Bock quits Sharks post
FORMER Adelaide and Gold Coast AFL player Nathan Bock has quit as head coach of one-time NEAFL power club Southport after three seasons in the job.
Bock, 34, told the Sharks he is stepping down from the role as he considers other options in the football industry.
Bock holds an AFL level- two coaching accreditation. Bock took over the Southport coaching role from Matt Angus in 2015 but the Sharks have had three largely unsuccessful seasons since then.
They won eight and lost 11 in Bock’s first year, which included a losing elimination final; they won seven and lost 11 in 2016 and this year the record was four wins and 14 losses – the worst finish in the club’s 56-year history and a record that included three record losses. The record of 11 wins and 25 losses for the 2016 and 2017 campaigns has come with Jarrod Field as football manager and there has been criticism of the lack of quality on the Sharks’ playing roster.
Field was reappointed to the Southport role just a fortnight ago.
Bock said it was his decision to walk away but he did concede putting together a good playing roster was difficult in these times of AFL clubs taking all the young local talent for their academy.
“A big part of my decision comes with the landscape of the NEAFL and how its structured,” Bock said.
“We’re restricted in some part with salary cap and budget issues becoming a lot more heavily favoured towards the AFL clubs.
“Our list has probably not been up to NEAFL level and that has to be the focus for the club going forward – getting the right personnel – and that’s the challenge.”
Bock said the most disappointing issue of his time at Fankhauser Reserve was the club’s win-loss record. The Sharks will now go on a hunt for a replacement for Bock and there are whispers that former Brisbane Lions star Shaun Hart could be in the mix.