Southport Sharks has been a proud supporter of AFL for over 50 years and is the Patron Partner of the Gold Coast Suns.  In 2017, Sharks in conjunction with the Gold Coast Suns, launched a work placement program exclusively for AFL players. Visiting the Southport Sharks offices once a week for ten weeks, the selected player will learn the ins and outs of the multiple aspects of the club’s operation, interacting with the senior management team, as well as various outlet team members and guests.

Outcomes for the AFL player

• The AFL player learns the business of Southport Sharks and have an understanding of different functions of departments and gain a greater understanding of a future pathway to pursue.
• Understanding of effective methods of communication, transferable to any industry or role
• Present findings to the Southport Sharks management team, of an area of interest the player focused on researching while undertaking the internship.

Sharks AFL Internship Profile – Keegan Brooksby

Gold Coast Suns‘ player, Keegan Brooksby was awarded the first placement with Southport Sharks. A mature-age ruckman, Keegan was recruited to play primarily in the NEAFL, but snagged eight AFL games in his second season, playing a variety of roles. He spent extra time developing as a key defender, which was crucial during the middle of the season. His willingness to learn and improving versatility, made Keegan a prime candidate for the Sharks 2017 internship.

“I was excited to be exposed to a business setting where I could gain an understanding of how a large business operates, especially a club like the Southport Sharks. With the diverse range of members and people working at the Sharks, I have gained an understanding of best practice for communication strategies (both internally and externally) and how they communicate messages to members, ensuring they are informed of what’s happening in the club” – Keegan Brooksby, Gold Coast Suns.

At the conclusion of the ten week program on June 14, Keegan presented his findings to the Sharks management team, offering a unique perspective of the club from the Suns defender.  Keegan pictured with Southport Sharks HR Manager, Ann-Maree ONeill.