We name our Southport Sharks Team of the Century so far
As we hit the quarter-point in the century, we revealed our dream Southport Sharks Team of the Century so far. From AFL legends, to local heroes and more, see who made the team here.
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Former AFL stars, Nick Riewoldt, Dayne Beams and Sam Gilbert have all been honoured in the Gold Coast Bulletin’s Southport Sharks Team of the Century so far.
The team features 24 of the club’s greatest players to have donned the black and white between 2000 and 2024 with this year marking the quarter point in the century.
Since the turn of the century, the senior men’s Southport team has competed in the QAFL, NEAFL and now is thriving as the only stand-alone interstate club in the VFL.
Throughout that time, the club has picked up five senior men’s premierships.
From AFL superstars, to local legends and cult heroes, see who has made the ultimate Sharks dream team.
Defenders
Back pocket: Seb Tape
Tape was a fearless defender who played 86 games for the club and was a member of the inaugural Gold Coast Suns AFL side.
He featured for the Suns 40 times between 2011 and 2016 before joining the Sharks where he starred in the NEAFL.
Tape was a NEAFL rep player and a premiership co-captain in 2018 when Southport defeated the Sydney Swans by 55 points at Fankhauser Reserve.
Fullback: Kurt Niklaus
Niklaus was an elite defender who handled every type of full forward.
He was a premiership player with the club in 2008 and played 114 games for the Sharks.
Back pocket: Ryan Davis
Davis joined the club after 35 AFL games with West Coast and Gold Coast.
He played 44 games for Southport and made an immediate impact with his elite kicking ability and role as a defensive general organising the troops at the back.
His time with the club was highlighted by a best on ground performance in the 2018 NEAFL grand final.
Half-back flank: Danny Wise
A superstar midfielder and defender who boasted an incredible resume from his time at Fankhauser Reserve.
Wise took home the Grogan Medal for QAFL best and fairest in 2010 and was also a Doc Mackenzie Medal winner for Southport’s best and fairest.
Along with his two best and fairest medals, Wise was a three-time premiership player, a club and state captain and was the first QAFL player to earn a spot in the Queensland Team of the Year in 2010 - with spots in the team generally taken by AFL players.
Centre half-back: Wayde Mills
A two-time Doc Mackenzie medallist, Mills was tough as nails in the backline.
He was a Southport premiership payer in 2005 and was later drafted by the Brisbane Lions with the 25th pick in the 2005 draft.
He played 16 games at AFL level before finishing his career with the Sharks.
Half-back flank: Sam Gilbert
Another Southport premiership star who was drafted in 2005.
Gilbert boasted a long and successful career with St. Kilda as he played more than 200 games including the 2009 and 2010 AFL grand finals.
Midfielders
Wing: Michael Manteit
A current member of the Sharks VFL squad, Manteit is an elite running wingman who captained the club in 2022 and 2023.
He was a former Collingwood rookie and was the Sharks’ best and fairest during their NEAFL premiership year.
Centre: Andrew Boston
A former junior who returned to the club after playing 16 AFL games with the Suns.
A highly-skilled midfielder, Boston was a dual Doc Mackenzie medallist, a NEAFL premiership co-captain and a two-time NEAFL Team of the Year member.
Wing: David James
A true club legend who played 211 games for Southport.
James was a three-time premiership player, two-time Doc Mackenzie Medal winner and ‘owned’ the far wing at Fankhauser Reserve.
Ruckman: Brayden Crossley
The cult hero and son of Hall of Famer Troy Crossley has been at the heart of the Sharks’ success in the VFL era.
Brayden Crossley arrived at Fankhauser Reserve after 10 games at AFL level with Gold Coast and is now widely regarded as the premier ruckman in the VFL.
He recently represented the VFL in the state clash at Gather Round against the SANFL and is one of the club’s co-captains.
Ruck-rover: Jacob Dawson
Arrived after playing nine AFL games with the Suns, the ball-winning midfielder has won three consecutive Doc Mackenzie Medals, the VFL coaches’ MVP in 2022 and is co-captain alongside Crossley.
Rover: Darren O’Brien
A two-time Southport premiership player who racked up 140 games for the club.
He was the premiership captain in 2008 and a two-time Doc Mackenzie medallist.
Forwards
Half-forward flank: Dane Carmody
A key part of the club’s dominant midfield, Carmody was a three-time premiership player and a state representative across his 129 games for the Sharks.
His time with the club was highlighted by his best on ground performance in the 2006 QAFL grand final.
Centre half-forward: Nick Riewoldt
The AFL legend spent one season with Southport in 2000 before he was taken by the Saints with the No.1 pick in the 2000 draft.
However, while he may have played just 20 games for the club, he left an everlasting impact on the club.
During the 2000 QAFL grand final against the Northern Eagles, future Brisbane Lions star Jamie Charman locked down Riewoldt on the wing in the first half and the Sharks trailed by 26 points at the main break.
However, after Riewoldt moved into the ruck, he changed the game and kicked two goals to help the Sharks complete a stunning turnaround and claim a 68-59 win.
His one half of magic in the ruck immediately added himself into Southport folklore.
From there, he never looked back as he went on to play 336 AFL games for St. Kilda, captained the club for 10 years, was named in five All-Australian teams, set the all-time VFL/AFL record for most marks in a career with 2944, won the 2004 Leigh Matthews Trophy for AFLPA MVP and kicked a stunning 718 career goals.
Half-forward flank: Josh Baxter
An impressive mid-sized forward who played more than 100 games for the club.
Baxter was a 2018 premiership player and kicked the second most goals in NEAFL history.
Forward pocket: Kurt Tippett
Another star key forward to be drafted from the Sharks.
Tippett featured for Southport in its 2006 premiership and went on to be drafted by the Adelaide Crows that year with the 32nd pick.
He played 178 AFL games with Adelaide and Sydney and kicked 325 goals.
Full-forward: Ben McEntee
A gun full forward who won three premierships and was a Doc Mackenzie medallist.
He was the league’s leading goalkicker on four occasions including two years where he surpassed 100 goals.
Forward pocket: Boyd Woodcock
A current member of the VFL squad, Woodcock arrived after 12 AFL games with Port Adelaide.
He was the 2024 Doc Mackenzie medallist, a gun ball winner and a VFL rep player.
Interchange
Jesse Joyce
An elite midfielder and defender at VFL level who joined the club after playing 64 games for the Suns in the AFL.
Mark Bradley
A dual premiership and Doc Mackenzie medallist, Bradley was a gun key defender and ruckman who played 48 games for the Sharks.
Clint Watts
A club legend who won six premierships with Southport during a 164-game tenure.
He was a one-time Doc Mackenzie Medal winner, a regular state rep and was a classy left-footed defender.
Dayne Beams
The former Brisbane Lions and Collingwood star was a part of the 2008 Southport premiership.
Throughout his 177 game AFL career, he boasted an impressive resume as he won the 2010 premiership, was an All-Australian representative in 2012, a three-time Marcus Ashcroft Medal winner for best on ground in Q-Clash, and a two-time club best and fairest - once with Collingwood in 2012 and once in 2015 with the Lions.
Paul Dimattina
A hard-nosed midfielder who signed for Southport after playing 131 AFL games for the Bulldogs.
He was best on ground in the 2005 QAFL grand final as he booted six majors in the Shark’s 61-point win over Morningside.
Brent Renouf
A two-time premiership player in 2005 and 2006, the talented ruckman turned heads during his 20-game spell with Southport and was taken by Hawthorn with the 24th pick of the 2006 draft.
Renouf went on to play 68 AFL games with the Hawks and Port Adelaide and was a premiership player with Hawthorn in 2008.
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