Surfs up for Beech as Southport signs former Adelaide Crow for 2020

Southport has signed former Adelaide Crow and SANFL premiership forward Jonathan Beech.

The forward and midfielder starred for West Adelaide for a number of years before becoming a mature-age draftee at the Crows, where he played three AFL games in two seasons.

A change of scenery and plans to travel in 2020 was the luring factor for Beech, who also has two brothers living on the Gold Coast.

The 29-year-old said he is excited to begin a new chapter with the Sharks.

“I was ready for a change,” he told neafl.com.au. “I had been in Adelaide since 2008 when I came up from the Riverland, and I was ready to get out of Adelaide and live up in Queensland.

“I still want to play at a decent level, so I got in contact with Southport and they were keen to have me on board.

“I can’t wait to move up there before Christmas and meet all the players.”

Beech debuted for the Bloods in 2008 and played 129 SANFL games and kicked 148 goals before finally getting his shot at the elite level when Adelaide produced one of the feel-good stories of the 2016 NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

A member of West Adelaide’s drought-breaking 2015 flag, Beech will be a big addition to Southport’s forward line but his ability to play through the midfield will give the side added flexibility.

Whilst a more relaxing lifestyle is Beech’s main priority, he said he’s looking forward to playing a different style of football in the northern states.

“The timing seemed right to move and do a bit of travel with my partner Teegan,” he said.

“But in terms of footy I still have a lot of passion to play and I am looking forward to playing with the boys at Southport.

“In Adelaide we have a lot of wet-weather footy so I am looking forward to getting up to Queensland. Hopefully I adapt to the warmer weather pretty quickly.”

Beech won the Roger Luders Trophy in 2019 for West Adelaide’s leading goalkicker and won the SANFL Mark of the Year in 2018.

Southport has also confirmed star ruckman Fraser Thurlow will re-join the club next year after spending time overseas.

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