Shark suffers fresh setback
SHARKS forward Cody Filewood will be a notable omission from Southport’s clash with Sydney University on Saturday after having his season ended by injury.
Filewood underwent surgery on his ankle on Tuesday after suffering serious ligament damage in Southport’s win over Canberra a fortnight ago.
It was the 21-year-old’s first NEAFL game of the season after spending the opening stages of the season with QAFL club Surfers Paradise.
The injury adds another disappointing chapter to the 184cm talent’s career.
Filewood injured his ACL in 2017 shortly after earning a NEAFL Rising Star nomination before returning at the end of last year to help guide them to a premiership.
His latest setback came in the first quarter of Southport’s game against Canberra.
“He is done for the season,” Sharks coach Stephen Daniel said.
“He did some really bad ligament damage to his ankle. Thankfully the operation went well. We will try and use him in some way around the football club to keep him involved.
“You have to show those blokes some love and then next year we need to make sure we jump into his rehabilitation and get him fit and ready to go.”
Southport are the reigning premiers and remain unbeaten this season after winning their first three games over Redland, Aspley and Canberra before enjoying a bye last weekend.
They have come from behind twice to seal eight and sixpoint wins in the last two games and while Daniel said they were yet to produce their best football, he gave an insight into the team that has found a win to win ugly.
“It’s been a really tough opening few games for us,” Daniel said.
“We were terrific in our first round against Redland at home and won by (nine) goals.
“Our second game we played at Aspley where Southport hadn’t won for seven years but we did it. Then we went to Canberra, playing on a ground we have never played on before, and didn’t fly in until 1.30am that morning.
“That’s because the boys had work the previous day. Half of them didn’t get to sleep until 3am or 4am and then they are up at 6.30am to go for a walk and have breakfast because we played at midday.”
Southport will need to overcome another hoodoo if they are to beat Sydney University today. The Sharks haven’t won in Sydney against either University, GWS or Swans since Round 20 of the 2015 season.