No signs of premiership hangover as Southport downs Redland

The Southport Sharks have picked up where they left off in Round 1 with a 62-point victory over the visiting Redland Bombers at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

Key forward Mitch Johnson slotted five goals, while new recruits Jamieson Shea (three) and Matt Shaw (26 disposals) gave Sharks fans plenty to be optimistic about for 2019.

Amidst an all-round impressive team performance, coach Stephen Daniel was especially pleased with his players competing with little preparation.

“Matt Shaw, Mackenzie Willis and Jordy Taylor, they hadn’t played any practice matches so to roll them out in Round 1 was really good,” he told neafl.com.au.

“Round 1 is already hard, and we were really concerned because we’d only really had two practice matches and they were against Redland and Aspley, while a lot of other teams had three or four, so we were a little worried we might be a little underdone, but we seem to be running over teams at the moment.”

The Sharks’ determination for improvement is personified through Daniel, who, despite the 21-point buffer his side had at the main break, still pushed his players for more.

“There were a couple of boys at half-time that I would challenge them, in a good way,” he said.

“There were probably four or five that really hadn’t had an impact, and we were up by three or four goals up at half-time and we felt we should’ve been up by more. We wanted to have a lift in the second half and we did so we’re happy with that.”

2018 NEAFL Leading Goalkicker Matt Hammelmann reinforced to the competition his talent with 10 marks and four goals in a match the Bombers will take plenty from.

Adrian Williams, likewise, was a shining light for the visitors with six rebound 50s and 25 disposals and Mitch Stallard was particularly impressive in defence with seven rebound 50s.

It was the Bombers’ use by foot that brought them down and overall skill errors which coughed up possession into Southport’s hands.

The reigning premiers delighted supporters with the unfurling of the premiership flag pre-match, then put on a show with dash off half-back from the likes of Brodie Murdoch and Tyler Roos, and effective transitions inside the forward half.

Redland will hope to rebound in Round 2 as they take on the Canberra Demons at home next Saturday, while Southport will take on Aspley at Voxson Oval.

 Southport Sharks v Redland Bombers at Fankhauser Reserve

SOUTHPORT 4.3 7.7 12.11 16.14 (110)

REDLAND 1.3 4.4 66 7.6 (48)

GOALS – Southport: M Johnson 5 J Shea 3 T Fields M Manteit B Murdoch C Ford R Clark J Turner R Clements A Boston. Redland: M Hammelmann 3 H Bertoli-Simmonds 2 S Cunnington J Huddy.

BEST – Southport: A Boston M Shaw M Johnson B Murdoch T Roos J Shea. Redland: M Stallard M Hammelmann C Malone J Rolls.