Josh Baxter to play 100th NEAFL game for Southport Sharks agaisnt Aspley
JOSH Baxter returned to the Southport Sharks last season with an ambition to reach 100 senior games and the prolific goal kicker will reach his goal when he runs out to play Aspley on Saturday.
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JOSH Baxter returned to the Southport Sharks last season with an ambition to reach 100 senior games.
The second-most prolific goal kicker in NEAFL history will reach that goal on Saturday when Southport plays Aspley in Brisbane in Round 19 of the competition.
“I’m very excited, it’s a massive achievement,” Baxter said.
“I have never played 100 games for any other club and it’s a box ticked. It’s a big milestone, especially with Southport who have looked after me very well since I arrived wanting to have another crack at footy.
“They have such a rich history and it’s such a great club. To reach 100 with them is pretty special.”
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Baxter has kicked 226 goals at Southport, the second most in the NEAFL behind Northern Territory’s Darren Ewing who holds the record with 611.
The centre-half forward conceded he thought the milestone may be out of reach at the start of the season.
Baxter wasn’t selected until Round 5 but has been a constant for the Sharks, who sit on top of the ladder, ever since.
The 31-year-old grew up in Terang, located in Victoria’s western districts, and spent his junior career playing for the local club before joining the Geelong Falcons.
Baxter spent a year on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder but returned to Terang once he recovered and won the Hampden Football League premiership in 2008 before later joining Southport in 2011.
Baxter moved to Labrador in 2015 and won back-to-back QAFL premierships with the club, the first with now Sharks coach Stephen Daniel, before deciding to have another crack at the NEAFL.
“Work was getting pretty full on and my groins were starting to get tired and sore,” Baxter said of his move away from the Sharks.
“Everything was telling me to take a step back. There was a great opportunity at Labrador who had lost the grand final a year before and I was able to manage my training there.
“NEAFL is a pretty big commitment these days but my body is feeling good again so I thought I’d give it a go.
“The game has definitely changed from when I started. There is a lot more running, which is hard on the old body but it is holding in there and going pretty good at the moment.”
Baxter hasn’t ruled out playing on in 2019 and believes the club has what it takes to win this season’s NEAFL premiership.
“We will give it a nudge,” Baxter said.
“We have just got to keep doing all the right things and who knows where we can get to.
“We know we have the boys to mix it with the best of them.”
Daniel said Baxter was a consummate professional who had got the best out of himself and drove the club’s high standards.
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JOSH BAXTER LISTS THE TOP SIX PLAYERS HE HAS PLAYED ALONGSIDE AT SOUTHPORT
DANNY WISE: He was my first captain at the Sharks and was one of the best captains I ever had. The way he spoke and the respect he had from the players was amazing. He was an onballer at the start then moved to the halfback-flank.
KURT NICKLAUS: He was one of the best fullbacks I’ve ever seen. He was big, strong fast and hurt people.
ANDREW BOSTON/SEB TAPE: Both of the current co-captains lead by example. Tape is hard and “Boso” leads really well, has great foot skills and uses the ball well.
RYAN DAVIS: I haven’t played with him long but he is a very smart footballer.
JOSH CLAYTON: He has had an outstanding year and is an absolute ball magnet in the midfield.
MATTHEW PAYNE: He now plays at Aspley but he was probably the stiffest bloke ever not to be drafted. He is a gun ball magnet in the midfield.
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