The second induction dinner for the Queensland Football Hall of Fame was held on Saturday Night at the Gabba.
At the event, former Southport coach Norm Dare and former Southport player Zane Taylor who were inducted into the Hall of Fame at the first dinner in 2008, were elevated to Legend status.
Norm coached the Sharks to the club’s first three QAFL premierships in 1983, 1985 and 1987. He went on to coach for the Brisbane Bears, North Melbourne and Geelong. In 2004, Norm returned to Southport and coached the club to a Premiership in 2005. He also coached the victorious Queensland State sides of 1983 and 1984 and the Queensland State of Origin side of 1991 to victory against the Victoria B state side. Unfortunately, Norm was unable to attend the event, but was honoured with the accolade.
Zane joined Southport as a 17-year-old and played 225 senior games for the club. He is a 10-time Premiership player with the Sharks, a four-time Best and Fairest and three-time Premiership captain. He won the 1985 Grogan Medal (QAFL league Best and Fairest) and the Joe Grant Medal in 1983 and 1990 (best on ground in the Grand Final). Taylor also played 27 AFL games with Geelong from 1980 to 1983.
Southport also had 10 people who have played, coached or been an administrator at the club inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The list included: David Bain, Mark Browning, Wally Fankhauser, David James, Gavan McGaune, Steve McCluckie, Dan Merrett, Darren O’Brien, Geoff Pemberton and Leigh Ryswick.
David Bain played 108 senior games, won two Grogan Medals (1995 and 1999), a Best and Fairest 1995) and captained the Sharks to four Premierships in a row (1997 to 2000).
Mark Browning coached the club in 1994 and 1995. In 1996 he started working for the AFL looking after the talent pathway in Queensland and he has continued this role for 27 years.
Wally Fankhauser is one of Southport’s “Game Changers”. Fankhauser became vice-president of Southport in 1974 and in 1988, donated 2.2 million dollars to the club. He was vice-president for 23 years before his unfortunate passing in 1995. His legacy lives on and Southport’s home ground is named in his honor. Wally’s wife Audrey and son Rick, who is a current board member, accepted the award in Wally’s honour.
David James played 211 games for Southport over 11 years and won three Premierships and three Best and Fairest awards. He also represented Queensland from 2003 to 2005, was named in Southport’s Team of 1983 to 2008 and has been inducted into Southport’s Hall of Fame.
Gavan McGuane played 140 games between 1980 and 1991 for Southport, winning the Best & Fairest in 1980, 1981 and 1982, and was a member of the 1980, 1983, 1985 and 1987 Premiership teams. He coached Southport in 1989 and 1990 and won Premierships in both years. As Gavan was unable to attend the event, Zane Taylor accepted it on his behalf.
Steve McLuckie played 72 games and won two Premierships (1999 and 2000) for Southport between 1991 and 2000. In that time, he also played 20 AFL games for the Brisbane Bears and 70 games for West Adelaide in the SANFL. Now living overseas, Steve was unable to attend to accept his award.
Dan Merrett played one game for Southport before going on to have a successful AFL career to play over 200 games for the Brisbane Lions.
Darren O’Brien played over 100 games for Southport and captained the club from 2004 to 2008, and won the Southport Best and Fairest in 2003 and 2005. He also represented Queensland.
Geoff Pemberton played a total of 265 senior games with South Cairns, Cairns Saints and Southport. In his time at Southport, he was part of the 1999 and 2000 premiership.
Leigh Ryswyck is a Southport Junior and was drafted to the Brisbane Lions in 2005. He played one AFL game for Brisbane before moving to Adelaide and playing for North Adelaide in the SANFL.
In addition, Southport’s 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 Premiership Players were inducted into the Hall of Fame for their four-peat of QAFL Premierships. For more about the four-peat and a list of all the players involved in the premiership click here. On the night, Nick and Craig Mansbridge, who played in four Premierships, accepted the award on the club’s behalf.