One of the players from the Gold Coast Suns early years signs with NEAFL team Southport Sharks

The Southport Sharks have locked in an unlikely former Gold Coast AFL player for the 2020 NEAFL season.

THE Southport Sharks have locked in an unlikely former Gold Coast AFL player for the 2020 NEAFL season.

Southport have signed Leigh Osborne, a 29-year-old who spent two years as a rookie on the Suns list in 2013 and 2014.

Osborne played one AFL game during this time with the AFL franchise, a Round 22 loss to St Kilda at the now named Marvel Stadium.

Leigh Osborne in action during the NEAFL game between the Gold Coast Suns and Sydney Swans Game at Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast. Pics Adam Head

The midfielder, who declined to speak to the Bulletin as he focuses on getting prepared to settle in Queensland again in the new year, has spent recent seasons playing for East Ringwood in the Eastern Football League (2018) and a Victorian second-tier competition in 2019.

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It’s understood the qualified electrician was eager for a change of scenery and wanted to test himself in the NEAFL with Southport after missing most of the 2019 season with a broken foot.