2019 SEASON PREVIEW: Southport Sharks

Southport will find itself going from hunters to the hunted as its championship defence begins in 2019. We take a look at how the club is shaping ahead of the season.

2018 SUMMARY

Southport achieved a remarkable turnaround in 2018, rebounding from a second last finish in 2017 to win the premiership last season. In one of the most competitive NEAFL seasons on record, Southport won the minor premiership by percentage only, finishing on top ahead of three other teams in equal first place. But the finals is when the Sharks truly proved champions, beating Aspley and then Sydney in two dominant games to claim the flag. Three players – Michael Manteit, Tom Wilkinson and Josh Clayton – made the NEAFL Team of the Year, whilst defender Ryan Davis won the Andrew Ireland Medal for best-on-ground in the NEAFL Grand Final.

WHATS’S NEW IN 2019?

Southport, importantly, has kept the spine of their premiership winning list intact despite some big name departures, with Clayton and Wilkinson – Wilkinson departing after being drafted by North Melbourne following his stellar 2018 campaign and Clayton moving back to Victoria – the big outs. Southport, however, has recruited well, securing the talents of former AFL players Matt Shaw (Carlton), Mackenzie Willis (Gold Coast) and Josh Williams (North Melbourne) as well as other state league recruits to strengthen what was already a quality list.

FIRST MONTH

Southport’s title defence will see them taking on both Queensland club-based sides straight out of the gates. The Sharks face off against Redland at Fankhauser Reserve in Round 1 before an early rematch of the 2018 Preliminary Final against Aspley at Graham Rd – a venue the cub hasn’t won at since 2012 – in Round 2.

The Sharks will then travel to Canberra in Round 3 to face the Demons on Good Friday before a bye in Round 4 rounding out their first month.

2019 WILL BE A HIT IF…

Their attack hits their straps again in 2019. Southport dominated the 2018 campaign and it showed in their statistics, kicking 35 more goals than the nearest team in the competition in Brisbane.  As well as their goal kicking exploits, Southport also dominated the disposals stat in 2018. Despite losing Wilkinson and Clayton, in Willis and Shaw, the Sharks have certainly replaced the departing duo well and will certainly be hard to beat this season.

2019 WILL BE A MISS IF…

They become complacent. Only one club has ever won back-to-back flags in the NEAFL, when Brisbane triumphed in 2012 and 2013 in the old two-conference system. The competition is notoriously unpredictable and getting tougher each year, and you can argue the mountain will be tougher to climb this time around the for the Sharks. Stephen Daniel’s side started hot from Round 1 last year and didn’t look back from there, so it is integral they have a solid start to the season and build their title defence from the first bounce.

STAR POWER

Southport’s 2018 campaign was highlighted by their recruitment efforts, picking up former AFL talents in Ryan Davis, Michael Manteit and Josh Clayton. Southport have again gone with the same plan of attack securing the signatures of former AFL players Matt Shaw, Mackenzie Willis and Josh Williams for the 2019 season. Shaw and Williams will add speed and agility to what was already a great contested ball winning team. While Willis, coming back from an ACL injury sustained in 2018 will add another key cog to the defensive unit alongside leaders Ryan Davis, Seb Tape and Andrew Boston.

ROOKIE WATCH

Southport continued its recruitment drive right through to its rookies in the off-season, securing former Gold Coast SUNS academy players Kwaby Boakye, Emmanuel Baru and Timakoi Bowie. In the trio, Stephen Daniel has young, readymade NEAFL talent at his disposal with all three coming off a season playing for the SUNS NEAFL outfit. If they don’t find themselves in the best 22 come Round 1, look for the three to feature somewhere throughout the year in some capacity.

TO KICK THINGS OFF. 

Round 1 – April 6

Southport v Redland at Fankhauser Reserve, 1.30pm