Sharks’ start told in the tale of Tape
SOUTHPORT NEAFL coach Steve Daniel says Seb Tape’s return to the backline has been instrumental in the Sharks’ unbeaten start to the season.
Tape played as a defender under Daniel when both were at the Gold Coast Suns but the Sharks co-captain has spent the last couple of seasons relishing a shift into the midfield under former Southport coach Nathan Bock.
The arrival of multiple new midfielders and Daniel’s trust in Tape to protect Southport’s posts has resulted in the 25-year-old sacrificing his favoured position in order to help his side.
“Seb is not real happy with me at the moment because I have put him back to the backline,” Daniel joked.
“I coached him at the Suns and played him as a defender but over the last couple of years he has been running around the midfield.
“He has come to me and asked if he could have a waddle through the midfield and I said we will see but at the moment he is best for the side down back.
“He has had three really good games already playing as a defender.”
Daniel labelled Tape one of the toughest footballers he has coached and said there would likely be times through 2018 where he pushes him through the centre.
“It will depend on different games,” Daniel said.
“There will be a couple of games where we will need his hardness. He would be one of the hardest footballers I have ever coached. He is ferocious.
“There will be times when we put him back through the corridor and he will relish every moment of it.’
Southport will play out a top of the table clash against Southport University, who are also undefeated, this Saturday at Henson Park after opening their season with wins against Canberra, Redland and Aspley.
Daniel said it was a big game but not bigger than the side’s first three wins.
“In all honesty Canberra away from home in Round 1 was massive for us,” Daniel said.
“Then to back it up against Redland in Round 2 when it was their first game was massive and then to try and win three in a row against Aspley was massive.”
HE HAS COME TO ME AND ASKED IF HE COULD HAVE A WADDLE THROUGH THE MIDFIELD SOUTHPORT’S STEVE DANIEL