Southport Sharks recruit Jonathon Beech opens up on move from SANFL to NEAFL

Jonathon Beech has played in the AFL and won a SANFL premiership but he has come to the Gold Coast with one more major milestone he wants to achieve.

JONATHON Beech has played in the AFL and won a SANFL premiership but he has come to the Gold Coast with one more major milestone he wants to achieve.

Beech has signed with the Southport Sharks NEAFL side for the 2020 season after deciding to make the move from South Australia to Queensland.

“I’d love to win another premiership or a couple at state level,” Beech said of his ambitions.

“I have two or three years left in me to play state footy and I want to enjoy footy as well because I have been doing it for a long time now.

THURLOW RETURNS TO SHARKS

“It will be good to have a change of scenery and live on the Gold Coast as well.”

The 187cm forward, who can also play in the midfield, spent two years on the Adelaide Crows AFL list as a rookie between 2016 and 2017, playing three games in his second season before being delisted.

Beech was famously overlooked eight times at the AFL national draft before finally being given a chance by the Crows after playing 129 SANFL games and kicking 148 goals.

SANFL: South Adelaide v West Adelaide at Noarlunga Oval. West's Jono Beech gathers the ball. Picture: Tom Huntley

The 29-year-old helped guide West Adelaide to the SANFL premiership in 2015, kicking 35 goals throughout the season.

Beech will provide another marking option for Southport’s forward line alongside Josh Hall who has largely been the Sharks only tall in a forward line stacked with small or medium sized players with speed.

Beech has brothers and cousins already living on the Gold Coast and was eager for a sea change.

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“I just thought it’s a good stage of my career to try something different,” Beech said.

“It’s a nice change to get out of Adelaide for a year.

“I knew we were going to be living in Broadbeach and I was thinking whether to play QAFL or NEAFL.

“With the Sharks around the corner I got in touch with them and we went from there.

“I watched the (NEAFL) grand final this year. It’s good I’m going to a club with a lot of history and they have been going well so hopefully I can help them improve as well.”

Beech is still living in Adelaide and will aim to fly up to meet the team and spent some time with his new teammates before making the move permanently after Christmas.

Beech won the Roger Luders Trophy in 2019 for West Adelaide’s leading goalkicker and won the SANFL Mark of the Year in 2018.