Southport | ||
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Names | ||
Full name | Southport Australian Football Club | |
Nickname(s) | Sharks | |
2023 season | ||
Home-and-away season | VFL: 14th QAFLW: 1st | |
Club details | ||
Founded | 1961 | |
Competition | VFL: Senior men QAFLW: Senior women QAFL: Juniors (mixed) | |
President | Clayton Glenister | |
Coach | VFL: Steve Daniel QAFLW: Peter Doherty | |
Captain(s) | VFL: Jacob Dawson/Brayden Crossley QAFLW: Rianna Schipp | |
Ground(s) | Fankhauser Reserve (8,000) | |
Uniforms | ||
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Other information | ||
Official website | southportsharks.com.au |
The Southport Australian Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club based on the Gold Coast, Queensland, that competes in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Southport is one of the most successful football clubs in Queensland, having claimed 22 senior-grade premierships across multiple competitions since it was established in 1961. It competed in the Gold Coast Australian Football League between 1961 and 1982, and then moved to the Queensland Australian Football League. In 2011 the club was elevated to the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL), before moving to the VFL after the NEAFL dissolved in 2020. Since 2020 Southport has fielded a senior women's team in Division 1 of the QAFLW competition; the club won its inaugural women's premiership in 2020.[1][2]
History
[edit]Formation and early GCAFL years (1961–1982)
[edit]On 22 May 1961, the Southport Australian Football Club was formed and six days later the first training session was held at Labrador Sports Oval. It was revealed on 7 June 1961 that the club would be known on as the Southport Magpies and would wear a black and white vertical striped jumper similar to the Collingwood Football Club. In front of 1,000 spectators, Southport played their first ever game against Centrals Football Club on 25 June 1961. Southport came out victorious in their first outing 8.10.58 to Central's 6.11.47. They would then go on to win the first ever Gold Coast Australian Football League premiership with a 13-point victory over Ipswich on 25 September 1961.
With the expansion of the Gold Coast Australian Football League starting in 1962, Southport moved their home ground to Owen Park, Southport. Southport won back-to-back premierships in the first two years of the Gold Coast Australian Football League, defeating Currumbin by 53 points to win their second premiership. Following a series of local premierships, the club applied for entry into the Queensland Australian Football League in July 1981. Twelve months later, the Queensland Australian Football League officially accepted Southport's entry application for the 1983 season. In their last game as part of the Gold Coast Football League, the Southport Magpies fell in the Grand Final to Coolangatta by 28 points. The disappointment of the Grand Final loss was short lived as the rebranding from the Southport Magpies to the Southport Sharks began. The strip was changed to a black V on a white background to avoid an identity conflict with the Sherwood Magpies, who later became the Western Magpies. The decision as to which club would retain the "Magpies" moniker was made by the toss of a coin.
New competitions (1983–)
[edit]QAFL (1983–1999)
[edit]Upon entrance into the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL), the newly formed Southport Sharks were given little chance of success against the predominantly Brisbane based competition. In their first game of the 1983 season, the Sharks walked away winners with a victory over the Western Districts. They would compile a 12–6 win–loss record during the home and away season. The Sharks going undefeated through the 1983 finals series and would win the Grand Final by 13 points over Morningside. The Sharks would continue to prove themselves through the 80s with another three premierships added to their trophy cabinet as well as two runners-up. Early in 1989, the Sharks moved their headquarters to their current ground Fankhauser Reserve.
The club continued their dominance with an unbeaten season in 1990 but the club's financial woes were a big issue following a Grand Final loss in 1991. The club almost abandoned the QAFL late in 1991 to re-enter the Gold Coast Australian Football League, but Queensland's introduction of poker machines would secure the financial future of the Sharks. By 1995 the Sharks had reached 20,000 members began to lead the charge for a second Queensland team entering the Australian Football League. In 1996, the Sharks made their first bid to the AFL for inclusion in the national league, which was rejected by the AFL in favour of the Port Adelaide Football Club's elevation from the SANFL. After which, the club continued to lobby for a licence.
Following the AFL's rejection of the Sharks into the national league, the Sharks would set out to prove just how good they really were. The team would win three premierships in a row in 1997, 1998 and 1999 to finish off the millennium with success. In 1999 the Sharks were able to poach future St Kilda Saints star Nick Riewoldt from their cross-town rivals Broadbeach Cats, although Riewoldt would not compete for the Sharks senior side until 2000.
New Millennium and dominance (2000–2010)
[edit]The Sharks would enter the 2000 season as the raging favourites to take out a fourth consecutive premiership. Soon to be number 1 AFL draft pick Nick Riewoldt would play a huge role in their Grand Final victory over the Northern Eagles. Riewoldt would be kept virtually touchless in the first half when matching up against future Brisbane Lions player Jamie Charman. Riewoldt was moved to ruck and would go on to kick two goals in the Sharks Grand Final victory. The four consecutive premierships would be Southport's last taste of success for five years as the club entered a rebuilding phase. Former AFL player Paul Dimattina pulled on the Sharks guernsey in 2005 and would lead the team to their first premiership in five years. The Sharks would continue their success with another three Grand Finals between 2006 and 2008 in which the Sharks would come away with two more premierships. In November 2010 it was announced the Sharks would be joining the newly formed North East Australian Football League which included four AFL reserves sides and local teams spread throughout Canberra, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Queensland.
NEAFL (2011–2020)
[edit]The Sharks put together a 9–9 win–loss record in the 2011 NEAFL season but missed the finals series by percentage, their first non-finals season ever. The Sharks finished the 2012 NEAFL season with a 14–4 win–loss record and were placed third on the ladder. In the qualifying final, the Sharks fell to the Brisbane Lions reserves team but recorded their first NEAFL finals victory over Redland the following week. The Sharks faced the Northern Territory Thunder in the preliminary finals but lost by 37 points.
The club won its first and only NEAFL premiership in controversial circumstances in 2018, defeating Sydney reserves in the Grand Final. Southport dominated the game, and led 12.4 (76) to 2.4 (16) at three-quarter time, but then accidentally sent nineteen men onto the field to start the final quarter. Sydney called for a head count after twenty seconds and the extra man was discovered, which would traditionally have resulted in Southport's score being re-set to zero for the final quarter; however, officials determined that since the breach had an immaterial effect on the game, Southport would retain its score and the only penalty would be a free kick and fifty metre penalty, resulting in one Sydney goal. Southport went on to win 14.6 (90) to 5.5. (35).[3]
VFL (2021–)
[edit]Following the cessation of the NEAFL in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Southport were granted entry into an expanded Victorian Football League for the 2021 season.[4] The Sharks found success quickly in the VFL by compiling a 9–1 record throughout the 2021 season and qualified for the finals in second position on the ladder but were unable to compete any further due to the August–October Victorian COVID-19 lockdown.[5] Southport continued their dominance in the 2022 VFL season by winning 13 of 18 games and became the first Queensland-based club to qualify for the VFL Grand Final where they were defeated by the Casey Demons at Ikon Park.[6]
Rivalries
[edit]Broadbeach Cats
[edit]One of the most intense rivalries in local Queensland football exists between the neighbouring clubs in the form of the Sharks and the Broadbeach Cats and stretches back to their first meeting in 1971. Matches between the two teams generally result in a larger audience and a heated contest on the field. As of the completion of the 2013 NEAFL season, the win–loss record between the two clubs stands at 70–10 in favour of the Sharks. The Cats were removed from the North East Australian Football League at the conclusion of the 2013 season which has resulted in the rivalry not continuing at the senior level.
Gold Coast Suns
[edit]Matches between Southport and the Gold Coast Suns are often referred to as the Coast Clash[7] and have occurred on a regular basis since 2011 when both teams entered the North East Australian Football League. The first ever competitive match that the Suns competed in took place in March 2009 against a reigning 2008 QAFL premiership Southport team and the Sharks would win the encounter 6.3 (39) to 3.5 (23) at Carrara Stadium.[8] The two teams met in a 2022 VFL preliminary final and despite losing eight straight times to the Suns leading into the match, Southport came out victorious 14.25 (109) to 13.3 (81) at Fankhauser Reserve.[9]
Honours
[edit]Premierships
[edit]Grogan Medallists
[edit]- Peter Guy – 1983
- Zane Taylor – 1985
- Jason Cotter – 1990 / 1993
- David Crutchfield – 1992
- Chris O'Sullivan – 1992
- David Bain – 1995 / 1999
- Jeff Brennan – 1997
- David Round – 2002
- Danny Wise – 2010
- Matthew Payne – 2011
- Fraser Pope – 2012
- Haydn Kiel – 2013
QAFL leading goalkickers
[edit]- Rod Mackay (85) – 1998
- Rod Mackay (66) – 1999
- Rod Mackay (79) – 2000
- Ben McEntee (119) – 2004
- Ben McEntee (84) – 2005
- Ben McEntee (100) – 2007
- Ben McEntee (66) – 2008
Seasons
[edit]Premiers | Grand Finalist | Minor premiers | Finals appearance | Wildcard Round appearance | Wooden spoon | League leading goalkicker | League best and fairest |
Men's
[edit]Seniors
[edit]Year | League | Finish | W | L | D | Coach | Captain | Best and fairest | Leading goalkicker | Goals | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1983 | QAFL | 1st | 12 | 6 | 0 | Norm Dare | Gavin McGuane | Peter Guy | [13] | ||
1984 | QAFL | 3rd | 11 | 7 | 0 | Norm Dare | Peter Guy | Gavin Exell | 66 | [14] | |
1985 | QAFL | 1st | 16 | 2 | 0 | Norm Dare | Gavin McGuane | Jason Cotter; Zane Taylor |
Brett Thompson | 89 | [15] |
1986 | QAFL | 2nd | 15 | 3 | 0 | Norm Dare | Gary Dempsey | Glen Middlemiss | 77 | [16] | |
1987 | QAFL | 1st | 17 | 1 | 0 | Norm Dare | Gavin McGuane | Stuart Glascott | Gary Dempsey | 70 | [17] |
1988 | QAFL | 2nd | 14 | 2 | 0 | Norm Dare | Craig Crowley | Geoff James | 49 | [18] | |
1989 | QAFL | 1st | 16 | 2 | 0 | Gavan McGuane | Zane Taylor | Craig Crowley | Ray Sarcevic | 55 | [19] |
1990 | QAFL | 1st | 16 | 0 | 0 | Gavan McGuane | Craig Crowley | Jason Cotter | Cameron O'Brien | 83 | [20] |
1991 | QAFL | 2nd | 16 | 2 | 0 | Gavan McGuane | Joe Amad; Royce Enders |
Craig Headland | 84 | [21] | |
1992 | QAFL | 1st | 18 | 0 | 0 | Cameron O'Brien | Cameron O'Brien | David Crutchfield | Warwick Capper | 80 | [22] |
1993 | QAFL | 2nd | 14 | 4 | 0 | Cameron O'Brien | Craig Headland | Craig Crowley | 45 | [23] | |
1994 | QAFL | 3rd | 14 | 4 | 0 | Mark Browning | Matt McGuirk | Cameron O'Brien | 60 | [24] | |
1995 | QAFL | 4th | 11 | 7 | 0 | Mark Browning | David Bain | Rod McKay | 38 | [25] | |
1996 | QAFL | 4th | 14 | 6 | 0 | Danny Brennan | David Johnston | Craig Wilson | 50 | [26] | |
1997 | QSFL | 1st | 19 | 3 | 0 | Danny Brennan | David Bain | Jeff Brennan | Brent Green | 59 | [27] |
1998 | QSFL | 1st | 12 | 4 | 0 | Jason Cotter | David Bain | Shaun Ballans | Rod Mackay | 54 | [28] |
1999 | QSFL | 1st | 16 | 0 | 0 | Jason Cotter | David Bain | Shaun Ballans | Rod Mackay | 74 | [29] |
2000 | AFLQSL | 1st | 13 | 5 | 0 | Jason Cotter | David Bain | Mark Bradley | Rod Mackay | 80 | [30] |
2001 | AFLQSL | 1st | 14 | 4 | 0 | Scott Lawton | Mark Bradley | Mark Bradley | Rod Mackay | 95 | [31] |
2002 | AFLQSL | 2nd | 16 | 2 | 0 | Scott Lawton | David Round; Luke Jenkins |
Stephen McKeon | 56 | [32] | |
2003 | AFLQSL | 4th | 15 | 3 | 0 | Scott Lawton | Darren O'Brien | Shaun Coughlan | 43 | [33] | |
2004 | AFLQSL | 2nd | 15 | 3 | 0 | Norm Dare | David James | Ben McEntee | 119 | [34] | |
2005 | AFLQSL | 1st | 16 | 2 | 0 | Norm Dare | Darren O'Brien | Darren O'Brien | Ben McEntee | 90 | [35] |
2006 | AFLQSL | 1st | 13 | 5 | 0 | Craig Crowley | Darren O'Brien | David James | Ben McEntee | 50 | [36] |
2007 | AFLQSL | 2nd | 11 | 8 | 0 | Craig Crowley | Ben McEntee | Ben McEntee | 100 | [37] | |
2008 | AFLQSL | 1st | 19 | 1 | 1 | Craig Crowley | Darren O'Brien | David James | Ben McEntee | 72 | [38] |
2009 | QAFL | 3rd | 14 | 4 | 0 | Craig Crowley | Danny Wise | Justin Kahlefeldt | Luke Jarjoura | 58 | [39] |
2010 | QAFL | 3rd | 13 | 5 | 0 | Craig Crowley | Danny Wise | Danny Wise | Cleve Hughes | 83 | [40] |
2011 | NEAFL N | 7th | 9 | 9 | 0 | Norm Dare | Matthew Payne | Josh Baxter | 30 | [41] | |
2012 | NEAFL N | 3rd | 14 | 4 | 0 | Norm Dare | Jason Burge; Wayde Mills |
Josh Baxter | 60 | [42] | |
2013 | NEAFL N | 2nd | 14 | 4 | 0 | Norm Dare | Jason Burge | Josh Baxter | 57 | [43] | |
2014 | NEAFL | 8th | 8 | 10 | 0 | Matt Angus | Wayde Mills | Josh Baxter | 42 | [44] | |
2015 | NEAFL | 6th | 8 | 10 | 0 | Nathan Bock | Josh Hunt | [45] | |||
2016 | NEAFL | 7th | 7 | 11 | 0 | Nathan Bock | Andrew Boston | [46] | |||
2017 | NEAFL | 9th | 4 | 14 | 0 | Nathan Bock | Jordan Keras | Hamish Shepheard | 33 | [47] | |
2018 | NEAFL | 1st | 12 | 6 | 0 | Steve Daniel | Andrew Boston; Seb Tape |
Mike Manteit | Mitchell Johnson | 55 | [48] |
2019 | NEAFL | 2nd | 13 | 5 | 0 | Steve Daniel | Andrew Boston; Seb Tape |
Andrew Boston | Mitchell Johnson | 42 | [49] |
2020 | NEAFL | (No season) | Steve Daniel | Andrew Boston; Seb Tape |
(No season) | [50] | |||||
2021 | VFL | 2nd | 9 | 1 | 0 | Steve Daniel | Andrew Boston; Seb Tape |
Jacob Dawson | Billy Gowers | 30 | [51] |
2022 | VFL | 3rd | 13 | 5 | 0 | Steve Daniel | Jacob Dawson; Mike Manteit |
Jacob Dawson | Jacob Townsend | 37 | [52] |
2023 | VFL | 14th | 8 | 10 | 0 | Steve Daniel | Jacob Dawson; Mike Manteit |
Jacob Dawson | Fraser Thurlow | 33 | [53] |
2024 | VFL | TBC | Steve Daniel | Jacob Dawson; Brayden Crossley |
- Although Southport finished second in 2021, no finals series was held as the season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Women's
[edit]Seniors
[edit]Year | League | Finish | W | L | D | Coach | Captain | Best and fairest | Leading goalkicker | Goals | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | QFAW D1 | 1st | 7 | 1 | 0 | Ryan Davis | Hannah Davies; Eloise O'Brien |
Eloise O'Brien | Hannah Davies | 15 | [50] |
2021 | QFAW D1 | 1st | 10 | 1 | 3 | Ryan Davis | Hannah Davies; Elli Jay Beck |
Maddy Watt | Elli Jay Beck | 18 | [51] |
2022 | QAFLW | 3rd | 9 | 4 | 1 | Ryan Davis | Jess Malouf; Ashlee Flick |
Maddy Watt | [52] | ||
2023 | QAFLW | 1st | 13 | 1 | 0 | Peter Doherty | Jess Malouf | Georgia Breward | [53] | ||
2024 | QAFLW | TBC | Peter Doherty | Rianna Schipp |
Drafted players
[edit]AFL/VFL
[edit]AFLW
[edit]Year | Name | Team | Draft No. |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Alana Gee | Gold Coast | 19th |
2022 | Fleur Davies | Greater Western Sydney | 64th |
2022 | Kaylee Kimber | Gold Coast | Injury Replacement |
2023 sup. | Caitlin Miller | Greater Western Sydney | 8th |
2023 sup. | Poppy Boltz | Brisbane | 17th |
2023 sup. | Darcie Davies | Gold Coast | Injury Replacement |
2023 sup. | Lilly Pearce | Richmond | Injury Replacement |
AFL/VFL players
[edit]There are list of past and present Southport players who have played at AFL/VFL:
|
|
Club song
[edit]The Southport Sharks club song is sung to the tune of Goodbye Dolly Gray.
References
[edit]- ^ "Southport Sharks is proud to announce the introduction of a senior women's side in 2020". Southport Sharks. 31 December 2019.
- ^ "QFAW pre-season update". Southport Sharks. 20 February 2021.
- ^ Ben Collins (17 September 2018). "Player count drama in SANFL, NEAFL finals". Australian Football League. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ Russell Gould (29 October 2020). "A new 22-team second-tier competition for the eastern seaboard will replace the VFL in 2021". news.com.au. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ Rhodes, Brendan. "Final round cancelled: See how the VFL finals will play out". afl.com.au. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- ^ Brendan Rhodes (18 September 2022). "Demons claim a grand old flag". afl.com.au. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ "Inaugural VFL Coast Clash to be played under lights at Southport". aflq.com.au. 20 May 2021.
- ^ Smart, Nick (21 March 2009). "As good as gold". goldcoast.com.au.
- ^ "Southport Sharks defeat Gold Coast Suns to make VFL grand final". goldcoast.com.au. 11 September 2022.
- ^ "COACHES". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "PREMIERSHIP CAPTAINS". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "BEST & FAIREST WINNERS". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1983". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1984". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1985". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1986". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1987". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1988". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1989". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1990". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1991". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1992". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1993". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1994". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1995". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1996". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1997". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1998". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "1999". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2000". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2001". Southport Sharks. Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024.
- ^ "2002". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2003". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2004". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2005". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2006". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2007". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2008". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2009". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2010". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2011". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2012". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2013". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2014". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2015". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2016". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2017". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2018". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "2019". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ a b "2020". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ a b "2021". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ a b "2022". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ a b "2023". Southport Sharks History. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.