Sharks back on script in come-from-behind win

THE Southport Sharks have overcome what coach Stephen Daniel described as perhaps their worst quarter of football in his time at the club to secure a 29-point win over Aspley.

The NEAFL champions found themselves seven goals down in the first term in Saturday’s trial at Fankhauser Re- serve, prompting Daniel to forgo any more preseason experiments in order to wrestle momentum back before claiming the 13.21 (99) to 11.4 (70).

“I couldn’t believe how bad we played (in the first term),” Daniel said. “We were beaten in every aspect of the game to be honest. I don’t know if we have ever played that bad.

“In saying that too, we were playing a few boys, not out of position, but we were experimenting a little bit.

“We had a few boys playing in roles they are not used to. We wanted to have a look and that’s the whole idea of a practice match, to try different things.

“At quarter time we spoke about it, changed a few things structurally and put guys back in their normal role. Credit to the boys for working themselves back into the contest. A few teams would just throw the towel in when they are seven goals behind. But the boys stuck to their structure and started doing things really well that we come to expect from them.”

Mitch Johnson kicked three goals while Emmanuel Baru and Kai Sheers each kicked two.

The likes of 2018 club best and fairest Michael Manteit and recruits Matt Shaw and Mackenzie Willis were rested for the game and Daniel said he would have a hard time finding who should make way for them when the season proper starts on April 6 against Redland.