Southport host Suns for huge VFL clash

THE Gold Coast will host a massive weekend of football when the Gold Coast Suns face the Southport Sharks on Sunday in their last attempt to make the VFL grand final.

The two sides join the Brisbane Lions to make Queensland the competition’s dominating state with all three teams in the preliminary finals. The Casey Demons are Victoria’s only chance at representing the state in the final.

With no AFL or QAFL on Sunday, thousands of fans are expected to turn out to Fankhauser Reserve at 1.10pm to watch what will be a milestone game for Gold Coast football.

Southport coach Steve Daniels said it was “exciting” to have the home game after they defeated the Lions 87-38 in week one of finals.

“The Gold Coast Suns have been terrific so far this year and they’ve had a really good finals campaign so it’s going to be a really tough assignment come Sunday afternoon but nevertheless we’re really looking forward to it,” Daniels said.

“It’s terrific for Queensland football, I suppose for football in general there’s probably a lot of Victorians down there that aren’t too happy about it.”

Southport have faced the Suns 16 times in their NEAFL/ VFL history and only won three times – but many of those were when Daniels was head honcho at the Suns.

“I can remember I was actually coaching the Gold Coast Suns at the time when I beat Southport on a few of those occasions, so let’s hope I can turn that around this time when I’m coaching Southport and try and beat my old team.”

Suns centre Sam Flanders, who raked in 46 disposals against the Sydney Swans on Sunday, said he was amazed at the team’s ability to go from unpredictable to contenders.

“Halfway through the season a lot of people probably counted us out,” Flanders said.