The Southport Sharks have finalised their VFL list for the 2025 season and are all in for a big year at Fankhauser Reserve.
Last year, Southport were so close to winning their maiden VFL premiership, however, fell agonisingly short against Werribee in the Grand Final.
The strategy around their list build for this year was to retain as many players from the Grand Final team as possible, bolster the forward line and to develop the best young Queensland talent.
Southport’s General Manager of Football Operations Jarrod Field said, “We were not far away from winning the premiership last year, so to retain 19 of the 23 players from our Grand Final side was a great result for us in our pursuit to go all the way this year.”
“It’s also a massive credit to our new VFL Head Coach Matt Primus and the relationship he has with the players that the majority wanted to stay.”
One of the players Southport lost from their Grand Final team was Ben Jepson who was signed by the Gold Coast Suns’ to their AFL list after just one year at Southport.
Southport were then able to sign three key recruits to help bolster their forward line: Josh Gore, Sam Lowson and Hewago Oea.
Field said, “We looked a lot more potent forward last year adding Wylie Buzza and Hugh Dixon to our list.”
“Conversion was an issue for us last year and it really hurt in the Grand Final. So, we wanted to add players that can help us score and these three guys will.”
Josh Gore, a former Southport Junior, has returned to the club after four years in the SANFL at West Adelaide.
Sam Lowson played for North Melbourne’s VFL side the last two years and was also in the VFL representative team last year.
Hewago Oea comes to the Sharks straight from the Gold Coast Suns after four years on their AFL list.
The final part of the list build was to recruit the best young talent available across Australia.
Over the off-season Southport added the following promising youngsters: Charlie Rowe, Darby Scott, Finn Hay, Harry Sullivan, Joe Kennedy, Josh Cresswell, Justin Krok, Marcus Khoo, Mason Field, Owen Collins, Sam Cilmi and Tai Hayes.
Field said, “Normally, we have 14 players on our list under the age of 22. This year, we have 20 under the age of 22, which means we have one of the younger lists in the competition.”
Southport’s VFL List now has 21 Queenslanders and six former Southport Juniors: Campbell Lake, Josh Gore, Jye Lockett, Joe Kennedy, Mason Field and Harry Sullivan.
Field said, “It is great to see so many Queenslanders and former Southport Juniors on our list.”
“It demonstrates that there is a good pathway for Queenslanders to play VFL without leaving the state.”
Southport’s 2025 VFL List: Boyd Woodcock, Brayden Crossley, Brock Aston, Campbell Lake, Charlie Rowe, Christian Webster, Darby Scott, Elijah Reardon, Finn Hay, Harry Sullivan, Hewago Oea, Hugh Dixon, Jack Sexton, Jackson Edwards, Jacob Dawson, Jacob Heron, Jesse Joyce, Joe Kennedy, Josh Cresswell, Josh Gore, Justin Krok, Jye Lockett, Keegan Gray, Mackenzie Willis, Marcus Khoo, Mason Field, Matt Hollier, Matt McGuinness, Max Pescud, Max Spencer, Michael Manteit, Nick Williams, Owen Collins, Riley Bowman, Sam Cilmi, Sam Lowson, Tai Hayes, Taine Dawson, Will Derrington, Will Sexton, Wylie Buzza, Zac Foot, Zach Molloy.
Southport’s season kicks off on Saturday March 22 in a Grand Final Re-Match against Werribee at Fankhauser Reserve. Click here for more information.