Southport Sharks celebrate 10th anniversary of QAFL premiership as club edges towards another flag

MEMBERS of Southport’s 2008 QAFL-winning premiership team have watched the Sharks take another step towards another flag a decade later.

MEMBERS of Southport’s 2008 QAFL-winning premiership team have watched the Sharks take another step towards another flag a decade later.

Hours before the 2008 team celebrated the 10-year reunion of their success at Fankhauser Rese

rve, Southport’s current crop of players put together one of the most dominant displays of the 2018 NEAFL season.

Southport conceded the first three goals of the Round 18 game but went on to thump the Canberra Demons 26.14 (170) to 10.7 (67) to take back top spot on the ladder from the ACT-based team on percentage.

CLUB WILL MOVE ON FROM LYNCH: SEXTON

DEW CONFIDENT PLAYERS WILL STAY

The Sharks came into the game under pressure after two straight losses while Canberra travelled north on the back of eight consecutive wins.

Southport coach Stephen Daniel conceded his side was weary but believed last week’s bye but praised the group for finding form they needed.

“The pressure is on when you come in with a chance of losing three in a row,” Daniel said.

“We spoke about it. We felt we needed a break as a group, we were really tired and it showed today after the break.

Kai Sheers (left) and Tom Wilkinson celebrates during Southport Sharks win over Canberra Demons at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday, August 4, 2018. Picture credit: TJ Yelds, NEAFL.

“To come out and beat the top team by 100 points is pretty exciting.

“We are really happy about it and it’s good to be back winning.

“At the end of the day you just want to finish as high on the ladder as you can and at the moment we are equal top and that’s where you want to be come the end. Making the top four is really important.”

Southport lost Jordan Taylor with a hip flexor injury before halftime before Dylan Mutu hurt his hamstring.

Mitch Johnson celebrates after kicking one of his five goals against Canberra Demons at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday, August 4, 2018. Picture credit: TJ Yelds, NEAFL.

“We were down to three rotations but it’s quite funny because we seem to play better with limited numbers,” Daniel said.

Southport led by 21 points at halftime but blew the game open after the main break to finish with 40 scoring shots.

The Sharks will play Aspley in Brisbane this weekend before finishing the regular season with games against the Northern Territory Thunder and Redland.

GET A NEW SET OF HEADPHONES WITH YOUR DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION