Second-tier but rise in footy love for Primus
MATTHEW Primus says he knocked back offers to stay in the AFL system before deciding to join the Southport Sharks and help them chase a second NEAFL premiership.
Primus was in the AFL system for 22 years and says his first stint in second-tier football has provided a refreshing change as he attempts to help Southport win back-to-back NEAFL premierships.
Primus played 157 AFL games, 137 of those for Port Adelaide, between 1996 and 2005, captaining Power for four years before retiring.
The 44-year-old immediately went into coaching, first as an assistant and then head coach at Port Adelaide before working at Suns for six years until he was let go in 2018.
He has joined NEAFL premiers Southport as an assistant under former Suns coach Stephen Daniel where he works alongside another ex-Coast colleague in Matthew Lappin.
“It’s been great to work with a bunch of players who aren’t full-time but are invested in their footy,” Primus said.
“You watch them rolling in from their jobs to training, some are studying at university, others are personal trainers and it goes on.
“The AFL system is great but it’s been good to step back a bit and realise why we all love the game.” Primus said he fielded offers from Victorianbased AFL clubs but ultimately decided to keep his family on the Coast.
Primus said he held no grudges against Gold Coast for moving him on and hoped coach Stuart Dew could find the success the club had so far struggled to find.