welcomed the news of the re-signing. “Matty had a fantastic season with the club and was a standout during our last two matches in the FFA Cup, so we are pleased to have him back for 2018. His work ethic and ability to run at speed for long periods makes him a versatile and dangerous player, so we are naturally excited to have him in our colours once again.”

We wish Matt all the best for upcoming season.

South Melbourne FC would like to announce the re-signing of Championship winning Left Back Alexandra Gummer for the 2018 NPL Season.

She will re-join the club following the conclusion of the W-League season, where she is currently playing in defence for Melbourne Victory. As well as her time with Victory, she has
experience at the highest level in Australia with Adelaide United, whilst also playing for Doncaster in the UK.

In 2017, Gummer played a leading role in South winning the NPLW Championship, with a standout season at left back making her one of the more dominant defenders in the league.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Women’s Football Director Gabrielle Giuliano was pleased to have Alexandra re-sign. “Alex is a tremendous person and leader and we are thrilled to have such a quality individual
re-join the club for the upcoming season. As well as her leadership qualities, her performances last season were exceptional and we are pleased to see her back in our colours for another season.”

As mentioned, Alex is currently playing for Melbourne Victory and will join us at the conclusion of the W-League season.

South Melbourne FC would like to announce the re-signing of 2017 Best and Fairest winner Natalie Martineau for the 2018 NPL Victoria season.

In her four seasons with the club, the Canadian-born midfielder has impressed everyone with her exceptional work ethic and creative play, as well as her leadership on the park.

Natalie was an integral part of SMWFC’s back-to-back WPL Championships in 2014-2015, the State League triumph in 2016 and of course the most recent Premiership and Championship in the NPL Women’s competition of 2017 where she stood out as one of the dominant midfield players in the entire competition.

Women’s Football Director Gabrielle Guiliano was pleased to have Natalie back at the club for the upcoming season. “Natalie showed great loyalty in being part of the Club over the past few seasons and was one of our stand out players for the 2017 season. Her tireless work rate and ability to keep driving her game to another level is something that she is well known for and we are excited to see her back in our colours for another season.”

We wish Natalie all the best for the 2018 NPL season.

South Melbourne FC would like to confirm the departure of two time Championship winning player and former club captain Michael Eagar.

Since crossing from Northcote City in 2014, Eagar immediately assumed the role as club captain and played an integral part in the club winning its first title in 9 seasons during that season. In his 112 senior appearances for the club, Eagar was also able to play a part in our second NPL triumph in three seasons in 2016, while also proudly lifting the Dockerty Cup and Premiers Plate in 2015.

A true professional and fantastic person to lead our proud club, we would like to thank Michael for his efforts as captain and wish him all the best for the next chapter in his career.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, an emotional Eagar spoke highly of his time at the club. “I would have preferred to personally say thanks to everyone at this great club who has made my time extremely enjoyable; however I would like to express my gratitude to all of the supporters, players, coaches, media team and directors at South Melbourne. In particular, CT for giving me the honour of captaining the club during my 4 years, the players such as Norts who have made the journey very special and Frankie for going above and beyond every day of the week. I’ve always worn the South colours with pride and I hope I’ve given the supporters as many great memories as they’ve given me.

Wishing the club and it’s supporters all the very best, I look forward to seeing South Melbourne back in their rightful spot of the country’s top division in the coming years where i will be supporting as a fan.”

He joins fellow Championship winning players Zaim Zeneli (North Sunshine) and Luke Adams (Overseas), as well as David Moreno (Spain) and Stefan Zinni (Avondale) as confirmed departures ahead of pre-season training on Monday.

South Melbourne FC would like to confirm the signing of 21 year old central defender Darby Dexter for the 2018 season.

Dexter joins us from fellow NPL club Port Melbourne, while he has previous experience also with Melbourne City’s Youth Team in both the National Youth League and NPL competition, as well as North Caulfield in the State League.

Dexter provides the squad with a tall and extremely strong central defensive option, who is also very composed with the ball at his feet.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Football Director Nicholas Maikousis welcomed Darby to the club. “Darby is a tough young defender who we think can play a role in our first team squad for the 2018 season.”

We would like to welcome Darby to SMFC and wish him all the best for 2018.