THE 19TH MAN
Player at centre of NEAFL drama admits his ‘heart sank’
SOUTHPORT’S Josh Baxter says it broke his heart to think he may have cost the Sharks their first premiership in a decade after discovering he was the 19th man who brought the NEAFL grand final to a standstill.
Baxter, who ironically wears guernsey No.19, has emerged as the extra man who triggered the headcount (inset) in the first 20 seconds of the final term of the Sharks’ 55-point win over the Sydney Swans at Fankhauser Reserve on Sunday. Southport led by 60 points at the time.
The forward revealed it was an innocent interchange mistake while Sydney officials accepted the NEAFL’s decision to let the points stand on the day.
Swans officials declined to comment when contacted by the Bulletin but it’s understood they were entirely comfortable with the decision to play on.
“I started in every quarter and was getting treatment at the time,” Baxter said.
“I got caught up in the moment and didn’t know what was going on.”
Baxter, 31, said he didn’t realise his error until Swans captain Colin O’Riordan called for a head count before any points were scored in the quarter.
“We were playing an extra man down behind in defence so I had no idea,” Baxter said.
“My heart sank. We played so well and we nearly had it in the bag and to think that could have cost us (was horrible).
“The premiership means so much to me and everyone who was there. To think I could have stuffed it up broke my heart.”
The Southport playing group and staff gathered within the four walls of the club to savour the win after everyone else had left the venue on Sunday.
“It’s amazing,” Baxter said. “We haven’t won a premiership in 10 years and it’s my first one at the club and a lot of boys’ first grand final. It means a lot to everyone.”
At midnight the same group walked next door to the neighbouring Southport Cemetery where they held a minute’s silence around the grave of club legend Wally Fankhauser before singing the team song. It’s a club tradition after each time they win a flag.
Fankhauser is regarded as one of the key reasons why the club is standing today. He served as vicepresident for 23 years until his death in 1995. Fankhauser donated $2 million to the club and bulldozed the mounds at Musgrave Hill to create the field today.
“We had a lock-in after the game and sat around and enjoyed each other’s company and celebrated what we achieved,” Baxter said. “Later on we went across to the cemetery and had a rum with Wally Fankhauser at his grave and all the boys sat there in a minute’s silence then sang the team song. We gave him a drink of rum and it was pretty special.”
GROGAN Medal winner Blake Erickson says he has already put his individual achievement aside as he prepares play for a QAFL premiership with the Broadbeach Cats.
The midfielder became the second player from the club to win the Grogan Medal on Sunday, 13 years after David Round broke new ground for Broadbeach.
“It’s a pretty good achievement,” Erickson said.
“I have been able to play with a lot of good footballers over the last couple of years and it’s a good feeling.
“I put it off to the side pretty much straight away and started thinking about this weekend and what I had to do to get ready.”
Broadbeach will play Palm Beach Currumbin in the QAFL grand final on Saturday at Leyshon Park, Yeronga, in Brisbane.
The Cats have lost all three games against the minor premiers this season, with the biggest losing margin a 26-point defeat in Round 6.
Their latest came a fortnight ago in the semi-final.
But Erickson said he the team remained confident they could secure victory in the biggest game of the year.
“Hopefully everything goes to plan and all the boys show up,” Erickson said.
“If we have 22 contributors I have got no doubt it’s going to be a red-hot game and we will be right in it.
“It’s about everyone having
the confidence to stick to the game plan and stick to what has been working. At times we have gone back into our shell when the game is on the line.
“If we can continue to do what works for us and we can capitalise on the scoreboard than we have a chance.”
Cats coach Brett Andrews said Erickson was a worthy Grogan Medallist.
“He is a quality player and has a hard work ethic. Those two things get you Grogans,” Andrews said.
“His preparation is always spot-on and he is a worthy winner.”
Erickson began his career at the Corowa-Rutherglen club in Victoria before his family moved to NSW, where he played his junior football with Nelson Bay.
The 25-year-old played some top-up games for the Sydney Swans in the NEAFL and joined the Southport Sharks in 2015.
He spent three seasons with the Sharks before deciding to play with Broadbeach full-time. QAFL LATEST: Tomorrow