SIMPLY THE BEST
Powerhouse Sharks overcome Swans, extra man drama to take NEAFL title
THEY spent decades as the leading club in the state league – now Southport are back where they belong.
The Sharks yesterday clinched a maiden NEAFL title a decade after they last claimed any silverware with a resounding victory over Sydney.
The win was not without drama, with the Sharks at one stage having 19 players on the field.
SOUTHPORT coach Stephen Daniel says the club will make sure their run of success won’t stop with one NEAFL premiership after guiding the Sharks to their first flag in a decade.
The Sharks broke a 10-year premiership drought yesterday by beating the Sydney Swans 14.6 (90) to 5.5 (35) in front of about 2000 spectators at Fankhauser Reserve in what was also their first NEAFL title.
Southport have once again become a powerhouse in Queensland football and Daniel is determined not to let that reputation slip like it had in recent years.
“We just want to maintain it and be competitive again next year,” Daniel said.
“We will certainly make sure we get it all right and make sure we are up there again.”
The grand final victory was the completion of what has been a stunning transformation of the Sharks under Daniel in his first year at the helm.
The club finished in ninth last season with just four wins to their name but an overhaul of the coaching department and playing group, including 26 new recruits, has led to a revival not even those inside the four walls predicted.
Daniel and his team had to reset their goals numerous times.
Their first was to just be competitive; then to win more than four games; then to reach the finals; then finish top of the ladder. And finally, win the flag. “I’m just so excited for the footy club,” Daniel said after handing Sydney their fifth NEAFL grand final loss.
“It’s been 10 years and they have battled in the last couple. We had to change our goals a fair bit throughout the year but at the end of the day this is what you play footy for. To win (the premiership) is pretty special.”
Southport had never beaten Sydney, losing by an average of 68 points.
The latest was a 78-point loss at the SCG in Round 7.
The wind played havoc for both sides but Southport’s pressure, dominance at stoppages and their running game on a big ground enabled the Sharks to gain the ascendancy over the Swans, who fielded nine AFL-listed players.
“At the end of the day we just had to beat them once and we did,” Daniel said.
“Full credit to all the players, they have been outstanding all year.”
Southport junior and Sharks co-captain Andrew Boston said it was an emotional moment winning the premiership with the club he loved.
“It means everything to me,” Boston said.
“After the siren there was a bit of emotion that came and a bit of tears.
“We have worked hard and we deserve everything we get. It’s just an awesome feeling.”
Boston said it took time after the club’s preliminary final win over Aspley a fortnight ago for the reality of playing in a premiership decider to sink in. But once it did, the team studied the Swans inside and out.
“It took a couple of days to sink in that we were playing in a grand final” Boston said.
“After that we looked at Sydney and how they set up and what we could get them on. We studied them well and we got the result because of it.
“Our running ability is pretty outstanding and we were able to outnumber them at the contest. They are still a very good outfit so it wasn’t an easy game despite what the score showed.
“It was very tough and it was good to hear that final siren.”
It was a bittersweet moment for Sharks forward Josh Baxter who is an avid Swans fan and even travelled to watch their finals loss to GWS last weekend.