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Official South Melbourne Hellas thread 🔵⚪

Anyone keen to be on tv?

I plan a ofc pro league preview pod 2 mondays before kickoff (to be released the thursday after recording) and would love to have South fans on form the forum
 
The scary thing is that our new season starts in just 37 days against Tahiti United in Auckland!

I'm hoping the players can switch off from football and relax with friends and families. They've got a massive 2026 season ahead.
 
I think by sending our best team over for the first phase that will give us an idea of what we need to do moving forward. If we absolutely smash teams we can maybe use that as a guide to use our lesser likes in the following rounds. If we struggle with our best team we've probably bitten off more than we can chew.
 
Do people feel like joining the ofc pro league was more about making a statement than the actual practicalities of playing in it
Its a financial consideration.

A decent run in the OFC Pro League will generate good prize money (no official confirmation yet on the size of the pool of prize money yet). When you win the NPL Victoria comp, its just $25K.
 
Analysis from the South of the Border Blog.

https://southmelbournefc.blogspot.com/2025/12/no-rest-for-wicked-guest-post-by-manny.html



RoundDateTeamCityCountry
OFCPLCircuit 118-Jan-26Tahiti UnitedAucklandNew Zealand
OFCPLCircuit 121-Jan-26Solomon KingsAucklandNew Zealand
OFCPLCircuit 124-Jan-26PNG HekariAucklandNew Zealand
OFCPLCircuit 21-Feb-26South Island UnitedPort MoresbyPNG
OFCPLCircuit 24-Feb-26Bula FCPort MoresbyPNG
OFCPLCircuit 28-Feb-26Vanuatu UnitedPort MoresbyPNG
NPL VICRound 114-Feb-26AvondaleMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 219-Feb-26Hume CityMelbourneAustralia
OFCPLCircuit 321-Feb-26Auckland FC YouthTBAAustralia
OFCPLCircuit 324-Feb-26Tahiti UnitedTBAAustralia
OFCPLCircuit 327-Feb-26South Island UnitedTBAAustralia
NPL VICRound 328-Feb-26Altona MagicMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 47-Mar-26Bentleigh GreensMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 513-Mar-26Green GullyMelbourneAustralia
OFCPLCircuit 415-Mar-26Vanuatu UnitedHoniaraSolomon Islands
OFCPLCircuit 419-Mar-26Solomon KingsHoniaraSolomon Islands
NPL VICRound 621-Mar-26Dandenong ThunderMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 730-Mar-26Dandenong CityMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 811-Apr-26Preston LionsMelbourneAustralia
OFCPLCircuit 512-Apr-26Auckland FC YouthBa & SuvaFiji
OFCPLCircuit 515-Apr-26Bula FCBa & SuvaFiji
OFCPLCircuit 518-Apr-26PNG HekariBa & SuvaFiji
NPL VICRound 919-Apr-26Oakleigh CannonsMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 1024-Apr-26St Albans DinamoMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 111-May-26Melbourne CityMelbourneAustralia
OFCPLPlayoff Stage*6-May-26TBAAucklandNew Zealand
NPL VICRound 128-May-26Heidelberg UnitedMelbourneAustralia
OFCPLPlayoff Stage*10-May-26TBAAucklandNew Zealand
OFCPLPlayoff Stage*13-May-26TBAAucklandNew Zealand
NPL VICRound 1318-May-26Caroline Springs George CrossMelbourneAustralia
OFCPLSemi-Final*19-May-26TBAAuckland*New Zealand*
OFCPLFinal*24-May-26TBAAuckland*New Zealand*
NPL VICRound 1425-May-26AvondaleMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 1530-May-26Hume CityMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 167-Jun-26Altona MagicMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 1719-Jun-26Bentleigh GreensMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 1828-Jun-26Green GullyMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 195-Jul-26Dandenong ThunderMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 2010-Jul-26Dandenong CityMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 2119-Jul-26Preston LionsMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 2224-Jul-26Oakleigh CannonsMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 232-Aug-26St Albans DinamoMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 2415-Aug-26Melbourne CityMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 2523-Aug-26Heidelberg UnitedMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 2629-Aug-26Caroline Springs George CrossMelbourneAustralia

South will need a squad of at least 30 players to make this work. I agree with the analysis presented on the blog, that some players will need to be focused on NPL, some on OFC, and some that will float between competitions.

To be honest, I think South will need to send a weakened side to one or two of the hubs in order to ensure it remains in top 3 contention in the NPL competition as well Dockerty Cup matches.

Unless a squad of 30 is selected, this will have an impact upon our NPL Victoria results. It may potentially cost us a top 2 finish.

The blog also mentions that South could play up to 68 competitive matches in 2026! That is a staggering number of matches from January to December 2026.
 
Last edited:
Analysis from the South of the Border Blog.

https://southmelbournefc.blogspot.com/2025/12/no-rest-for-wicked-guest-post-by-manny.html



RoundDateTeamCityCountry
OFCPLCircuit 118-Jan-26Tahiti UnitedAucklandNew Zealand
OFCPLCircuit 121-Jan-26Solomon KingsAucklandNew Zealand
OFCPLCircuit 124-Jan-26PNG HekariAucklandNew Zealand
OFCPLCircuit 21-Feb-26South Island UnitedPort MoresbyPNG
OFCPLCircuit 24-Feb-26Bula FCPort MoresbyPNG
OFCPLCircuit 28-Feb-26Vanuatu UnitedPort MoresbyPNG
NPL VICRound 114-Feb-26AvondaleMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 219-Feb-26Hume CityMelbourneAustralia
OFCPLCircuit 321-Feb-26Auckland FC YouthTBAAustralia
OFCPLCircuit 324-Feb-26Tahiti UnitedTBAAustralia
OFCPLCircuit 327-Feb-26South Island UnitedTBAAustralia
NPL VICRound 328-Feb-26Altona MagicMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 47-Mar-26Bentleigh GreensMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 513-Mar-26Green GullyMelbourneAustralia
OFCPLCircuit 415-Mar-26Vanuatu UnitedHoniaraSolomon Islands
OFCPLCircuit 419-Mar-26Solomon KingsHoniaraSolomon Islands
NPL VICRound 621-Mar-26Dandenong ThunderMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 730-Mar-26Dandenong CityMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 811-Apr-26Preston LionsMelbourneAustralia
OFCPLCircuit 512-Apr-26Auckland FC YouthBa & SuvaFiji
OFCPLCircuit 515-Apr-26Bula FCBa & SuvaFiji
OFCPLCircuit 518-Apr-26PNG HekariBa & SuvaFiji
NPL VICRound 919-Apr-26Oakleigh CannonsMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 1024-Apr-26St Albans DinamoMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 111-May-26Melbourne CityMelbourneAustralia
OFCPLPlayoff Stage*6-May-26TBAAucklandNew Zealand
NPL VICRound 128-May-26Heidelberg UnitedMelbourneAustralia
OFCPLPlayoff Stage*10-May-26TBAAucklandNew Zealand
OFCPLPlayoff Stage*13-May-26TBAAucklandNew Zealand
NPL VICRound 1318-May-26Caroline Springs George CrossMelbourneAustralia
OFCPLSemi-Final*19-May-26TBAAuckland*New Zealand*
OFCPLFinal*24-May-26TBAAuckland*New Zealand*
NPL VICRound 1425-May-26AvondaleMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 1530-May-26Hume CityMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 167-Jun-26Altona MagicMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 1719-Jun-26Bentleigh GreensMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 1828-Jun-26Green GullyMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 195-Jul-26Dandenong ThunderMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 2010-Jul-26Dandenong CityMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 2119-Jul-26Preston LionsMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 2224-Jul-26Oakleigh CannonsMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 232-Aug-26St Albans DinamoMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 2415-Aug-26Melbourne CityMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 2523-Aug-26Heidelberg UnitedMelbourneAustralia
NPL VICRound 2629-Aug-26Caroline Springs George CrossMelbourneAustralia

South will need a squad of at least 30 players to make this work. I agree with the analysis presented on the blog, that some players will need to be focused on NPL, some on OFC, and some that will float between competitions.

To be honest, I think South will need to send a weakened side to one or two of the hubs in order to ensure it remains in top 3 contention in the NPL competition as well Dockerty Cup matches.

Unless a squad of 30 is selected, this will have an impact upon our NPL Victoria results. It may potentially cost us a top 2 finish.

The blog also mentions that South could play up to 68 competitive matches in 2026! That is a staggering number of matches from January to December 2026.
What a calander! With that many games I see us needing to sacrifice something! First rounds of OFC and results/competition there, will dictate our focus moving forward i think!
Think our depth needs to grow a little more sharply for 68! More so if we lose more players as is likely.

Given recent reality I am alot more relaxed that thw right replacements will be selected for anyome that leaves and the team core is pretty well cemented on for next year currently. Lavale loss would be the focus and perhaps bit more depth at the back!
 
We cannot just sign 23 players for both competitions. From an operational perspective, its going to place an unfair burden on the small sized squad. There will be an overlap in competitions that requires more players to be available. The bare minimum required are 22-24 first team players, and a further reserve of 4-6 younger players that can step up against weaker opposition.

We are talking about potentially playing in excess of 60 matches in 2026 across all competitions!
 
We need to bolster our squad further. On the back of our championship win attracting quality players shouldnt be an issue.
100% having lost Marshall theoretically all it will take to derial everytjing is a long term injury to eliopoulos and giannakop to be forced to backline for the midfield to be starved of its key pressing ability as we sit (unlesa siki sees something we dont).. that would be disastrous.. happy with Menelaou but i dont see him lifting that sort of weight as a holder/destroyer, good off the bench though.
 
100% having lost Marshall theoretically all it will take to derial everytjing is a long term injury to eliopoulos and giannakop to be forced to backline for the midfield to be starved of its key pressing ability as we sit (unlesa siki sees something we dont).. that would be disastrous.. happy with Menelaou but i dont see him lifting that sort of weight as a holder/destroyer, good off the bench though.
I would keep Menealou for 2026 simply because we require coverage in the middle of the park when Giannakopoulos and Pasquali will be focusing more on OFC Pro League at times.

We also need to hold onto Spink as well. He'll be playing far more in defence in 2026.

We'll also need to see more of Leech and Pope in the NPL to cover certain matches when the main midfielders are away in an OFC Pro League hubs.
 
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