Official South Melbourne Hellas thread 🔵⚪

[Hellenic_blue&white]

But we should see it, we have 2 home games left and the stakes are high in all of them.

Preston got just a bit over 4,000 today. We need to look at something like what we got against Auckland.

I want our marketing team to work even harder to get bums on seats for the next game . Imagine the statement if we can draw a big crowd even here.. We are coming off a big (even if jittery) win, most of us are locked in, the momentum is there, the time slot is good, the opposition is not a drawcard but a win is a MUST and will ease many nerves moving forward.

One thing i will say also is the club had a bumper haul at our merch store, I dont think they expected that sort of take, but a more organised and piece focused run is needed, its a good extra revenue stream if done correctly, sadly the group i was with although interest in purchasing jerseys couldnt find anything in their sizes and settled for the tee. I think a bit more imagination here is a must.

 

[smfc_hellas59]

Great turnout and win on Friday night. Very proud of the work the club put in during the lead up to the opening night and it started the competition off on the right note.

I invited 8 mates (not of Greek background) who play Football on weekends so don’t get to watch or attend much NPL and they loved it and on Friday night after the game and again on Saturday were asking me when the next home game is so they can attend.

We need to keep the momentum going again for Sunday arvo. A more family friendly time slot and the club needs to put in as much work as they did last week for this upcoming game now. We need around 4k there and continue having different activities around the ground, more food trucks, DJ, bring out greek dancing group either before the game or at half time and special guest to do the coin toss.

Forza Hellas!

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

I've waited my whole life to see Hellas on the national stage. Friday night felt like validation

The term 'South Melbourne Hellas never rest' rang truer than ever on Friday, writes Ross Papadakis from Lakeside Stadium

football360.com.au

This gives me so much hope for the future of not only our club but the competition and football in Australia... I saw heaps of 15-20 year olds on Friday night, many of them looking for an authentic experience and claiming they will come back. One young bloke after the game told me "Now I know why my old man was banging on about Hellas all these years".... he is hooked....

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

I think id be more than stoked with near 3.5k given the opponent..

If we could attract that kind of crowd against a team like Moreton, then makes a massive statement of what we can bring to this competition.

Agreed, 3-3.5K is a wonderful result... could be more if the weather is good.. Im bringing a few more on Sunday, lets hope some of the Friday crowd enjoyed themselves and come again.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Great turnout and win on Friday night. Very proud of the work the club put in during the lead up to the opening night and it started the competition off on the right note.

I invited 8 mates (not of Greek background) who play Football on weekends so don’t get to watch or attend much NPL and they loved it and on Friday night after the game and again on Saturday were asking me when the next home game is so they can attend.

We need to keep the momentum going again for Sunday arvo. A more family friendly time slot and the club needs to put in as much work as they did last week for this upcoming game now. We need around 4k there and continue having different activities around the ground, more food trucks, DJ, bring out greek dancing group either before the game or at half time and special guest to do the coin toss.

Forza Hellas!

FORZA HELLAS indeed...... Great night for our club on Friday, it all went off without a hitch (apart from the food truck lines)...

Great vibes from the crowd (it helped that the second half actually saw some football played) and the smiling faces, full bellies and loud support make me think we are turning the corner.

And absolute, heartfelt thanks to the lads in Clarendon Corner, with their tifo, smokies and non stop singing (even though the stupid broadcast didnt really do it justice) ... amazing atmosphere....

 

[SMFC1959]

 

[southmelb]

I was thinking about Friday night and the crowd and whether we needed a marquee signing. A marquee would have easily pushed us into 10,000 territory. I know it has to be a good fit and everything but its something the club should explore at some point.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

I was thinking about Friday night and the crowd and whether we needed a marquee signing. A marquee would have easily pushed us into 10,000 territory. I know it has to be a good fit and everything but its something the club should explore at some point.

I dont know if I agree mate... It would have to be a huge name to move the needle - Balotelli NOT Fornaroli sort of thing. It would have to be a big name to draw the casual fan.

After seeing the new signings in action, Im happy with Yuki, Oli, Tommy G and Pasqualinho so far. Aguek is a known "marquee" for NPL tragics and will come good in the next 1-2 weeks with some game time.... and hope the two new boys return from international duties roaring to go.

 

[SMFC1959]

I was thinking about Friday night and the crowd and whether we needed a marquee signing. A marquee would have easily pushed us into 10,000 territory. I know it has to be a good fit and everything but its something the club should explore at some point.

Something like this would be great and if it were a recognisable name, that would have drawn a large number of neutrals to the game. The publicity alone would have been massive.

 

[SMFC1959]

Something that has fallen under the radar is the OFC Professional League.



"The OFC Pro League, set to launch officially on October 29, 2025, will kick off its first season on January 10, 2026, featuring eight clubs from across Oceania — including Auckland FC, South Melbourne, Hekari United, Solomon Kings, and Tahiti United. Each side will play at least 17 matches in a circuit-style format leading to playoffs.

The league will also serve as Oceania’s qualifier for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, offering a potential multimillion-dollar prize".


Imagine we win this competition and enter the World Club Championship. That's a multi-million dollar pay day !

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Something that has fallen under the radar is the OFC Professional League.



"The OFC Pro League, set to launch officially on October 29, 2025, will kick off its first season on January 10, 2026, featuring eight clubs from across Oceania — including Auckland FC, South Melbourne, Hekari United, Solomon Kings, and Tahiti United. Each side will play at least 17 matches in a circuit-style format leading to playoffs.

The league will also serve as Oceania’s qualifier for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, offering a potential multimillion-dollar prize".


Imagine we win this competition and enter the World Club Championship. That's a multi-million dollar pay day !

I don't believe we are eligible to enter World Club Champs as Oceania Rep ... nice payday would be great to dream about though

 

[SMFC1959]

I don't believe we are eligible to enter World Club Champs as Oceania Rep ... nice payday would be great to dream about though

It would be good to get some confirmation on whether we are eligible for entering World Club Championship.

 

[KostaV92]

It would be good to get some confirmation on whether we are eligible for entering World Club Championship.

from the first forum meeting this year we did get told team from Australia and Hawaii wouldn’t be eligible for the club World Cup

 

[Hellenic_blue&white]

I dont know if I agree mate... It would have to be a huge name to move the needle - Balotelli NOT Fornaroli sort of thing. It would have to be a big name to draw the casual fan.

After seeing the new signings in action, Im happy with Yuki, Oli, Tommy G and Pasqualinho so far. Aguek is a known "marquee" for NPL tragics and will come good in the next 1-2 weeks with some game time.... and hope the two new boys return from international duties roaring to go.

I dont think south meant at the expense of these signings but as a compliment to these and i would agree. It would need to meet the criteria you put also a biiig name (not a has been) and not just for 6 or 8 games!

A Jamie Vardy if he was couple years younger would be on the money imo.

Anything but a one game Katasouranis Lol

 

[Hellenic_blue&white]

from the first forum meeting this year we did get told team from Australia and Hawaii wouldn’t be eligible for the club World Cup

With the amount of Greek lawyers out there im sure we could put up a case or re register in an island or claim it as our own... whatever gets us to the loot!

 

[SMFC1959]

from the first forum meeting this year we did get told team from Australia and Hawaii wouldn’t be eligible for the club World Cup

So if we are not eligible to qualify for the World Club Cup, why are we even competing in this competition? What's the prize money on offer?

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

I dont think south meant at the expense of these signings but as a compliment to these and i would agree. It would need to meet the criteria you put also a biiig name (not a has been) and not just for 6 or 8 games!

A Jamie Vardy if he was couple years younger would be on the money imo.

Anything but a one game Katasouranis Lol

Yeah I know what southmelb meant and agree but the reality is that any world famous marquee, that could potentially bring in 1-2 thousand fans is going to want an astronomical amount. Nobody turned up at that Bunnings tent on the side of the freeway to watch Fornarolli for example , crowd was 60% Knights, Dinamo and Hajduk supporters with a sprinkling of Canberra Croatia fans.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

So if we are not eligible to qualify for the World Club Cup, why are we even competing in this competition? What's the prize money on offer?

I heard winning or even finals for just the OCL is quite a tasty sum.... 7 figures...

 

[SMFC1959]

I heard winning or even finals for just the OCL is quite a tasty sum.... 7 figures...

https://vbtc.vu/ofc-approves-10-million-nzd-budget-for-2026-professional-league/

NZD $10 million to launch the new league. You'd assume the winner would win at least NZD$500,000. Would love to know more about it.

 

[southmelb]

Yeah I know what southmelb meant and agree but the reality is that any world famous marquee, that could potentially bring in 1-2 thousand fans is going to want an astronomical amount. Nobody turned up at that Bunnings tent on the side of the freeway to watch Fornarolli for example , crowd was 60% Knights, Dinamo and Hajduk supporters with a sprinkling of Canberra Croatia fans.

I dont think Fornaroli is a true marquee, especially playing for Avondale.

It would have hit different if he was playing for South though. Some clubs just have little appeal and Avondale is one of them.