Category: News

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image media=”83384″ media_width_percent=”100″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]South Melbourne FC is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sam Poutakidis as the club’s NPLW Technical Director.

Poutakidis had two stints at SMFC, representing the club 55 times (scoring 4 goals) as a full back in both the National Soccer League (2002-2004) and then the Victorian Premier League (2008). His playing career spanned over a decade at the top level in Victoria and included two club best and fairest awards.

Since retiring from playing, Sam has played an active role in coaching over the past decade. This includes senior roles at Waverley Wanderers, Beaumaris and Richmond, with NPL assistant coach roles at Oakleigh, Kingston and most recently Port Melbourne. He has also been involved in the women’s game with some time at Ashburton in a specialist coaching role.

In all of his roles, the FFA A Licensed coach has had player development at the forefront. This included a very successful period at Oakleigh as Under 20s coach, where he guided his team to the league championship in 2014 and produced footballers ready for senior football.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Director of Women’s Football Gabrielle Giuliano was thrilled to have Sam on board as the club’s NPLW Technical Director. “Sam has a wealth of experience in football over almost two decades and we are naturally delighted to have someone of his quality involved in the club and the female program. We look forward to having Sam working closely with Senior Women’s Coach Samuel Young and our other coaches in taking our program to another level.”

Sam will assist across the NPL boy’s program and in particular alongside NPL Technical Director Sinisa Cohadzic.

Sinisa Cohadzic was also excited to have Sam join the program. “Sam is a tremendous asset to the club and someone we look forward to having as part of the revamped youth system. His ability to nurture young footballers and teach them the right way to play the game is something we are looking forward to seeing. We are also excited to have someone with his experience in the system to work with myself and all of our other coaches.”

We welcome Sam back to the club and look forward to seeing him around Albert Park throughout 2021.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

We can announce the dates for the 2021 Youth trials. Please note that only players that fill out and send in EOI can turn up on the day for trials, otherwise they will not be able to trial.
Players that have sent EOI should have received details below together with instructions of requirements on the day.

For more information or to clarify, please contact Technical Director Sinisa Cohadzic on email sikic10@hotmail.com. Also check your junk mail for any correspondence before contacting.

U21 players will be only invitation and be contacted once restrictions ease.

PART 1

Saturday 14th November
9:00am – 10:30am – U13 and (13/14/15) GK’s
11:00am – 12:30pm – U14
1:00pm – 2:30pm – U15

Sunday 15th November
9:00am – 10:30am – U16 and (16/17/19/21) GK’s
11:00am – 12:30pm – U17
1:00pm – 2:30pm – U19

PART 2 

Saturday 21st November
9:00am – 10:00am – U13 and all age groups GK’s
10:15am – 11:30am – U14
11:45pm – 1:00pm – U15
1:15pm – 2:30pm – U16
2:45pm – 4:00pm – U17
4:15pm 5:30pm -U19

PART 3

Sunday 22nd November
9:00am – 10:15am – U13 + GK’s
10:30am – 11:45am – U14 + GK’s
12:00pm – 1:15pm – U15 + GK’s
1:30pm – 2:45pm – U16 + GK’s
3:00pm – 4:15pm – U17 + GK’s
4:30pm – 5:45pm -U19 + 19/21 GK’s

South Melbourne FC is thrilled to announce the partnership with leading football analytics platform InStat for the 2021 season.

The software will be used throughout the NPL program, providing the club with the professional tools for individual and team performance evaluation, scouting, fitness analysis and a panoramic filming technology. The partnership will extend to all NPL teams, including analysis of all male and female footballers at the club.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Technical Director Sinisa Cohadzic was excited to be teaming up with the giants of football analysis. “The landmark partnership with inStat provides the club and our coaches with the very best tools to analyse and develop players like the best clubs around the globe. It’s a first ever holistic club approach to delivering video analysis, extensive statistics, and individual player indicators where we will be able to access results of all KPI’s that we want to achieve.

With this platform, we will be also able to scout players, analyse our opposition and deliver specific outcomes that we look for in players. It will help players assess their performance in detail after each game and help them take their game to another level.

We are delighted to be able to be first to show the way of future development tools to produce players towards our quest to become a force in hopefully soon newly formed second division.”

Oliver Civil from inStat was also looking forward to partnering with the club. “This deal re-affirms InStat’s commitment to growing the game technically across all levels of football in Australia. There is no better way to announce this, than with one of Australia’s most storied clubs.With a possible second division in 2022, InStat is proud to partner with South Melbourne and looks forward to supporting their ambition to return to the top flight of football in Australia.”

We look forward to bringing you more from this exciting partnership over the 2021 season.

South Melbourne FC confirms goalkeeper Nikola Roganovic’s retirement from football.

An SMFC National Youth League championship winner in 2004, Roganovic returned to Lakeside as a proven top-flight goalkeeper in January 2015. He kept a clean sheet in his first SMFC senior game in February 2015 and went on to play for the club in 113 NPL Victoria/finals matches, with 136 total appearances and 42 clean sheets across all competitions. He had two stints with the club between 2015 and 2017 and then from mid-2018 until the conclusion of the 2020 season.

Roganovic was between the sticks during South’s 2015 Premiership and Dockerty Cup triumphs and kept a clean sheet in the Dockerty Cup final win over Oakleigh. He also made several excellent saves in the club’s 2016 NPL Victoria Grand Final triumph over Oakleigh. Individually, he won the SMFC Players’ Player of the Year award in 2016 and is an automatic SMFC Hall of Fame member as a senior championship winning player of the club.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Football Director Andrew Mesourouni thanked Nikola for his outstanding service. “Nikola was a huge part of our success over the past five seasons and we thank him for his efforts whilst wearing our famous shirt. He retires as a championship winner and as a very popular figure around the club. We wish him and his family all the best for the next phase of his life.”

On behalf of everyone associated with the club, SMFC congratulates “Rock Roganovic” on a fantastic career.

South Melbourne FC is seeking Expressions of Interest for NPL coaches of all age groups to work in a new dynamic football program headed by Pro License Technical Director Sinisa Cohadzic.

We are seeking coaches with a minimum B License qualification and Australian residency.

Candidates must be ambitious and passionate in developing Junior players for pathways into high level football as the South Melbourne Football Club is seeking entry into the proposed new National Championship league.

The Club will offer industry leading development tools and resources to maximise potential as well as above market remuneration for successful candidates.

Please send all EOI to SMFC Technical Director, Sinisa Cohadzic on following email: sikic10@hotmail.com

South Melbourne FC confirms that Senior Women’s captain, dual Championship winner and Hall of Fame member Jamie Pollock will be returning home to the USA in order to be with her family.

Pollock grew up in Georgia, USA and first experienced football at Harrison High School. She also played youth football at Tophat 08 Gold and was part of the Georgia State Olympic Development Program. Accolades followed the midfielder throughout her youth football, being part of and captaining teams to the Georgia State Championship and the Olympic Development Program National Championship.

Her success continued at the University of Georgia, where she started every game she played over the course of three years, scoring 8 goals and providing 12 assists. As her time with the Georgia Bulldogs came to a close, she was offered a contract with Atlanta Beat in the Women’s Professional Soccer League, however the league folded before she graced the pitch. In 2013, Pollock joined the Florida Atlantic Owls as a coach before moving north to join the Boston Breakers setup in the National Women’s Soccer League.
A year later, Pollock was back in her native Georgia, this time playing for the Atlanta Silverbacks. The Silverbacks were her last US-based team as she then made the long journey downunder to play in Victoria.

South Melbourne senior coach (at the time) Socrates Nicolaidis had extensive experience in the USA, having coached at club and college level for some fifteen years. His network enabled him to identify Pollock to join his squad at Lakeside.

Pollock’s debut for SMFC was in June 2015 against the Senior NTC, followed by her Lakeside debut a week later against Casey Comets. A successful 2015 campaign saw SMFC finish fourth and qualify for the finals, where Pollock played a crucial role. In week two of the finals she scored a 90th-minute goal to down Heidelberg in a thrilling match at Lakeside. The following week she scored a brace at Kingston Health to help eliminate Ashburton United and book a place in the Grand Final.

Pollock played a critical role throughout the Grand Final and was awarded the honour of being the best player in the game. She was also front and centre as club captain Alex Cheal raised the WPL championship trophy following victory.

Pollock continued to be a key part of SMFC’s success, capturing the NPLW Premiers Plate in the 2017 and 2018 seasons as well as winning the 2017 NPLW Grand Final against Geelong Galaxy. Her leadership and work ethic saw her named as club captain in 2019 and she was formally inducted into the SMFC Hall of Fame at the club’s event in February 2020.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Women’s Football Director Gabrielle Giuliano paid tribute to Pollock. “Since arriving in 2015, Jamie has been a huge part of the club, our culture and family. She has not only been a superstar on the park as a key member to our success, but the time she has dedicated to being a role model for our younger players is something that will be greatly missed. We wish her all the best for her move back home and hope that the next chapter in her life is an enjoyable one. She is forever part of our family and the history of our club.”

SMFC senior coach Samuel Young also paid tribute to Pollock. “I want to thank Jamie for her years of service to SMFC. Jamie embodies what it means to be a South player; determined, professional and a winner. I’m disappointed that I didn’t get the chance to work with her on a match day but we understand her decision to head home in these uncertain times. Jamie leaves as an SMFC legend and the door will always be open to her in any capacity at the club. I want to wish her all the success in her future endeavours.”

The entire SMFC family wishes Jamie all the best in the next phase of her life and we thank her for her service to the club over the years.

South Melbourne FC is pleased to confirm that two time SMFC Golden Boot Winner, 2017 Championship Winner and Hall of Fame Member Melina Ayres will re-join the club for the 2020 season.

Melina has an incredible record in her two NPLW seasons with the club, scoring a total of 86 goals across all competitions during her time at Lakeside.

The club is thrilled to have one of our own back at the club, following Melina’s season in the W-League at Melbourne Victory.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Senior Coach Samuel Young was excited to welcome Melina back to the club. “We’re delighted to welcome Melina back to South Melbourne FC. She has shown her quality domestically both in the NPL and W-League, as well as during her time overseas. Through these experiences, Melina has returned a more complete player and I have no doubt she will dominate the competition during the upcoming season. We are also confident that with the best years ahead of her, that we will see her pull on the Matlidas shirt in the near future. ”

We look forward to seeing her throughout the season as the NPLW season aims to kick off in late July.

It’s been a month since we returned to training following the isolation and lock-down of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Extensive work by Football Victoria paved the way for the structured return to training with a set of guidelines developed in accordance with the medical advice of the Chief Health Officer and Sport and Recreation Victoria.

The club worked in conjunction with Lakeside Stadium to establish protocols to comply with the requirements which over the last four weeks have become just part of the routine.

That first night on Thursday May 21st saw two groups of ten players, split fifteen minutes apart, file through the gates at Lakeside Stadium following temperature checks and health screening. Under the watchful eye of Team Manager Kris Peladarinos, the players experienced the pouring rain and eased back into training with a sixty minute session directed by Senior Coach Esteban Quintas.

As a state government Stadium, there were additional measures the Lakeside Duty Managers were responsible for and the preparations made by Football Director Andrew Mesourouni laid the foundation for a successful reintroduction to football.

Team Manager Kris Peladarinos said “that first night back was obviously a bit of an adjustment but the effort and planning with Andrew and Kon meant we were ready to go.”

“I had reinforced with the players in the lead up to that Thursday night what the requirements were and what they could expect. There were a lot of reminders and initially the players took a few sessions to adjust to the changes, but now they’ve gotten used to it all.”

A lot has happened in the last four weeks both on and off the pitch. Behind the scenes consultation with clubs and Football Victoria has culminated in the season structure being finalised and a start date of Saturday 25th July.

“It is very encouraging we now have a start date to work towards. The further easing of restrictions means as of today we have access to the change rooms. It is a small but significant step in getting the team back into their regular routine. Things such as the physio benches, the equipment, the whiteboards and the TV for video analysis will help bring back the mindset for competitive football” Peladarinos said.

An eight team finals series beckons featuring home and away fixtures for the first time in the NPL era. Club President Nicholas Maikousis continues to work behind the scenes with Football Victoria and other club presidents to schedule the remaining matches in the 2020 season.