Southport Australian Rules Football Club
Encyclopedia
Southport Australian Football Club (nicknamed The Sharks) is a Gold Coast
based club competing in the NEAFL
Australian rules football
competition.
Southport is perhaps the most successful ever Queensland based Aussie Rules club with a total of 13 premierships in only 26 years and have made the finals each season.
The club is successful off the field as well, with a social club worth many millions of dollars.
The club has been involved in Australian Football League
licence bids since 1996. To date none of these bids have been granted, however the AFL began taking interest in 2006 with pushes to merge Southport with a Melbourne based AFL club.
It has produced quality players for the AFL the likes of Marcus Ashcroft
, Matthew Kennedy
, Steven Lawrence
, Andrew Raines
, Brad Moran
, Daniel Merrett
and Nick Riewoldt
, whilst it has attracted high profile AFL players at the end of their careers, including Gary Dempsey
, Warwick Capper
and Paul Dimattina
.
.
After a series of local premierships, the club sought inclusion in the Queensland Australian Football League. The club gained entry in 1983 and changed its name to the Sharks and its strip to a black V on a white background to avoid an identity conflict with the Sherwood Magpies, who later became the Western Magpies
. The decision as to which club would retain the "Magpies" moniker was made by the toss of a coin.
The club won a premiership in its inaugural QAFL year, and went on to win several more, giving it a commanding reputation in Queensland football. It became the club that Gold Coast people either loved or hated.
The Sharks were originally based at Owen Park, Southport, and moved to their current ground Fankhauser Reserve in 1989.
The club was granted a poker machine licence in 1992, which further consolidating a reputation of a financial powerhouse, having already built up a strong social club, reaching 20,000 members by 1995.
In 1996, the Sharks made their first bid to the AFL for inclusion in the national league, which was rejected by the AFL in favour of the Port Adelaide Football Club
's elevation from the SANFL. After which, the club continued to lobby for a licence.
The club currently has in excess of 40,000 social members.
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
based club competing in the NEAFL
North East Australian Football League
The North East Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in Australia...
Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
competition.
Southport is perhaps the most successful ever Queensland based Aussie Rules club with a total of 13 premierships in only 26 years and have made the finals each season.
The club is successful off the field as well, with a social club worth many millions of dollars.
The club has been involved in Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
licence bids since 1996. To date none of these bids have been granted, however the AFL began taking interest in 2006 with pushes to merge Southport with a Melbourne based AFL club.
It has produced quality players for the AFL the likes of Marcus Ashcroft
Marcus Ashcroft
Marcus Ashcroft is a former professional Australian rules footballer, who holds the records for the most games for the Brisbane Bears/Brisbane Lions. He is currently on the coaching panel of the Gold Coast Football Club.-Early life:Ashcroft was born on the Gold Coast to a family from Melbourne...
, Matthew Kennedy
Matthew Kennedy
Matthew Kennedy is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League . The son of St Kilda player Des Kennedy, he was recruited from Queensland team, Southport. Kennedy played during the 1990s for both the Brisbane Bears and the Brisbane Lions after the Bears merged...
, Steven Lawrence
Steven Lawrence
Steven James Lawrence is an Australian rules footballer. He is the son of former St Kilda star Barry Lawrence.-Brisbane career:...
, Andrew Raines
Andrew Raines
Andrew Raines is an Australian rules footballer, with the Brisbane Lions Football Club. He is the son of Geoff Raines, a premiership centreman who played for Richmond, Collingwood, Essendon and Brisbane....
, Brad Moran
Brad Moran (footballer)
Bradley "Brad" Moran is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.-Early life:...
, Daniel Merrett
Daniel Merrett
Daniel Merrett is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League and fullback for Brisbane Lions.Merrett was born in Adelaide, but moved to the Gold Coast with his family at a young age...
and Nick Riewoldt
Nick Riewoldt
Nick Riewoldt is an Australian rules footballer who is the current captain of the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League . He was the first draft selection in the 2000 AFL Draft.-Early life:...
, whilst it has attracted high profile AFL players at the end of their careers, including Gary Dempsey
Gary Dempsey
Gary Dempsey is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Footscray and North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League....
, Warwick Capper
Warwick Capper
Warwick Capper is a retired high profile professional Australian rules football full-forward who played with the Sydney Swans with a short stint at the Brisbane Bears in the VFL ....
and Paul Dimattina
Paul Dimattina
Paul Dimattina , the son of former Richmond rover Frank Dimattina, is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League....
.
History
The club was formed in 1961, when it competed in the Gold Coast Australian Football League. Originally, they were known as the "Magpies" and wore a black and white vertical striped jumper similar to the Collingwood Football ClubCollingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
After a series of local premierships, the club sought inclusion in the Queensland Australian Football League. The club gained entry in 1983 and changed its name to the Sharks and its strip to a black V on a white background to avoid an identity conflict with the Sherwood Magpies, who later became the Western Magpies
Western Magpies Australian Football Club
The Western Magpies Australian Football Club is the senior Australian rules football club of the western suburbs of Brisbane which competes in Division One of the AFLQ State League. The club is based at 41 Chelmer st, Chelmer, at the same grounds as the Sherwood Junior Australian Football Club and...
. The decision as to which club would retain the "Magpies" moniker was made by the toss of a coin.
The club won a premiership in its inaugural QAFL year, and went on to win several more, giving it a commanding reputation in Queensland football. It became the club that Gold Coast people either loved or hated.
The Sharks were originally based at Owen Park, Southport, and moved to their current ground Fankhauser Reserve in 1989.
The club was granted a poker machine licence in 1992, which further consolidating a reputation of a financial powerhouse, having already built up a strong social club, reaching 20,000 members by 1995.
In 1996, the Sharks made their first bid to the AFL for inclusion in the national league, which was rejected by the AFL in favour of the Port Adelaide Football Club
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
's elevation from the SANFL. After which, the club continued to lobby for a licence.
The club currently has in excess of 40,000 social members.
Premierships (21)
| No. | Year | Competition | Opponent | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1961 | Gold Coast AFL | Ipswich Ipswich Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell... |
9.12 (66) - 7.11 (53) | Labrador Sports Ground |
| 2 | 1962 | Gold Coast AFL | Currumbin Lions Palm Beach Currumbin Australian Football Club The Palm Beach Currumbin Australian Football Club is an Australian rules football club on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club emblem is the lion and the club plays in both Division One and Division Two of the AFL Queensland State League.-External links:*... |
9.18 (72) - 2.7 (19) | Labrador Sports Ground |
| 3 | 1966 | Gold Coast AFL | Surfers Paradise Demons Surfers Paradise Australian Football Club Surfers Paradise Australian Football Club is a Gold Coast based club competing in the AFL Queensland Australian rules football competition.-External links:*... |
14.24 (108) - 7.16 (58) | Salk Oval |
| 4 | 1975 | Gold Coast AFL | Coolangatta Blues Coolangatta Tweed Heads Australian Football Club Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Football Club is a Gold Coast based club competing in the AFL Queensland Australian rules football competition.-External links:*... |
26.16 (172) - 17.16 (118) | Salk Oval |
| 5 | 1976 | Gold Coast AFL | Broadbeach Cats | 14.11 (95) - 9.14 (68) | Salk Oval |
| 6 | 1977 | Gold Coast AFL | Coolangatta Blues Coolangatta Tweed Heads Australian Football Club Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Football Club is a Gold Coast based club competing in the AFL Queensland Australian rules football competition.-External links:*... |
22.18 (150) - 13.9 (87) | Salk Oval |
| 7 | 1979 | Gold Coast AFL | Coolangatta Blues Coolangatta Tweed Heads Australian Football Club Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Football Club is a Gold Coast based club competing in the AFL Queensland Australian rules football competition.-External links:*... |
17.16 (118) - 16.19 (115) | Salk Oval |
| 8 | 1980 | Gold Coast AFL | Palm Beach Currumbin Lions Palm Beach Currumbin Australian Football Club The Palm Beach Currumbin Australian Football Club is an Australian rules football club on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club emblem is the lion and the club plays in both Division One and Division Two of the AFL Queensland State League.-External links:*... |
17.18 (120) - 15.8 (98) | Salk Oval |
| 9 | 1983 | QAFL | Morningside Panthers Morningside Australian Football Club Morningside Australian Football Club, also known as Morningside AFC or the Panthers, is an Australian Rules football club based at Jack Esplen Oval in the suburb of Hawthorne in Brisbane... |
13.12 (90) - 12.5 (77) | Windsor Park Windsor Park Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:... |
| 10 | 1985 | QAFL | Mayne Tigers Mayne Australian Football Club Mayne Australia Football Club are an Australian rules football club based in the Brisbane suburb of Enoggera. Their club colours are black and yellow and they are nicknamed the Tigers.... |
11.8 (74) - 10.11 (71) | Windsor Park |
| 11 | 1987 | QAFL | Windsor-Zillmere Eagles Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club is an Australian rules football clubs which once competed in the AFL Queensland State League competition. The club is based in the suburb of Zillmere in the northern suburbs of Brisbane... |
13.17 (75) - 11.6 (72) | Windsor Park |
| 12 | 1989 | QAFL | Windsor-Zillmere Eagles Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club is an Australian rules football clubs which once competed in the AFL Queensland State League competition. The club is based in the suburb of Zillmere in the northern suburbs of Brisbane... |
16.17 (113) - 12.5 (77) | The Gabba Brisbane Cricket Ground The Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as The Gabba, is a major sports stadium in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. It is named after the suburb of Woolloongabba, in which it is located.... |
| 13 | 1990 | QAFL | Morningside Panthers Morningside Australian Football Club Morningside Australian Football Club, also known as Morningside AFC or the Panthers, is an Australian Rules football club based at Jack Esplen Oval in the suburb of Hawthorne in Brisbane... |
22.14 (146) - 12.15 (87) | The Gabba Brisbane Cricket Ground The Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as The Gabba, is a major sports stadium in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. It is named after the suburb of Woolloongabba, in which it is located.... |
| 14 | 1992 | QAFL | Morningside Panthers Morningside Australian Football Club Morningside Australian Football Club, also known as Morningside AFC or the Panthers, is an Australian Rules football club based at Jack Esplen Oval in the suburb of Hawthorne in Brisbane... |
14.19 (94) - 12.9 (80) | The Gabba Brisbane Cricket Ground The Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as The Gabba, is a major sports stadium in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. It is named after the suburb of Woolloongabba, in which it is located.... |
| 15 | 1997 | QAFL | Mount Gravatt Vultures | 26.13 (169) - 11.9 (75) | Windsor Park |
| 16 | 1998 | QAFL | Morningside Panthers Morningside Australian Football Club Morningside Australian Football Club, also known as Morningside AFC or the Panthers, is an Australian Rules football club based at Jack Esplen Oval in the suburb of Hawthorne in Brisbane... |
12.15 (87) - 11.10 (76) | Giffin Park |
| 17 | 1999 | QAFL | North Brisbane Eagles Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club is an Australian rules football clubs which once competed in the AFL Queensland State League competition. The club is based in the suburb of Zillmere in the northern suburbs of Brisbane... |
15.14 (104) - 9.7 (61) | Giffin Park |
| 18 | 2000 | QAFL | North Brisbane Eagles Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club is an Australian rules football clubs which once competed in the AFL Queensland State League competition. The club is based in the suburb of Zillmere in the northern suburbs of Brisbane... |
10.8 (68) - 8.11 (59) | Giffin Park |
| 19 | 2005 | QAFL | Morningside Panthers Morningside Australian Football Club Morningside Australian Football Club, also known as Morningside AFC or the Panthers, is an Australian Rules football club based at Jack Esplen Oval in the suburb of Hawthorne in Brisbane... |
16.15 (11) - 6.14 (50) | The Gabba Brisbane Cricket Ground The Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as The Gabba, is a major sports stadium in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. It is named after the suburb of Woolloongabba, in which it is located.... |
| 20 | 2006 | QAFL | Zillmere Eagles Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club is an Australian rules football clubs which once competed in the AFL Queensland State League competition. The club is based in the suburb of Zillmere in the northern suburbs of Brisbane... |
17.14 (116) - 16.8 (104) | Carrara Stadium Carrara Stadium Carrara Stadium is a sporting venue on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Carrara.... |
| 21 | 2008 | QAFL | Morningside Panthers Morningside Australian Football Club Morningside Australian Football Club, also known as Morningside AFC or the Panthers, is an Australian Rules football club based at Jack Esplen Oval in the suburb of Hawthorne in Brisbane... |
18.7 (115) - 15.17 (107) | Carrara Stadium Carrara Stadium Carrara Stadium is a sporting venue on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Carrara.... |
Grogan Medallists
- Peter Guy – 1983
- Zane TaylorZane Taylor (footballer)Zane Taylor is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the Victorian Football League during the early 1980s...
– 1985 - Jason Cotter – 1990/1993
- David CrutchfieldDavid CrutchfieldDavid Crutchfield is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League...
– 1992 - Chris O'SullivanChris O'Sullivan (footballer)Chris O'Sullivan is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Brisbane Bears in the Victorian/Australian Football League ....
– 1992 - David Bain – 1995/1999
- Jeff Brennan – 1997
- David RoundDavid RoundDavid Round is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League ....
– 2002 - Danny Wise - 2010
- Matthew Payne - 2011
QAFL Top Goalkickers
- R. McKay (85) – 1998
- R. McKay (66) – 1999
- R. McKay (79) – 2000
- B. McEntee (119) – 2004
- B. McEntee (84) – 2005
- B. McEntee (100) – 2007
- B. McEntee (66) – 2008