South Melbourne FC

Author: George Kouroumalis

  • Hey DJ play that song

    Hey DJ play that song

    Many years ago, I worked for my parents who own a video production company. Because it is a family business, you inevitably end up wearing many hats and being the czar of many different jobs. I mainly managed projects and worked as a video editor. On production, there were times that I was called on to work as an audio tech and was made to wear headphones on long production days. In those days, having a really good set of headphones that picked up every nuance of sound was essential to making sure the client got what they needed.

    Keep me dancing.

    Naturally, my first impression of these headphones is based off of the look of them. They have a classic over-the-ear style that is highlighted by a blue LED light that indicates the power for the noise canceling. The padding on the ear pieces seems adequate for extended usage periods.

    They are wired headphones, but the 3.5mm stereo mini-plug cable is detachable. Something else I noticed right of the bat was the very nice carrying case that comes with them. It has a hard plastic exterior with a soft cloth interior that helps to protect the surface of the headphones from scratches. I never truly appreciated cases for headphones until I started carrying them from place-to-place. Now I can’t imagine not having a case.

    All night long…

    Once I gave the headphones a thorough once-over exam, I tried them on. As I mentioned, they have a classic over-the-ear style and just looking at them, the padding on the ear pieces seem adequate and the peak of the headband seemed to be a bit lacking, but you don’t really know comfort unless you try on the product. So, I slipped the headphones on and found them to be exquisitely comfortable.

    Play me something for me and my darling, want you to make everything.

    Now that I had the headphones on my head, I was finally ready to plug and play some music. I plugged the provided cable into the jack on the headphones and then the one on my iPhone 6. Then I called up Pandora. I tend to have a very eclectic music purview and have many stations set up for different moods. From John Williams to Fallout Boy, the sound quality of these headphones was remarkable. There is an amazing depth of sound and incredible highs and lows that make listening to music a truly breathtaking experience.

    In order to test how voices sounded, and the overall art of sound mixing, I pulled up Netflix on my iPad Air 2 and watched a few minutes of a movie to hear all the nuances of the film. None of them were lost. In fact, I ended up hearing sounds that I hadn’t heard before. Echoes…birds chirping…wind blowing through trees…breathing of the characters…it was very impressive what the headphones ended up bringing out for me.

  • South sign Golden Boot Winner & U20 International Melina Ayres

    South sign Golden Boot Winner & U20 International Melina Ayres

    Melina-Ayres

    South Melbourne FC is pleased to announce the signing of Melbourne City striker Melina Ayres for the 2017 NPL Victoria season.

    Seventeen-Year-Old Ayres joins us following a championship winning stint with the W-League outfit, coming on as a late substitute in Sunday’s Grand Final win away to Perth Glory.

    Previous to this, Ayres was on hand to capture the inaugural WNPL Golden Boot while playing at Alamein in 2016, scoring nineteen times in twenty competitive matches. Her outstanding form also culminated in selection for the Australian Under 20 side, where she scored three times in four appearances for her country.

    Ayres also joins us having played numerous seasons previously as a South Melbourne junior and returns to the club to link up with another former South junior and Golden Boot winner Tiffany Eliadis.

    ayres
    Speaking to smfc.com.au Football Director Gabrielle Giuliano was excited with the signing. “We all remember a young and talented Melina running around as a South junior, so we are naturally excited to see her return to the club for the upcoming season. Furthermore, to sign someone with W-League and International experience is very exciting and we believe she will be an outstanding asset to the team in the forward half. We wish Melina all the best for the upcoming season”.

    Melina will make her SMFC senior debut in two weeks time for the Round 1 clash against Box Hill United at Wembley Park. We can’t wait to see her in our colours.

  • Verzi and Nicolaci sign for 2017 season

    Verzi and Nicolaci sign for 2017 season

    Michelle Verzi started her football career at the age of four growing up in New Jersey, USA. By age eleven she had joined the Universal Soccer Academy and was quickly a part of the New Jersey Olympic Development Program. Two ACL reconstructions wasn’t enough to discourage her from the game and she went on play College football at La Salle University in Philadelphia were she helped the team reach record breaking seasons.

    In 2007 she was selected to play for the New Jersey Wildcats in the W-League, the then second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. It was here at the Trenton based outfit she first met Socrates Nicolaidis who was the head coach at the club in 2007 and 2008.

    It was a few years later when Verzi moved to Australia that she made herself at home with long-time South Melbourne rivals, Heidelberg United. Verzi played six seasons at Olympic Village, serving as the club Captain in the last few seasons. Now in 2017 Verzi moves to Lakeside and reunites with coach Nicolaidis.

    Talking to smfc.com.au, Verzi said “I’m really excited to play football again with Soc and happy to be a part of a new club environment. Everyone has been so welcoming, the facilities are tremendous and I’m looking forward to walking out on to Lakeside wearing a South jersey”

    Julia Nicolaci is another strong player swapping the yellow Heidelberg jersey for South Melbourne blue this year. Nicolaci started her football at Eltham North before joining Heidelberg United at the age of 16. She has been a loyal stalwart serving at the club for 9 years growing into a crafty midfielder. In the inaugural WNPL season last year she started in 20 fixtures and scored 6 goals including a brace against the Senior NTC in Round 17. A win in the Team App Cup last year was also a highlight for 2016.

    Nicolaci was recognised for her success on the pitch last season being listed in the The Corner Flag’s Team of the Season (Attacking Midfielders) where they said “while she somewhat flew under the radar this season, given her explosive 2015 campaign, Julia Nicolaci was still an incredibly important figure for Heidelberg United as she helped pull the strings from behind the strikers. American Leigh Gray was the biggest profiter from her work as Nicolaci combined beautifully to help her towards a 20 goal tally, while she herself grabbed a respectable six goals from midfield.”

    Nicolaci told smfc.com.au “the introduction of the WNPL has taken women’s football in Victoria to the next level. Now with South Melbourne involved it’s a step up again. The way South integrates the women’s team with the men’s team gives you the feeling you are truly part of a family environment. I spent a long enjoyable time at Heidelberg and made some amazing friends. However the time was right for the change and I now have a fantastic opportunity here at South Melbourne.”

    Head of Women’s Football Gabrielle Giuliano reflected on the value of the duo signing at South Melbourne saying “both Michelle and Julia will bring a tremendous amount of experience at the top of Victorian football. Their leadership and maturity will serve the team and the club well on and off the pitch. I have seen both play over the years and they have a positive style and the ability to stamp their authority on the game. I’m excited to see them on the pitch in 2017.

  • SMFC launch 2017 Membership

    SMFC launch 2017 Membership

    South Melbourne FC is pleased to launch its membership campaign ahead of the 2017 National Premier League Victoria season.

    We’ve introduced a new membership category in 2017, in conjunction with the opening of the SMFC Social Club at Lakeside Stadium. The unique membership will give you priority access to our wonderful new facility, including discounts on all food and drink purchased within the premises. You will also receive a new SMFC Scarf (Valued at $30) and numerous discounts throughout the year from our associated partners.

    The Social Club Membership will also give you entry into all SMFC Home controlled matches at Lakeside Stadium, including both of our men’s and women’s senior teams. Many double-header matches have been planned, with 2017 members able to watch both of our senior teams at Lakeside Stadium.

    Due to a new membership database system being implemented ahead of the launch of the Social Club, online purchases will not be available until Mid-March. Until such time that this is available, you can simply fill out the membership form and submit your membership application via email.

    The club has numerous community based events planned leading into our opening home match in April, so membership can be purchased from any one of these also. Stay tuned to our website and social media as these events are announced.

    It is very important that you support us by purchasing your membership. We want success both on and off the park and we are aiming to increase and broaden our membership more than we did in 2016.

    It’s time! #smfc4aleague

    Click here to download 2017 brochure and form

  • Me Myself and I

    Me Myself and I

    Many years ago, I worked for my parents who own a video production company. Because it is a family business, you inevitably end up wearing many hats and being the czar of many different jobs. I mainly managed projects and worked as a video editor. On production, there were times that I was called on to work as an audio tech and was made to wear headphones on long production days. In those days, having a really good set of headphones that picked up every nuance of sound was essential to making sure the client got what they needed.

    First impressions.

    Naturally, my first impression of these headphones is based off of the look of them. They have a classic over-the-ear style that is highlighted by a blue LED light that indicates the power for the noise canceling. The padding on the ear pieces seems adequate for extended usage periods.
    They are wired headphones, but the 3.5mm stereo mini-plug cable is detachable. Something else I noticed right of the bat was the very nice carrying case that comes with them. It has a hard plastic exterior with a soft cloth interior that helps to protect the surface of the headphones from scratches. I never truly appreciated cases for headphones until I started carrying them from place-to-place. Now I can’t imagine not having a case.

    A perfect fit.

    Once I gave the headphones a thorough once-over exam, I tried them on. As I mentioned, they have a classic over-the-ear style and just looking at them, the padding on the ear pieces seem adequate and the peak of the headband seemed to be a bit lacking, but you don’t really know comfort unless you try on the product. So, I slipped the headphones on and found them to be exquisitely comfortable.

    It’s safe to say that because of my unique professional experiences, I’ve tested out a lot of headphones.

    Quality.

    Now that I had the headphones on my head, I was finally ready to plug and play some music. I plugged the provided cable into the jack on the headphones and then the one on my iPhone 6. Then I called up Pandora. I tend to have a very eclectic music purview and have many stations set up for different moods. From John Williams to Fallout Boy, the sound quality of these headphones was remarkable. There is an amazing depth of sound and incredible highs and lows that make listening to music a truly breathtaking experience.

    In order to test how voices sounded, and the overall art of sound mixing, I pulled up Netflix on my iPad Air 2 and watched a few minutes of a movie to hear all the nuances of the film. None of them were lost. In fact, I ended up hearing sounds that I hadn’t heard before. Echoes…birds chirping…wind blowing through trees…breathing of the characters…it was very impressive what the headphones ended up bringing out for me.

    I would highly recommend these to any sound mixing specialist.

  • SMFC launch 2017 Puma Playing Kit

    SMFC launch 2017 Puma Playing Kit

    South Melbourne FC in conjunction with Puma – One Sports is excited to launch our NPL Victoria Playing Kit for the 2017 season.

    The kit blends together the club’s rich and proud history, with our 2017 shirt taking elements from our three NSL championship winning shirts previously manufactured by Puma.

    The Club will once again wear its traditional colour of a rich royal blue at home, with the away kit also keeping with tradition in being a white colour. Our goalkeepers will wear a black kit for the majority of matches, with a clash kit to be released soon.

    Our entire range will be worn by each participant at the club, inclusive of all male and female players. This includes all junior players and teams of all age groups.

    The shirt can be purchased from the club and through our apparel suppliers in the coming weeks, so stay tuned to social media for release dates.

    Watch our launch video

  • My tech travel setup

    My tech travel setup

    MacBook Pro

    Robert Capa, a famous photojournalist once said, “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” It’s not just about zooming in with your lens, either. It’s about getting physically closer to people and getting to know them better. It’s also about spending a little time with a stranger before taking their photo. That helps build the trust and comfort that’ll come through in your pictures. Walk up to your subject with a simple wave and a smile to help communicate that you mean no harm.

    Ask permission to take a photo if they speak the same language as you. If you don’t share a language, try learning some basic phrases ahead of time, gesture at your camera and ask through expression. Of course if someone doesn’t want their picture taken, it’s imperative to respect their wishes and move on — people are always more important than photographs. National Geographic writes that “making great pictures is primarily a mental process.” What makes you want to photograph the person or place? How might you describe it to a friend, and what adjectives would you use? Are there details you can focus on that tell a story?

    iPad/iPhone

    Maybe it’s a dry, arid desert, captured by focusing on the patterns of cracked earth. Or a prairie that’s photographed with the horizon at the bottom of the frame, to help create a sense of the open sky and tranquility. Or maybe it’s the story of a deft artisan, fingernails covered in wet clay as she molds a pot. When you’re on the road it can be tough to eat right and make sure you get all the right nutrients. I started taking daily supplements of Multi-Vitamin, Fish Oil capsules and Vitamin D and it helps a lot. Especially the Vitamin D since I don’t get to see the sun a lot during the winter in Sweden.

    Sennheiser HD-25 Headphones

    It’s difficult to recreate the grandeur of a vast landscape in the confines of a picture frame. But one way to add a sense of depth to your photos is to compose them with objects in the foreground that support the scene. It can be as simple as a winding road through a national park, or some rocks to show off the local geology.

    If you’re taking photos of people during normal daylight hours, a quick way to get more flattering light is to move the person out of direct sunlight. The light is much “softer” and doesn’t cast stark, unflattering shadows across their facial features. Even better, have someone stand next to an open door or window as the single source of light.

  • Learn the rules first

    Learn the rules first

    I was recently quoted as saying, I don’t care if Instagram has more users than Twitter. If you read the article you’ll note there’s a big “if” before my not giving of said thing.
    Of course, I am trivializing what Instagram is to many people. It’s a beautifully executed app that enables the creation and enjoyment of art, as well as human connection, which is often a good thing. But my rant had very little to do with it (or with Twitter). My rant was the result of increasing frustration with the one-dimensionality that those who report on, invest in, and build consumer Internet services talk about success.
    Numbers are important. Number of users is important. So are lots of other things. Different services create value in different ways. Trust your gut as much (or more) than the numbers. Figure out what matters and build something good.

  • Zinni heads to A-League, while Kecojevic re-signs

    Zinni heads to A-League, while Kecojevic re-signs

    South Melbourne FC confirms the immediate departure of Stefan Zinni ahead of the 2017 NPL Victoria season to the Western Sydney Wanderers.

    Zinni returned to the club in December, following a stint with A-League outfit Melbourne City. He will remain at the Wanderers until the end of the Hyundai A-League season.

    The club expects to have Stefan back as a South player at the conclusion of the Hyundai A-League season.

    The club can also confirm that young forward Andy Kecojevic has re-signed for another season.

    Kecojevic would be our final addition to the squad before the close of the transfer window.

    For a full listing of our squad, please visit www.smfc.com.au .

  • The new brand identity

    The new brand identity

    I stumbled upon the concept of margin while reading a post by Michael Hyatt, which led me to design my ideal week. Richard Swenson, M.D. (who wrote the book: Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives) describes margin like this:

    Margin is the space between our load and our limits. It is the amount allowed beyond that which is needed. It is something held in reserve for contingencies or unanticipated situations. Margin is the gap between rest and exhaustion, the space between breathing freely and suffocating.

    Last year I wrote about why booking too far in advance can be dangerous for your business, and this concept of margin so eloquently captures what I had recognized had been my problem: I was so booked up with clients that I wasn’t leaving any margin for error, growth, planning, or reflection. I wasn’t really growing my business in a sustainable way; I was just booking one client after the next. At the time this seemed like a good thing: doesn’t growing my business mean getting more clients?

    A long redesign.

    What if instead of booking up to 100% capacity (which more often than not ends up being closer to 120%), we only booked up to an 80% capacity?
    What if we left more room for growth (personal or professional) and stopped being one with “busy-ness”?
    I spent nearly a year turning down every new project (and even getting rid of old ones) so that I could reduce my workload, build in more margin, and create what is now Digital Strategy School. It takes time to build margin into your schedule.Write a book. Create a program. Update your contracts and proposals (which has been on your to-do list for how long..?) Spend more time with your family. Go above and beyond for a client. Learn something new. Actually follow through on the things that have been nagging at you for a long time.

    When you design your ideal week, you start to see that the time you think you have is often not in alignment with how much time you actually have.

    After designing my ideal week, I had a much clearer idea of how to create a framework for my week that would empower me to feel more focused by theming days of the week, and even parts of the day. SO simple, I know. Some of you have been doing this for ages and you’re already a pro, and some of you who saw my schedule said “woah, that’s so rigid, I need more flexibility!”

    Structure enables flexibility.

    If you’re not sure how much time you are actually spending on various tasks, use a tool like Rescue Time (their free version is excellent!) which runs in the background and tracks where your time is being spent. It can even send you weekly reports so you know exactly how much time you wasted on Facebook, or spent in your email inbox! You can assign different websites or programs/applications on a scale of very distracting to very productive, so you can see at a glance things like: which days of the week you’re most productive, which times of the day you’re most productive, and the sites on which you’re spending the most distracting time. Turns out I’m consistently “in the zone” around 3pm in the afternoon; so instead of trying to tackle highly creative work first thing in the morning (when my brain is barely functioning), I handle it in the afternoon, when I know I’m at my peak!

    Creating more margin has been game-changing for my business.
    What would be possible for yours?

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