The Spartans Club 18 team affiliated to the Hawthorn Amateur Football Club and competing in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) has completed another outstanding undefeated season in 2013. Tomorrow the Hawthorn Spartans play Ormond for the premiership flag, a team they have defeated twice this year.
The side is made up of mostly Greek Australian Aussie Rules players who regularly met for a training run and dreamed of forming a competitive footy team three years ago. After a successful first season, the Spartans played their way into their first grand final in their inaugural year, although the premiership eluded them by only 15 points. The Spartans also made the grand final last year, but injury and the depth of the opposition took its toll on Grand Final day.
This season the Spartans altered their game style, playing a consistent, faster brand of football, which resulted in them finishing undefeated on top of the ladder and ready to play in their third grand final in as many years. Full credit goes to all the coaches – head coach Con Terzoglou and the director of football, Phiv Demetriou, who have really put the players through a meticulous development program.
The Spartans are expected to play an exciting game of football as Melbourne’s Greek community gets behind and cheers the only Greek Australian Aussie Rules footy club in Victoria on to victory.
Sunday’s Grand Final will be played at Sportscover Arena Glenhuntly Road, Elsternwick at 12.00 midday.
The team:
2 Salipas.A
3 Dellaportas. G
4 Higgins.C
6 Beech.T
7 Terzoglou.C
8 Demetriou.A
10 Palazzolo.R
12 Zito.D
14 Eagle.M
15 Bubunaras.D
18 Mitropoulos.A
19 Handford.J
20 Elijah.M
21 Farah.J
23 Mihalos.A
24 Korlos.D
25 Katsanevakis.C
26 Toumbakis.A
27 Koukouras.N
29 Zito.L
30 Criticos.N
32 Papaconstantinou.N
36 Stavridis.A
38 McArthur.P
40 Rieve.J
44 Ekonomides.D
45 Jenkin.P
46 Tyrrell.D
78 Meehan.S
Coach: Con Terzoglou
Director of Football: Phiv Demetriou
General Manager/Assistant Coach: George Demetriou
Assistant Coach: Terry Salipas
Assistant Coach: Chris Armatas