NEAFL ROUND 9

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Southport Sharks (3rd) v Gold Coast SUNS (8th) at Fankhauser Reserve, 12pm
*This match will be streamed live on NEAFL TV (youtube.com/northeastafl)
*Live Champion Data statistics available on the Official NEAFL App

SUMMARY

Southport have the opportunity to reclaim some damaged pride in Round 9 against a Gold Coast SUNS side who in 2018, have been plagued with inconsistencies. The Sharks shocked the competition last weekend with an uncharacteristic lacklustre performance against Sydney, kicking just 43 points in the game.

They have now won just two of their last four games, with their other defeat at the hands of table-toppers Sydney University, but have also produced 133 and 174 points in their two wins during that time.

With the two losses, Southport have dropped back to third place in the ladder and the need for another four-quarter effort; enough to quell any notions of inconsistency within the side, is a must this weekend against Gold Coast.

2018 has been a roller coaster for the SUNS who are still well in finals contention but haven’t given any true indication of being a genuine premiership contender. Nick Malceski’s men have averaged just 56.5 points a game this year and are yet to crack the triple figure mark.

Wins against Aspley and Sydney this year, along with another, more respectable victory over the GIANTS, have been the SUNS’ only wins on the year. If the Gold Coast see themselves as a genuine title contender, an win over Southport this weekend would imply just that.

RECENT ENCOUNTERS

Round 20, 2017: Southport 11.6 (72) def by. Gold Coast 13.7 (85) at Fankhauser Reserve
Round 14, 2017: Gold Coast 14.11 (95) def Southport 9.8 (62) at Metricon Stadium
Round 10. 2017: Gold Coast 23.18 (156) def Southport 6.3 (39) at Metricon Stadium

TALKING POINTS

  1. Saturday’s matchup between the two sides will be the first time former Gold Coast head coach, Stephen Daniel, will face his ex-side. Daniel made the switch from the SUNS to Southport in the off-season after a coaching shakeup at Metricon Stadium and has since steered the Sharks back up the ladder after a forgettable 2017 season.
  2. Gold Coast may sit eighth on the NEAFL ladder, but the side still have a genuine chance of playing finals again this year as one of five teams with three wins and four losses on the year. 
  3. Southport are still without club leading goal kicker Mitch Johnson with the crafty forward still serving a suspension for a dangerous tackle in the Sharks’ Round 6 victory over the Thunder. He leaves a hole in the team in more ways than one. Aside from his goal kicking pedigree, Johnson also ranks first at the club for disposals inside 50 and contested marks. They’ll need to find more avenues to goal to penetrate the SUNS defence.

 

TEAM

B:

51. Kwaby Boakye

43. Max Spencer

37. Josh Jaska

HB:

42. Connor Nutting

21. Jack Leslie

10. Kade Kolodjashnij

C:

49. Brodie Foster

20. Michael Barlow

36. Joshua Schoenfeld

HF:

27. Wil Powell

53. Caleb Graham

18. Bradley Scheer

F:

46. Fitzroy Greenwool

30. Peter Wright

23. Sean Lemmens

FOLL:

32. Brayden Crossley

25. Jarryd Lyons

2. Jack Scrimshaw

INT:

7. Jesse Lonergan

47. Cooper Portelli

50. Connor Budarick

45. Jacob Dawson

 

EMG:

Dirk Koenen

Lachlan McDonald

 

 

IN: 7. Jesse Lonergan 21. Jack Leslie 23. Sean Lemmens 30. Peter Wright 25. Jarryd Lyons 18. Bradley Scheer 53. Caleb Graham 50. Connor Budarick 32. Brayden Crossley 37. Joshua Jaska

OUT: 50. Timakoi Bowie (rested) 48. Joshua Gore (academy) 55. Jarrad Mills (academy) 56. Thomas Motlop (omitted) 54. Tui Lowah (academy) 59. Matthew Conroy (academy) 58. Harrison Arnold (academy) 52. Damien Burke (academy) 46. Dean Katsiris (academy) 57. Eddie Sansbury (omitted)