22 years ago, @smfc were a club on their knees. “The phones lines were cut, the club was dead” 1.5 million dollars in debt. Left out of Australia’s new era of football in the form of the A-League. The picture was bleak for the most successful club of the NSL era that had just come to a close. That would’ve been that for most clubs, let alone any hope of returning to a position of Australian footballing prominence. But those who cared kept Hellas from death’s door - and kept the flame flickering through 21 years of state football survival. Last night, those two decades of faith were rewarded in the best way possible. The NPL’s first Australia Cup champions in front of the biggest sporting crowd AAMI Park has ever seen. Standing of the shoulders of giants, slaying an A-League giant in Melbourne Victory. A true story of sporting resilience that gives a club home to names like Postecoglou, Trimboli and Boutsianis another crop of legends to remember forever. Is the next chapter waiting for them in the A-League? Time will tell.

When Javi Lopez’s wife was relocated by her work from Spain to Australia, who knew that decision would make him an @AustraliaCup HERO 🧤👑 Seven years ago, a move across the world set in motion a chain of events culminating in a special goalkeeping performance for @smfc. Like his club, the Spaniard has been toiling away in the NPL - waiting for a moment to shine in the national spotlight. 57 clean sheets in 145 league games. Three-time NPL Victoria Goalkeeper of the Year - the equal-most of any player in competition history. Last night, Australia got to see the quality that those in Victoria have known for some time. Some superb saves in the 120. Two crucial penalty shootout saves - both from former teammate Harry Sawyer after the first had to be retaken - and he got a hand on two more! His reward is the Mark Viduka medal and an immortal place on night of Australian football history for Hellas 👏