Amazing Roos exit but Sharks power on

SOUTHPORT football manager Jarrod Field says the club has no issues with top performer Tyler Roos leaving the club on the cusp of finals – all to chase fame and fortune on reality television in the US.

Roos (pictured) has been among the best players for the defending NEAFL premiers but left the club after Round 17 and speculation is rife he is set to be part of the fourth season of The Amazing Race Australia with former Sharks teammate Tom Wilkinson.

The winners of the fastpaced TV show, in which teams of two chase a series of clues, will win $250,000.

Club officials were coy on Roos’ future when queried by the Bulletin earlier this week, saying he left the club to work in the US.

Field said it was a big loss to the club who are gunning for a second straight premiership but declared there was no angst surrounding the circumstances of the exit of Roos, 23.

“He is certainly a loss. It’s certainly not ideal,” Field said.

“It’s an opportunity for someone else to come in and perform well at the level.

“We have got a few other guys who can fill the void and they will get their opportunity in Darwin (on Saturday against Northern Territory).

“The fact of the matter is he is not here. Whatever the reason it’s really irrelevant to us.

“From a club perspective we have to figure out how we best replace him with the players we have got available to us.”

Field said Roos had not yet indicated if he’d be returning to play for Southport in 2020.

Roos’ junior friend Wilkinson was at the Sharks last year and was picked up by North Melbourne in the AFL rookie draft at the end of last season.

Out injured most of the year, the 23-year-old is understood to have left the Kangaroos with the club’s blessing.