MATCH DETAILS
Southport Sharks 4.2 11.6 16.11 26.14.170
Defeated
Canberra Demons 5.1 8.3 8.7 10.7.67
Goal Kickers – Johnson 5, Wilkinson 4, Baxter 3, Hancock 3, O’Shea 2, Manteit 2, Tape, Sheers, Mutu, Doran, Clayton, Hall, Roos.
Best Players – Hancock, Wilkinson, Roos, Tape, Boston, Clayton, Davis, Fyfe, Baxter.
Southport have powered back to top spot on the NEAFL ladder after an emphatic win over previous pace setters Canberra Demons. The match of the round was all one way traffic as the Sharks slammed on 15 goals to two after half time as Canberra offered little resistance. The 1998 & 2008 Southport Premiership Reunion was in full swing as the game started, but it was the Demons who flew out of the blocks with half forward Mitch Hardie kicking three goals in seven minutes to have the Sharks on the back foot. Mutu kicked a great left foot snap to stem the tide but Canberra held sway at quarter time by five points.
The Sharks finally took the lead at the 12 minute mark of the second term after a super courageous Jordan Taylor mark resulted in a Wilkinson goal. Seb Tape kicked a great goal late in the term and the lead had extended to 21 points at half time. Five Southport goals to four points in the third term decided the game as Hancock took a one hander to goal early then Johnson kicked two as we kicked clear by 52 points at the last change. The Demons looked to be fading in the conditions and they were getting plenty of sound advice from the Cabana Bar.
The Sharks then went on a last quarter rampage kicking ten goals to two to run out easy 103 point winners. Our finals destiny is in our own hands with Aspley at Graham Rd, NT in Darwin and Redland at Fankhauser Reserve to round out the season.
NEXT WEEK – ROUND 19
Aspley vs Southport
Saturday, 11 August 1.30pm
Graham Road, Carseldine
Aspley vs Southport Colts, 10.45am
Image courtesy of NEAFL and TJ Yelds Sports Photography