 Despite taking charge of a young squad which was quickly assembled merely weeks before the start of the new season, and which was labelled as a relegation candidate at the start of the year, Anastasiadis led the side to 3rd place on the ladder at the end of the season and as far as the Preliminary Final, where the team lost 1-0 to Heidelberg United and was knocked out.It was an incredible achievement for Anastasiadis considering just three players turned up to his first training session at the club, one of which was his brother Dean.Retained as coach for the 2006 season, he led South Melbourne to victory in the Grand Final of the Vodafone Cup competition.