Category: News

South Melbourne FC, in conjunction with the Victorian Government, Football Federation Victoria and Alamein FC are pleased to launch a historic double header at AAMI Park this Sunday June 11th.

As part of the day, Alamein will host the SMFC Senior Women from 4pm, with South Melbourne to then host Heidelberg United in the men’s fixture from 6.30pm.

The women’s match will also create history, being the first WNPL Match to be played at AAMI Park, with South Melbourne’s Women’s Ambassador and current Matilda’s Captain Lisa De Vanna leading the team, along side Captain Alex Cheal.

Lisa De Vanna was excited of the prospect of playing at AAMI Park. “It’s been a long time coming, but it’s great to finally see aWNPL game get equal billing at Victoria’s premier football arena AAMI Park. South is a club with very strong ambitions moving forward and I am personally excited to see the Club continuing to provide such wonderful opportunities for its female footballers”

The South Melbourne Senior Men will then host current league leaders and arch rivals Heidelberg United in the second match commencing at 6.30pm. Both clubs share a rich history spanning over 55 years, with the traditional derby between both sides being one of the more iconic matches in Victorian football.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Senior Vice Captain Michael Eagar echoed De Vanna’s thought’s. “It’s been an exciting few weeks for the club and to also have the opportunity, along with our girls, as one club to play at this wonderful stadium. We urge all of our fans to support us in a must win derby match.”

South Melbourne FC Director and A-League / W-League Bid Team Member Gabrielle Giuliano stressed the importance of these events. “South is a club moving forward as one and we are excited to see both our senior women and men playing on AAMI Park this weekend. It’s an exciting opportunity for our male and female players of all ages, members and football fans alike to attend both matches and to experience something quite new.”

The Match Day is also considered a SMFC Home Match, with the same privileges applying for all our 2017 SMFC Season Pass Holders and Financial Members to the matches at AAMI Park. To receive entry, members must show their membership to the SMFC Ticket booth to receive a special entry ticket for the day.

We urge all football fans and the SMFC Family to attend this historic double header, as we expect a large crowd in attendance in what promises to be an exciting day for Victorian Football.

South Melbourne FC would like to confirm the signing of Bardhi Hysolli from NPL Victoria club Bulleen Lions.

The dynamic and hard working youngster will add depth in the SMFC midfield, as well as another creative option through the attacking third. He joins the club following a 12 year spell at the Veneto Club, where he has been highly regarded as a standout performer throughout his junior career.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Football Director Nicholas Maikousis. “We’re excited to be adding another young talented footballer to our senior roster. Bardhi is an energetic and hard working individual, who we think will add some depth to our squad.

We look forward to having him in our colours for the remainder of the season.”

We wish Bardhi all the best for the rest of the season.

The Funeral Service for Mr Ernie Ackerley will be held at The Boyd Chapel, Springvale Botanical Cemetery, 600 Princes Hwy, Springvale on WEDNESDAY (June 7, 2017) commencing at 2.00 p. m. Private Cremation will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Kidney Foundation would be appreciated. Envelopes will be available at the Chapel.

South Melbourne will meet Southern United FC for the second time this season with the girls looking to continue on their winning ways after their 2-0 victory over Bayside United, while Southern United will be looking to bounce back from their narrow 1-0 defeat to Calder United last weekend.

South Melbourne (DDWWW)

South Melbourne have had an impressive five weeks with three wins in the past five matches including a 2-0 win over Bayside United last weekend courtesy of two second half goals to in-form striker Lisa De Vanna in the 53rd and 69th minute. Currently in third position, and only two points behind ladder leaders Geelong Galaxy United, the hosts’ will be striving for maximum points when they meet Southern United at the Knox Regional Football Centre on Sunday.

Southern United (WWLWL)

Coming from a 4-2 win against Box Hill United, Southern United were unable to continue on their winning ways last weekend against Calder United, with a narrow 1-0 defeat to the reigning champions courtesy of a Michelle Barbieri penalty kick in the 76th minute. With a narrow loss against the reigning champions, the visitors will be looking to bounce back with nothing less than three points when they meet an in-form South Melbourne outfit on Sunday.

Head to Head

The last time these two teams met was in Round 5 this year where South Melbourne secured an impressive 3-1 win over Southern United at Lawton Park Reserve.
South urges their fans to come and support the girls in their Round 14 encounter with Southern United at the Knox Regional Football Centre on Sunday.

Match Details

South Melbourne vs Southern United
Sunday 4 June @ Knox Regional Football Centre
Kick off 5:30pm ( U18’s kick off 3:30pm)

South Melbourne FC is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the club’s greats, Mr Ernie Ackerley (aged 73) on Thursday.

Mr Ackerley was born in Manchester, England and spent his youth career playing at Manchester United. He was also an England Under-21 international before arriving at Middle Park from Barrow in September 1964.

Mr Ackerley played for South Melbourne Hellas until 1971, scoring 58 league goals as a forward. He won the club’s top goal scorer award in 1965 and was twice runner-up, to Con Nestoridis (1966) and David Gorrie (1969). Mr Ackerley was the first player in SMFC history to score four goals in Victoria’s top division, with four goals in a 6-1 win against Melbourne Hungaria at Olympic Park in May 1966.

He achieved the following during his time at South Melbourne:
* Victorian State League Championships 1965, 1966;
* Club top goal scorer 1965 (16 league goals, 18 in all competitions);
* Ampol Cup wins 1969, 1970 (scored late in the 1970 final to force extra time);
* One of only nine players in SMFC history to score four goals in a league match;
* SMFC Hall of Fame member.

A few weeks prior to his passing, a small delegation from SMFC including current coach Chris Taylor and club greats Jim Armstrong, Michael Mandalis and Ulysses Kokkinos, visited Mr Ackerley in hospital to present him with a 2017 SMFC shirt. They spent the day chatting, reminiscing about their playing days and even phoned Greece for Ernie to briefly speak with the legendary Con Nestoridis, with the two players having played together up front for South in 1966 and 1967.

Mr Mandalis, a five-time championship winner with SMFC as a player, spoke to smfc.com.au about his great friend. “Ernie truly was one of the greatest players to wear our club’s shirt. For Con Nestoridis [who many supporters and former players consider the greatest South Melbourne player of all time] to still speak highly of Ernie shows how special he was. It really was brilliant seeing Ernie speaking with Nestoridis on the phone the other week.”

“We have lost a legend. I send my deepest condolences to Ernie’s wife Wendy and their children on this sad day.”

Vale Ernie Ackerley, 23 September 1943 to 1 June 2017.

Photos

South Melbourne defeated local rival Port Melbourne 2-1 on Sunday at Lakeside Stadium, and in the process moved up to third on the ladder and just a game off top spot.

South was coming off a massive high from their midweek cup match against Dandenong City, which saw them come back from 4-1 down to win 5-4 and secure their spot In the 2017 FFA Cup round of 32.

Meanwhile Port Melbourne, who were looking to stay in touch with the top six, were coming off the back of a 1-0 loss at home to ladder leaders Heidelberg United.

Luke Adams was back in the south starting 11 after missing the Cup match, taking the place of Luke Pavlou. Jesse Daley also found himself starting after being used as a second half substitute in the midweek cup match.

Port started the match well, capitalising on some poor defending from South, with Andreas Govas beating Nikola Roganovic at his near post to give Port Melbourne a 1-0 lead after 10 minutes.

Having fallen behind, South began battling back, and a free kick in the 14^th minute whipped in by Jesse Daley saw vice-captain Michal Eagar head just wide.

Ten minutes later Govas found himself with a golden opportunity to double Port’s lead, but shot was aimed straight at Roganovic who stopped the shot with ease.

34 minutes in Matt Millar went on a run through the Port backline turning their defenders inside-out, but he was unable to put his shot on target. Four minutes later Marcus Schroen had a free kick on the edge of the area that was taken well, but the Port keeper did enough to turn the shot around the post for a corner.

Just before half time Millar hobbled off injured and was replaced by Pavlou. With the half drawing to a close South had one final chance to score, with Daley taking the chance and sending the teams into the break level at 1-1.

South came out on the front foot in the second half, dominating possession but not creating too many clear cut chances; Schroen’s shot high and wide from outside the box being the only highlight in the first 20 minutes of the second half.

On 65 minutes Milos Luijc had a golden chance to score off a Daley cross but fired his shot wide. South eventually took the lead in the 69^th minute, when a perfect cross from Daley found Luijc who headed the ball home.

In the 76^th minute Daley almost added a second goal to his name shooting just wide. Late in the game Tim Mala was sent off for South for a second yellow card leaving South fans biting their nails during the last five minutes of the match. From the resulting free kick Francesco Stalla drew out a world class save from Roganovic to preserve South’s lead.

Earlier that day, South Melbourne’s WNPL senior team ran out 2-0 winners beating Bayside United, with Lisa De Vanna scoring a double. South sit third on the WNPL ladder, just two points off first place.

South Melbourne 2 (Daley 45 Luijc 69)
Port Melbourne 1 (Govas 10)

South Melbourne FC would like to announce changes to its upcoming home fixtures at Lakeside Stadium.

• South Melbourne FC Men vs Avondale (Previously scheduled for Sunday June 4th) will be moved to the Catch Up Round in August
• The Derby Match between South Melbourne FC Men and Heidelberg United will take place on the Sunday the 11th at AAMI Park. Kick off time for the match will be at 6.30pm.
• South Melbourne FC Women on Sunday June 11th at AAMI Park Kick off at 4pm Against Alamein FC.

As this is a SMFC Home Match the same privileges apply to all our 2017 SMFC Season Pass Holders, Corporate Members and Financial Members to the match at AAMI Park.

South Melbourne ran out 2-0 winners against bottom side Bayside United courtesy of two second half goals to in-form striker Lisa De Vanna at a wet Lakeside Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

In what was a sluggish start to the first half, Greiser had the first real opportunity to score for the hosts’ with a strike outside the box going just wide of the post in the 17^th minute.

Both teams were struggling for a breakthrough in the first half including Greiser after her shot outside the box was blocked by the Bayside defence in the 41^st minute as the scores remained 0-0 at half time.

However, with three changes to start the second half, South were able to dominate possession and find the breakthrough they needed through substitute Lisa De Vanna after a strike from close range found the back of the net in the 53^rd minute.

The in-form striker was getting plenty of possession in the second half,  and was causing problems for the visitors with a beautiful pass to Ayres who was unable to put the finishes touches as the ball was kept clear by Bayside goalkeeper Ingrid Philippe in the 61^st minute.

The home side were dominating possession and found themselves 2-0 up through a De Vanna strike from inside the box in the 69^th minute.

The South ambassador was unlucky not to score a hat-trick after a thunderous strike blasted over the crossbar inside the area in the 84^th minute.

Jamie Brown had a chance to score a goal for the visitors in the last couple of minutes of the match with a free kick outside the box was denied by Molly- May Ramsay as the girls secured their ninth win for the season.

The girls will now shift their focus to Southern United when the two teams meet at Knox on Sunday afternoon.

Michael Eagar, Marcus Schroen (17), Nick Epifano and Matthew Millar (18) celebrating with Milos Lujic (9) in 2016.

South Melbourne FC congratulates the following senior players on achieving various milestones in recent matches:

100 SMFC matches (all competitions) – Leigh Minopoulos and Michael Eagar

Both players reached this milestone in the last Wednesday’s win over Dandenong City.

Leigh was promoted from the Under 21s into the first team by Eddie Krncevic in 2011 and made his senior debut in the 2-3 loss to Victorian Training Centre in March 2011. He left the club at the end of that season but returned in 2014. Along with his 101 games, he has also scored 25 goals across all competitions.

Michael Eagar arrived from Northcote City at the start of 2014 and made his SMFC debut in the 3-0 win over Heidelberg in March 2014, before leading the team to several trophies as captain from 2014 – 2016. ‘Eags’ experienced an injury-troubled 2016 season but has now regained full fitness and is once again one of the most consistent performers in the first team.

100 SMFC league matches – Nick Epifano and Tim Mala

Nick reached this milestone in the 3-0 win against Bulleen Lions. He arrived from Dandenong Thunder in July 2013 and made his SMFC debut in the 2-2 draw against Southern Stars in July 2013. Since then, he has scored 25 goals in 102 league games, with 33 goals in 119 overall SMFC appearances.

Tim reached this milestone in the 2-1 win over Port Melbourne on Sunday. He also arrived from Dandenong Thunder in July 2013, making his debut in the 4-1 loss against Bentleigh. Although he has not scored a goal for SMFC, he has been very reliable in his 116 appearances for the club across all competitions at right-back.

100 SMFC goals (all competitions) – Milos Lujic

The man needs no introduction, especially after his hattrick last Wednesday night sealed a very unlikely late win over Dandenong City. Milos has been one of the most prolific goal scorers in SMFC history since scoring on debut in the 3-0 win over Heidelberg in March 2014. Since then, his figures read 103 goals in 118 overall games, with 82 goals in 98 league matches.

Along with a host of individual awards won, Milos now joins an exclusive club of Jimmy Armstrong, Paul Trimboli and Vaughan Coveny as the only four players in SMFC’s illustrious history to have scored over 100 goals in all competitions. Only Trimboli and Coveny have scored over 100 league goals, so ‘Millsy’ needs another 18 NPL goals to reach that extraordinary milestone as well.

50 SMFC games (all competitions) – Marcus Schroen and Matthew Millar

Both players reached this milestone in Wednesday night’s win over Dandenong City.

Marcus was promoted from the Under 21s into the first team by Vaughan Coveny in 2010 and made his senior debut in the 3-0 win over Melbourne Knights in July 2010. He left the club but returned at the start of 2016, notching up 11 goals in all competitions, including a brace in South’s 2016 NPL Victoria Grand Final triumph over Oakleigh.

Matthew Millar was a last-minute signing during the 2016 pre-season transfer window. He made a very promising debut in the 6-0 thumping of Heidelberg in February 2016 and has gone on to score 17 goals across all competitions.