Gold Coast Bulletin reveals the Southport Sharks greatest NEAFL team

Ex-AFL stars, club legends and Hall of Famers of the future, this is the Southport Sharks greatest ever NEAFL team.

EX-AFL stars, club legends and Hall of Famers of the future, this is the Southport Sharks greatest ever NEAFL team.

Southport celebrated 30 years at Fankhauser Reserve last Saturday and a bevy of ‘greatest team’s including the first 25 years and another on the best AFL players to come out of the club have previously been done by the club.

The Bulletin thought it was time to round up the greatest Southport players to feature in the NEAFL, created in 2011, and collaborated with long-time Sharks president Dr Alan Mackenzie to come up with this list of influential figures.

SOUTHPORT SHARKS GREATEST NEAFL TEAM

B: Brodie Murdoch, Rhys Clark, Jordan Taylor

HB: Wayde Mills, Seb Tape (c), Ryan Davis

C: Josh Clayton, Andrew Boston (c), Tyler Roos

HF: Josh Hunt, Josh Baxter, Michael Manteit

F: Josh Hall, Jack Anthony, Tom Wilkinson

FOL: Jed Turner, Danny Wise, Jordan Keras

Extended interchange: Fraser Thurlow, Jason Burge, Ben Headland, Glenn Screech, Ethan Reeves, Haydn Kiel, Ben Merrett

Coach: Stephen Daniel

NOTE: First year players of 2019 not considered.

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BACKLINE:

Brodie Murdoch: A former St Kilda defender who arrived at Southport in 2018 and helped take them to the NEAFL premiership.

Originally from SANFL club Glenelg, Murdoch was selected at pick 40 in the 2012 national draft. He played 22 games and kicked nine goals during his four seasons at the Saints.

In 2017, Murdoch played at VFL club Port Melbourne where he was part of a historic grand final win over Richmond.

Round 11 NEAFL game between the Southport Sharks and Gold Coast Suns at Fankhauser Reserve. Photo of Brodie Murdoch (Sharks) and Ashton Crossley. Photo by Richard Gosling

Rhys Clark: A medium-sized defender who hails from Kyabram, country Victoria. He spent a year in the VFL with Bendigo then four at Kyabram in the Goulburn Valley Football League. He was a key player in two undefeated premiership seasons with Kaybram and joined the Sharks in 2018.

Southport Sharks NEAFL player Rhys Clark. Picture credit: TJ Yelds, NEAFL.

Jordan Taylor: One of the hardest men on Southport’s list and always at the centre of big collisions. Taylor, who previously played for South Australia, is part of the Sharks leadership group and another premiership player for them.

Southport Sharks player Jordan Taylor in action against Sydney University in Round 16 of the NEAFL at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday, July 21. Picture credit: TJ Yelds, NEAFL.

Wayde Mills: A Coolangatta junior who arrived at Southport in 2005 before being drafted by Brisbane at the end of that year. Played 16 games AFL games before being delisted and then 43 for Glenelg in the SANFL where he made the Team of the Year.

Southport's Wayde Mills in action at the NEAFL match between Southport and Redland (red tops) on Saturday. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

Played 101 games for the Sharks as a versatile key position player, predominantly in defence. A Doc Mackenzie Medalist in 2012 and 2014. Mills was a QAFL and NEAFL representative player who won the 2017 Grogan Medallist in the QAFL with Jason Burge.

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Seb Tape: A member of the inaugural Suns squad, Tape featured in Gold Coast’s first AFL game against Carlton in Round 2 of the 2011 season. The brave defender played 40 AFL games for the Suns before being delisted at the end of 2016. He has since gone on to co-captain the Sharks alongside Andrew Boston, winning a NEAFL premiership with them last year.

Southport Sharks new Players, Seb Tape. Picture Mike Batterham

Ryan Davis: A general in Southport’s backline who also spent time with West Coast and Gold Coast AFL clubs. Davis played 14 games with the Eagles between 2008 and 2009 and then got a second chance when his form in the WAFL led to him joining the Suns where he played 21 games between 2016 and 2017. A smart ball user and hard defender.

Grand final of the NEAFL between the Southport Sharks and the Sydney Swans at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport, on Sunday. Southport Sharks player Ryan Davis. Picture: Jerad Williams

MIDFIELD:

Josh Clayton: His 20 games at the Sharks in 2018 were enough to help take the club to a premiership. Clayton played two games for the Brisbane Lions between 2015 and 2017 before joining former Sandringham Dragons teammates Tom Wilkinson, Michael Manteit and Tyler Roos at Southport.

Southport Sharks will play in the preliminary final of the NEAFL this Saturday as Gold Coast's biggest non-AFL club tries to win their first premiership in a decade. Player Josh Clayton. Picture: Jerad Williams

Andrew Boston: A Southport junior who president Alan Mackenzie has touted as a future club Hall of Famer. A strong midfielder with elite kicking, Boston played 16 games for the

Grand final of the NEAFL between the Southport Sharks and the Sydney Swans at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport, on Sunday. Southport Sharks player Andrew Boston. Picture: Jerad Williams

Gold Coast Suns between 2013 and 2015 before deciding to move away from professional footy in favour of rejoining Southport. Often tagged but rarely has his colours lowered.

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Tyler Roos: One of the key recruits that delivered a flag in 2018, Roos has gone to another level in 2019. Roos played as a rebounding halfback last season but has moved into the midfield this year, adding a new dimension to Southport’s game.

Grand final of the NEAFL between the Southport Sharks and the Sydney Swans at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport, on Sunday. Southport Sharks player Tyler Roos. Picture: Jerad Williams

FORWARDS:

Josh Hunt: A dual AFL premiership player who was also named Southport’s best and fairest in 2015. Hunt played 198 games for Geelong and 14 for GWS before retiring in 2014. A 186cm forward who knew how to find the goal.

Southport v Brisbane Lions (NEAFL) match played at PBC. Southport Player No 8 Josh Hunt Brisbane Player No Picture Mike Batterham

Josh Baxter: An ex-Victorian key forward known for his reliability and hard work. Baxter played 104 games during two stints for Southport between 2011 and 2018, winning the premiership last year. Baxter has also played in NEAFL and QAFL representative teams and became the first player from the 2018 Sharks premiership group to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Southport Sharks forward Josh Baxter will play his 100th senior game for the club this weekend. Picture credit: TJ Yelds, NEAFL.

Michael Manteit: Southport’s 2018 the Doc Mackenzie Medallist — the club’s best and fairest title — and winner of the Wally Fankhauser Memorial Trophy. Manteit joined the Sharks after two seasons with NEAFL rivals Sydney University. He also had a rookie-listed season with AFL club Collingwood and did two seasons in the Darwin summer competition with St Marys.

Southport Sharks player Michael Manteit celebrates kicking a goal against Redland in Round 1 of the 2019 NEAFL season at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday, April 6. Picture credit: TJ Yelds, NEAFL.

Josh Hall: One of the most versatile athletes on Southport’s list. The accomplished high jumper won bronze at the 2007 World Youth Athletics Championships before going on to play seven AFL games for the Gold Coast Suns over three seasons. He then signed for NRL club Penrith Panthers and spent a year there before eventually ending up back in Australian rules with Southport.

Former Gold Coast Suns AFL player Josh Hall has signed with NEAFL side Southport Sharks. Picture: Jerad Williams

Jack Anthony: A former Collingwood and Fremantle AFL player who played 51 games at the top level between 2009 and 2012. Anthony joined Southport in 2015 before going on to play for Palm Beach Currumbin in 2018.

Former AFL player Jack Anthony is a new signing to the Southport Sharks AFL team for this year Pic by David Clark

Tom Wilkinson: A Sandringham Dragons product known for his hard running and forward pressure. Wilkinson was among Southport’s best in his first and only season with the club in 2018 before being rookie-listed by North Melbourne.

Tom Wilkinson celebrating after kicking a goal in the Southport Sharks' win over Northern Territory Thunder. Picture credit: TJ Yelds, NEAFL.

FOLLOWERS:

Jed Turner: A 194cm mobile ruckman who played at rival NEAFL clubs Aspley and Sydney University before joining Southport in 2017. Has been one of the most influential players at the Sharks in 2019.

Southport Sharks ruckman Jed Turner. Picture: TJ Yelds/NEAFL.

Danny Wise: One of Gold Coast’s best home grown talents, Wise started at Southport and ended his career at the Burleigh Bombers. Wise played in a QAFL premiership as a 17-year-old in 1999 then headed to the SANFL for five years.

Panthers JW239376 Morningside Panthers V Southport AFL at Jack Esplen Oval. Danny Wise — Southport

Played in Southport’s 2006 and 2008 premiership teams, was the 2010 Grogan Medallist and Sharks best and fairest before going on to feature in a NEAFL Team of the Year. Overall, the Sharks Hall of Famer played over 180 games for Southport.

Jordan Keras: The 2017 NEAFL MVP was a star at Southport during his two seasons at the club before shifting back home to Geelong to play in the VFL. Keras was runner-up in Southport’s best and fairest voting in 2016 and won the title in 2017.

Jordan Keras (right) of Southport under pressure from Matthew Payne of Aspley during the NEAFL match played at the Fankhauser Reserve, Southport, Gold Coast. Photo: Regi Varghese

EXTENDED INTERCHANGE:

Fraser Thurlow: A monster ruckman who was at the heart of Southport’s run to the premiership last season. His form in 2018 led AFL premiership coach Paul Roos to label Thurlow an ideal recruit for Geelong. It didn’t eventuate, with Thurlow moving overseas to take on a new job in 2019.

Southport v Canberra NEAFL clash at Southport Sharks. Ruckman Fraser Thurlow (Southport) and Cameron Milne (canberra) battle for supremacy. Picture Glenn Hampson

Jason Burge: A prolific ball winner and Southport junior, Burge played 167 games for Southport between 2005 and 2016 and is a playing life member. Burge won premierships with the Sharks in 2006 and 2008 and was the Doc Mackenzie Medalist in 2012, 2013 and club captain. Burge is currently playing at Palm Beach and has had further premiership success and won a Grogan Medal with Wayde Mills.

Southport's Jason Burge in action in the NEAFL match between Southport and the Northern Territory Thunder on Saturday at Wally Fankhauser Reserve, Southport. Photo: Jerad Williams

Ben Headland: A former Sharks captain who played 132 games for the club. Headland won a premiership with the club in 2008 and went on to make the NEAFL representative team in 2015.

Southport Sharks leadership group for 2016 — Captain Ben Headland Photo: David Clark

Glenn Screech: A Southport junior known for his reliability. Screech started as a defender early in his career and became an effective small forward in later years. Screech played 192 games from 2005 to 2016, featuring in the 2006 and 2008 premierships.

Southport Sharks versus Zillmere at Southport. Southport No. 1 Glenn Screech.

Ethan Reeves: A former Gold Coast Suns academy member, Reeves was also a former utility for the Broadbeach Cats. The strong defender earnt a NEAFL Rising Star nomination in 2018.

Southport’s Ethan Reeves awarded Tribal Sport NEAFL Rising Star nomination in June 2018. Photo: TJ Yelds

Haydn Kiel: Has played over 100 games for Southport and won premierships with the team in 2006 and 2008 before spending time as a rookie at AFL clubs Brisbane and Hawthorn. A utility who won the 2013 Grogan Medal and battled through serious knee injuries after.

NEAFL, Southport Sharks v Redland Bombers match played at Southport. Sharks Player No 3 Haydn Kiel Bombers player No 3 Matthew Thomson

Ben Merrett: A Southport Sharks playing life member who played more than 185 games in the QAFL and NEAFL for the club. The talented forward has since joined the Bond University Bullsharks.

NEAFL Southport Sharks v Suns Reserves at H & A Oval, Surfers Paradise. Sharks Ben Merrett

COACH:

Stephen Daniel: A highly respected coach across all levels of the game in Australia. Daniel overhauled Southport’s culture, took them to their first senior premiership in a decade last year, helped the Sharks become a powerhouse again and re-establish their reputation as a destination club.

Southport Sharks coach Stephen Daniel. Photo by Richard Gosling

Daniel previously coached the Suns NEAFL team, coached Labrador to a QAFL premiership in 2015 and enjoyed a stint at Carlton where he coached the club’s VFL-affiliated Northern Bullants.

He has also held positions at Tatura, Seymour, as well as coaching Queensland’s state and country teams.

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