Southport Sharks to use practice games to determine who gets final NEAFL list spots

It’s crunch time for Southport Sharks trialists with around 15 players fighting for half that amount of list spots for the 2020 NEAFL season.

IT’S crunch time for Southport Sharks trialists with around 15 players fighting for half that amount of list spots for the 2020 NEAFL season.

The next month will prove decisive for the Sharks hopefuls who will get one crack at convincing Southport hierarchy they deserve a spot on the list.

Southport will play one practice game, against Redland on March 7, before the list lodgement deadline on March 16.

Sharks football manager Jarrod Field said the club was done searching for more recruits and was now going through the process of deciding what up and coming young players will get a chance to play in the second-tier competition.

Andrew Boston during the Southport Sharks Round 21 NEAFL win over Sydney University at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday, August 24, 2019. Picture credit: TJ Yelds/NEAFL.

“We have probably 15 guys fighting for the last seven or eight spots,” Field said.

“There is still some competition around which is keeping everyone on their toes.

“We are just waiting for the practice matches now to have a look at them in game situations. “That game (against Redland) will be pretty critical to who gets on. There are a lot of local kids trying to step up to the level.”

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Southport have managed to maintain a good level of health throughout the squad during the summer, with former North Melbourne AFL player Josh Williams the most notable player working his way back from injury.

Williams is coming off a shoulder reconstruction at the end of last year and is not a certain starter for the club’s Round 1 game against Redland on April 4.

“He is the main one who might be battling for Round 1,” Field said.

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“Other than that we are in reasonable shape. Everyone else should be on track.

“Josh is doing all the running program but he is just a bit behind on contact work.”

Williams played two AFL games for North Melbourne during his two years at the club between 2017 and 2018 before the former Suns academy member returned to the Gold Coast to link up with Southport.