Five Southport Sharks players who put NEAFL rivals on notice with pre-season performances
Southport’s 23-point pre-season win over Redland was built on the back of performances from new recruits, returning guns and established faces. Here are five players who have put the NEAFL competition on notice in 2020.
Southport started 2020 with a 23-point pre-season win over Redland at the weekend and it was a mix of new recruits, returning guns and established faces who stood out.
As the club prepares for another hitout against QAFL club Broadbeach this weekend, with the venue yet to be decided, we take a look at the five players who thrived against the Bombers.
CONNOR NUTTING:
The former Gold Coast Suns AFL-listed player arrived at Southport at the end of last year and has wasted no time in making an impact.
The crafty forward provided another edge to an improved Sharks attack in a sign of things to come in 2020.
Nutting was selected by Gold Coast with pick 55 of the 2017 draft after shining in their academy system but was never able to break into the senior side.
JONATHAN BEECH:
The 187cm forward impressed from the outset on Saturday, partnering with the likes of Nutting to add another dimension to Southport’s forward line.
The man who spent two years on the Adelaide Crows list as a rookie between 2016 and 2017 and played 129 SANFL games could be in for a big year on the Gold Coast.
The 29-year-old won a premiership with West Adelaide in 2015 and was recruited as a NEAFL A-grader by the Sharks.
DANIEL CHARLESWORTH:
He missed a year-and-a-half of football but Charlesworth has celebrated his return to football in style.
Charlesworth was a beat down back against Redland, marking everything in the backline.
Charlesworth has been absent from footy since having a knee reconstruction and will be eager to make an impact for the Sharks again.
FRASER THURLOW:
The 199cm ruckman didn’t miss a beat in his own return to footy after spending 2019 working overseas.
Thurlow will only get better with more game time as he gets his touch back and the man who helped drive the club to a NEAFL premiership in 2018 could do it again.
MACKENZIE WILLIS:
The former Gold Coast Suns AFL player was tested in the midfield in the absence of Andrew Boston, Matt Shaw and Ryan Davis and it was nothing but a success.
Willis spent the majority of 2019 playing in the backline but after stepping up against Redland the coaching staff are open to giving him another go in the middle at some stage.
