He was born in Melbourne and grew up playing soccer, forever watching his Dad competing in the game. His non-football sporting dream is to play soccer in England. The multi-talented sportsman has an equal interest in football and has played Aussie rules since he was seven.
"I love a challenge," Koulouriotis said on sport in general.
Koulouriotis has always been passionate about sport but it became clear which road he would take once he was picked in an AFL side. Koulouriotis became committed to football when he was selected by Port Adelaide with the team’s number one pick in the 1999 national draft.
He was uprooted to the interstate team at the age of 17 and had four frustrating seasons with limited games at Port Adelaide, due to many serious injuries. In 2001, Koulouriotis suffered a knee injury and then a hamstring injury in 2002.
Koulouriotis became a Cat when he was selected in Geelong’s first pick in the 2003 pre season draft and he willingly returned to his native state. He gladly arrived to a team comprised of two former team mates, Paul Chapman and Dave Johnson, from his under 18's club, the Calder Canons. To wear the blue and white hoops in his Geelong debut game at round 17 in 2004 remains one of the proudest moments Koulouriotis has experienced.
Last year, Koulouriotis was deservingly selected in the senior side for round one feeling fine and fit. Unfortunately, he acquired a hamstring injury, upsetting his chances of playing a much wanted full season. He missed a mass of games between round one and fourteen due to it, but Koulouriotis hopes his injurious days are over.
“I’m feeling good now and hopefully injury is all behind me," Koulouriotis said.
The solid player who is familiar with playing in the midfield was positioned mainly at half back in 2005. At the end the season, Koulouriotis underwent a shoulder reconstruction, forcing him to delay his return to pre season training.
But by the start of January this year, Koulouriotis was in shape and ready to participate in all training and can not wait to tackle the coming season. The talented player is enthusiastic about playing the majority of the season. He plans to play well and a premiership is a priority. He is optimistic about the team and its opportunity of success in 2006.
"Hopefully we can build on the last two years," Koulouriotis said.
“Everyone is a year older with 50 to 100 games under their belt, so the chances of a grand final are good and we should be right up there in the next two years."
Koulouriotis recently celebrated his 24th birthday and is happy to be home in Victoria where he was born and bred.
“I come from a close knit family so it’s good to be back with family and friends,” he said.
His family lives in Melbourne and Koulouriotis shares a house with his girlfriend and chocolate Labrador Hoshy in Geelong.
As he stated in his player profile, the best advice Koulouriotis was ever given was 'think positive and work as hard as you can'. And that is exactly what Koulouriotis has done and plans to keep doing, to cement his place within the Geelong football club as an eminent player.
