SHARKS SINK TEETH INTO FINALS
A HOME preliminary final will be up for grabs when Southport play Brisbane in a Queensland VFL finals derby today.
The Sharks will travel to Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex to play the Lions, with the only standalone team in the finals of the VFL looking to take another step towards what would be the greatest premiership of the club’s history.
It will be no mean feat getting past Brisbane in week one of the finals, with the Lions welcoming back utility
Callum Ah Chee and forward Blake Coleman who have both returned from concussion for the game.
Southport have a double chance up their sleeve after finishing fourth on the ladder, something Sharks coach Stephen Daniel says is vital.
“In this competition (the double chance) is very handy to have,” Daniel said.
“You just don’t know what you are going to come up against week in and week out.
“Brisbane will be very strong this week. We are looking forward to the challenge and if we can get over the line to be here at our home ground, playing in a preliminary final will be very exciting.”
Daniel said the entire club was proud of the team’s ability to finish in the top four following the regular season on the back of a 2021 campaign that was cut short due to Covid and prevented Southport from playing most of the teams.
“It’s terrific. Last year we felt we had a really good year and it was disappointing with the way it ended with the VFL calling the season off due to Covid,” Daniel said.
“It’s been a long preseason. The exciting part for this year was that we got to play (nearly) everyone.
“To play 18 teams in a 21 team competition and to finish in the top four is an outstanding achievement.
“We are very happy as a football club to have achieved that. I am really proud of the boys and I know they are too.”
Meanwhile, the Gold Coast Suns will boast a VFL team with 14 players who have AFL experience when they play Box Hill in an elimination final at Metricon Stadium on Sunday at 6.05pm.
Rory Thompson, Mac Andrew,
Oleg Markov, Jeremy Sharp, Jack Bowes, Elijah Hollands, Chris Burgess, Alex Sexton, Darcy Macpherson, James Tsitas, Sam Flanders, Charlie Constable Josh Corbett and Hewago Oea headline the team that will look to progress to the next stage of the VFL finals.
The game will cap off a huge day off footy at Metricon Stadium which will also host the AFLQ South East Queensland Juniors grand finals from 8am. Parking will be free for attendees in the red carpark next to the stadium, with limited food and beverage available for purchase at the venue.