South Melbourne
Manager: Chris Taylor, 54 (Joined Club – 2013)
Leicester-born, Taylor immigrated to Australia where he played in the VPL before taking up the reigns at Green Gully in the mid-1990s. Successful stints at Sunshine and the Melbourne Knights in the last decade saw him collect a runner’s up medal with the latter in 2008. Won the treble with Dandenong Thunder in 2012 and was snapped up by South mid-season in 2013. Has a proven track record of success at this level.
Assistant Manager: Dimi Tsiaras, 31 (Joined Club – 2012)
Boyhood South supporter who is in his first year of coaching after retiring last season. Spent the last three years of his career at Lakeside Stadium after earlier plying his trade for Bentleigh and Kingston. The full-back however enjoyed his best football for Richmond for whom he played in a losing Grand Final for in 2010.
Goalkeeping Coach: Bojo Jevdjevic, 43 (Joined Club – 2014)
A decorated playing career saw him don the colours of the Gippsland Falcons and Sydney Olympic in the NSL before featuring for Altona Magic, Heidelberg United and the Springvale White Eagles in the VPL. He was in the sticks for Altona when South beat them in 2006 Grand Final and has also held a senior managerial coaching position at the White Eagles a few seasons back.
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GK: Nikola Roganovic, 29 (Joined Club – 2015)
26 games, 11 clean sheets
Has four Grand Final triumphs to his name (two each with Altona Magic and Green Gully) along with A-League experience with Melbourne Heart in the 2011/12 season. The South junior took a two-year break from football to concentrate on his business ventures before returning this season where he has been one of the league’s standout goalkeepers. Is the younger brother of world-renowned DJ Dirty South.
LB: Brad Norton, 24 (Joined Club – 2012)
26 games, 2 goals (99 games, 8 goals)
Vice-captain and the longest serving member of the current playing squad, Norton made his senior debut under Taylor at the Melbourne Knights in 2009. Excelled at Northcote under the stewardship of Peter Tsolakis who brought the youngster over to Hellas with him in 2012. The left-back is also an ex-Melbourne Victory youth team player who made two league appearances for Adelaide United in 2010.
CB: Michael Eagar, 26 (Joined Club – 2014)
25 games, 2 goals (50 games, 2 goals)
Club captain with dual Australian and Kiwi citizenship who has represented the All Whites at youth level. A Team Wellington regular, he moved across the Tasman in 2013 to link up with Northcote City, where he won silverware before joining South soon after. Capable of playing as a number six, he scored the crucial winner in last week’s semi-final against Pascoe Vale.
CB: Luke Adams, 21 (Joined Club – 2015)
23 games, 2 goals
A current Kiwi youth international, who after making his debut for Waitakere United as a teenager, moved to England in 2012 and spent a season at Derby County. After failing to break into the first-team at the Rams, the youngster returned home and signed for the Wellington Phoenix. Made three appearances for the Nix before being released, but has found a regular football at Lakeside.
RB: Tim Mala, 23 (Joined Club – 2013)
25 games, 0 goals (64 games, 0 goals)
The most consistent right-back in the league burst onto the scene as a bubbling teenager for Bulleen Lions. Signed by Chris Taylor at Dandenong Thunder in mid-2012 and has not looked back since, helping the club win league honours immediately. He then joined his mentor at South in July 2013, where he has enhanced his reputation. Outside of football, Mala owns a coffee shop.
CM: Stephen Hatzikostas, 23 (Joined Club – 2014)
10 games, 0 goals (23 games, 0 goals)
The hard-working defensive-midfielder suffered Grand Final heartache for Bentleigh at the hands of Northcote two years ago. Like Norton, he made his mark as a Victory youth-team player before harnessing his reputation at the Oakleigh Cannons. Has struggled with injuries in recent years which have restricted his game time and progress.
CM: Iqbal Jawadi, 21 (Joined Club – 2013)
27 games, 5 goals (66 games, 5 goals)
The only South player to have appeared in every league game this season despite going overseas due to a call-up from the Afghan National Team. Plucked from the NTC Program by Taylor in 2012, he quickly became the revelation of the season as he helped Thunder win silverware before linking up with his mentor at South. Has added goals to his repertoire this campaign.
AM: Matthew Theodore, 26 (Joined Club – 2014)
20 games, 2 goals (47 games, 8 goals)
Highly talented box-to-box midfielder whose career trajectory has been unsettled by a number of injuries. Began his career at the AIS before captaining Victory Youth. Joined Dandenong Thunder from the relegated Altona Magic in 2011, where he worked extensively under Taylor and, like Mala and Jawadi, tasted league success in 2012 but missed the Grand Final through injury.
LW: Nick Epifano, 21 (Joined Club – 2013)
21 games, 9 goals (61 games, 17 goals)
One of the league’s most exciting players who spent time with the Melbourne Heart youth team. After breaking through at Doncaster Rovers in State League Two in 2012, he joined Taylor at Thunder the following year before joining Taylor and several of his teammates at Lakeside mid-way through the season. Has scored a number of crucial goals this campaign.
RW: Leigh Minopoulos, 26 (Joined Club – 2014)
21 games, 2 goals (49 games, 8 goals)
Made his debut for South in 2011 but struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular. He then spent two seasons at Werribee City where he banged in the goals as Nino Ragusa’s side earned promotion to the top-flight. Has earned a reputation as a super-sub due to his ability to come off the bench and score crucial goals.
ST: Milos Lujic, 25 (Joined Club – 2014)
26 games, 20 goals (54 games, 43 goals)
The league’s top scorer three years running is also the son of ex-Socceroos Zdravko Lujic. Has spent time at the AIS, Victory Youth and several clubs around the league, but saw his career revitalised once he joined Northcote in 2012. The reigning Player of the Year scored a crucial goal playing for Bentleigh in 2006 as a 16-year-old, which saved the club from relegation to the third tier.
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GK: Fraser MacLaren, 20 (Joined Club – 2015)
1 game, 1 clean sheet
The son of former South Melbourne NSL winning goalkeeper Bruce and cousin of Bentleigh shot-stopper Alastair Bray, MacLaren joined Hellas at the last hour of the mid-season transfer window. Prior to that, he had impressed at Bulleen last season and Kingston City this year around before marking his South debut with a man-of-the-match performance against Dandenong Thunder.
DEF: Thomas Lakic, 18 (Joined Club – 2015)
5 games, 0 goals
Defensively versatile, the teenager is capable of playing anywhere across the back four. Spent his junior career at Springvale White Eagles and Berwick City before joining the elite state set-up. He made his senior debut for Oakleigh last year and was on the books of Victory youth before his mid-season arrival at Lakeside. Like MacLaren, he is one for the future.
CM: Jake Barker-Daish, 22 (Joined Club – 2015)
18 games, 0 goals
Former Richmond junior who made his senior debut for Altona Magic as a 16-year-old. The ex-Olyroo progressed through the VIS before earning a scholarship to join the AIS in 2010. Made his A-League debut for Gold Coast United in the later days of the club’s existence before spending two-injury blighted years at Adelaide United. Represented Australia at 2011 Under-20 World Cup in Colombia.
LM: Chris Irwin, 20 (Joined Club – 2015)
13 games, 1 goal
Another one for the future, Irwin spent his junior years at South and also featured for Bentleigh’s Under-20s a few seasons back. Earned rave reviews last season at Box Hill United before moving to Avondale this season where he continued on with his good form. Joined South mid-way through the season and is comfortable playing in a number of positions.
AM: Andy Kecojevic, 17 (Joined Club – 2014)
16 games, 3 goals (17 games, 3 goals)
One of the country’s most exciting young prospects, Kecojevic signed for the senior team as a 15 year-old and has not looked back since. Like Lakic, he is an ex-White Eagles junior who rose through the ranks in the state set-up. Part of Melbourne City’s NYL winning side of last season, he returned to South in order to play at a higher level and is a set-piece specialist.
ST: David Stirton, 24 (Joined Club – 2015)
18 games, 4 goals
Struggled with injuries since joining South this season after spending the previous two years at Bentleigh where he played the role of support striker to first Luke Sherbon and then Brent McGrath. Made his senior debut for Dandenong Thunder in 2009 before spending time at Victory Youth where he was on the verge of signing a senior contract before the dismissal of Ernie Merrick.
FW: Andy Bevin, 22 (Joined Club – 2015)
6 games, 0 goals
Little-known Kiwi who was moulded in the States, going through the college system before spending time with the Seattle Sounders in the MLS. Linked up with Hellas mid-way through the season as replacement for the A-League bound Andy Brennan. He has represented New Zealand at the Under 17 & 20s World Cups in 2009 & 2011 respectively, scoring a goal in the latter.