Episode two of the Bulletin’s Australian rules podcast. The NEAFL’s potential demise and where it leaves Southport Sharks

With the touted arrival of a second-tier AFL competition threatening the NEAFL’s existence, Sharks premiership coach Stephen Daniel details what it means for the club and where it will play in the future. Welcome to episode two of the Bulletin’s Australian rules podcast.

SOUTHPORT premiership coach Stephen Daniel says the club would embrace the challenge of joining a new second-tier league if the predicted demise of the NEAFL comes to fruition.

The AFL is working on a potential new competition for 2021 or 2022 that would pit all AFL reserves teams in one competition or in a two-conference league that includes Southport and teams from NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.

Given four AFL clubs currently feature in the NEAFL including Brisbane, Sydney, Gold Coast and GWS, it would leave the league with just six teams, threatening its future.

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In the second episode of the Bulletin’s Australian rules podcast, Daniel backed the AFL’s proposed reserves competition and believed the club would push for the shift into a new second-tier competition against VFL clubs, Tasmania and NSW.

“It would be great for Southport, without a doubt,” Daniel said.

“We are quite happy in the NEAFL at the moment but if something was to unfortunately happen to it, I could not see Southport Football Club, with the way it’s run and the professionalism of the place, going back to QAFL level.

“I think Southport would be now striving to play the highest level of football outside the AFL that they could.

Grand final of the NEAFL between the Southport Sharks and the Sydney Swans at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport, on Sunday. Southport Sharks coach Stephen Daniel celebrates with captains, Andrew Boston and Seb (Sebastian) Tape Picture: Jerad Williams

“If we were offered to go to a new competition with the likes of Port Melbourne, Williamstown and maybe Tasmania, and the NT and whoever else, I’m pretty sure Southport would embrace that and look at doing it.

“I think they will have AFL teams in one and then have another strong competition of a number of Victoria clubs.

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“I’m sure they would have another competition and I’m pretty sure they would fill it up quickly.

“There would be a lot of teams who would want to participate.”

Southport Sharks coach Stephen Daniel. Photo by Richard Gosling

Daniel said it would have positive effects on recruiting for the club, opening the door for talented Queensland players to remain at home while playing in a high quality competition instead of joining a VFL team, helping to grow the game further in the sunshine state.

Listen to the full podcast above.

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