A new clubhouse and life after Norm Dare (chapter 1) was not so difficult
AFTER seven years under Norm Dare, who went on to be named QAFL Coach of the Century, the Sharks turned to one of their own, luring Gavan McGuane back from Coolangatta to head the charge.
Dare coached Southport for a year in the GCAFL, then won three premierships (1983-85-87) and headed runners-up finishes in 1986-88.
Dare was appointed coach of the Brisbane Bears in the AFL after the club’s owners, Quintex, went bust and Reuben Pelerman took over the finances.
If there were any doubts as to McGuane being able to fill such big shoes, they were quickly erased as the Sharks won eight in a row to start the season, and lost just twice more – both to arch rivals Morningside – on their way to a fourth State League flag in seven years.
McGuane, who had been captain-coach of Coolangatta in 1986 and was assistant playing-coach there under Neil Ross in 1988, proved a shrewd, passionate replacement for Dare.
One of the first telling moves McGuane made was to elevate an Army enlisted player, Craig Headland, to the firsts.
Headland could not crack it for a spot in Southport’s top 20 the previous year when he arrived at Southport after trialling with the Brisbane Bears.
“There was a long queue ahead of me in 1988 – typical of Southport.” was Headland’s diplomatic response when asked why he did not get a run earlier.
Missing from the playing roster McGuane inherited was nuggety rover Gordon Coventry, who headed back to Victoria after five great seasons and one of several players unlucky not to have been named in the Best of 25 State League Years side – the other was surely Mick Youngs.
But the Sharks roared on.
They had moved headquarters to Wally Fankhauser Reserve in Musgrave Hill – the multi-million dollar facility was officially opened by long-term president Dr Alan Mackenzie on April 5 – and the Sharks christened the ground with a win, against Mayne.
Then, after finishing second in the home-and-away series, the Sharks went on to beat Winsor-Zillmere by 22 points in the qualifying final, Morningside by 21 points in the second semi-final, then Windsor-Zillmere again by 35 points in the grand final.
The Musgrave Hill move was capped with premierships in three grades.
Southport’s grand final side was:
Backs: Craig Headland, Scott Lawton, Paul Snare.
Half-backs: Craig Crowley, Craig Carmichael, Zane Taylor.
Centres: Darren Carlson, Ray Sarcevic, Paul Drever.
Half-forwards: Ashley Moore, Steve Handley, Arlen Kennedy.
Forwards: Matt Kennedy, Peter Riewoldt, Rob Jones.
Rucks: Peter Guy, Mick Kenny, Jason Cotter.
Interchange: David Ashkar, Ashley Bond.
Details of the grand final were:
SOUTHPORT 3.3 7.5 13.9 16.17 (113)
WINDSOR-ZILLMERE 2.2 8.4 10.5 12.5 (77)
Southport goals: R Sarcevic 4, D Ashkar 3, S Handley 2, M Kennedy 2, J Cotter, M Kenny, A Kennedy, D Moore, R Jones.
Southport best: R Sarcevic, S Handley, D Moore, C Carmichael, D Ashkar, J Cotter.
Season details: Games played , won 19, lost 2.
Best and fairest: Craig Crowley.
Joe Grant Medal: Ray Sarcevic.
Leading goalkicker: Ray Sarcevic (55).
State Championship: Played 7, won 6, lost 1, lost semi-final v Gold Coast 14.11 (95) to 7.9 (51) at Salk Oval (lights).
RESULTS 1989
Round 1(Apr 24):
SOUTHPORT 4.1 5.3 7.7 8.9 (57)
WINDSOR-ZILLMERE 2.1 4.1 4.3 6.3 (39)
Southport goals: M Kennedy 5, P McGarry, C Crowley, D Bowtell.
Southport best: C Headland, J Cotter, P Drever, M Kennedy, P Rie3woldt, S Lawton.
At O’Callaghan Park, Brisbane.
Round 2 (May 1):
SOUTHPORT 4.5 9.11 11.13 15.17 (107)
MAYNE 0.1 1.4 4.4 7.6 (48)
Southport goals: W Capper 5, B Hinkley 2, M Ashcroft 2, G Reeves, M Kennedy, M Kenny.
Southport best: R Sarcevic, M Kennedy, J Cotter, S Lawton, C Crowley, D Bowtell.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 3 (May 7):
SOUTHPORT 3.1 5.8 5.16 7.22 (64)
SUNSHINE COAST 1.3 3.3 4.4 5.4 (34)
Southport goals: J Cotter 2, A Bond, B Hinkley, M Harrison, C Crowley, P McGarry.
Southport best: S Lawton, R Sarcevic, J Cotter, P Siede, D Bowtell.
At Carter Park, Caloundra.
Round 4 (May 21):
SOUTHPORT 2.1 7.4 11.4 19.10 (124)
WESTERN DISTRICTS 0.4 0.5 2.8 2.8 (20)
Southport goals: M Harrison 4, P McGarry 3, G Reeves 3, A Kennedy 2, P Drever 2, D Bowtell, P Riewoldt, M Kenny, B Hinkley, C Headland.
Southport best: R Sarcevic, P McGarry, M Harrison, C Headland, A Bond, P Drever.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 5 (May 28):
SOUTHPORT 3.3 9.7 13.14 17.18 (120)
KEDRON 4.2 5.3 7.5 8.5 (53)
Southport goals: R Sarcevic 4, P Riewoldt 2, A Kennedy 2, G Reeves, G Coventry, P Snare, C Rippon, C Crowley, P McGarry, M Harrison, Z Taylor.
Southport best: C Headland, G Reeves, A Bond, C Crowley, M Kenny, C Rippon.
At Anderson Oval, Brisbane.
Round 6 (Jun 4):
SOUTHPORT 6.3 15.7 23.11 32.16 (214)
KEDRON 2.3 5.5 6.8 9.12 (66)
Southport goals: C Carmichael 11, P McGarry 6, R Sarcevic 2, G Coventry 2, C Rippon 2, M Harrison 2, P Riewoldt 2, D Ashkar 2, C Headland 2, M Kenny, P Siede.
Southport best: M Kenny, C Carmichael, D Ashkar, P McGarry, R Sarcevic, C Crowley. C Headland.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 7 (Jun 18):
SOUTHPORT 7.2 11.9 14.14 23.15 (153)
WILSTON-GRANGE 1.5 4.2 8.9 9.12 (66)
Southport goals: P McGarry 5, C Carmichael 5, C Crowley 3, C Rippon 3, A Kennedy 2, G Reeves 2, P Siede, G Coventry, P Drever.
Southport best: B Prendergast, P McGarry, C Headland, D Bowtell, R Sar4cevic, C Crowley.
At Hickey Park, Brisbane.
Round 8 (Jun 26):
SOUTHPORT 9.7 14.13 21.15 28.17 (185)
SANDGATE 0.2 1.4 2.7 4.7 (21)
Southport goals: P McGarry 8, R Sarcevic 3, M Harrison 3, S Handley 3, S Rippon 2, P Drever 2, M Kenny 2, C Crowley, G Coventry, A Kennedy, C Carmichael.
Southport best: C Crowley, P Drever, A Bond, M Kenny, R Sarcevic, P McGarry.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 9 (Jul 2):
MORNINGSIDE 1.2 4.3 7.6 11.11 (77)
SOUTHPORT 2.3 6.7 6.10 8.10 (58)
Southport goals: A Kennedy 3, P Guy, P McGarry, M Kenny, D Ashkar, S Handley.
Southport best: C Headland, B Prendergast, P Guy, A Kennedy, P Snarer, S Glascott.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 10 (Jul 16):
SOUTHPORT 3.4 6.7 8.9 12.12 (84)
WINDSOR-ZILLMERE 2.3 4.3 6.9 11.7 (73)
Southport goals: C Carmichael 5, P McGarry 2, M Robbins, M Kenny, A Kennedy, C Van Wyk, P Siede.
Southport best: M Kenny, B Prendergast, P Snare, C Headland, D Bowterll, P Guy.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 11 (Jul 23):
SOUTHPORT 1.1 3.10 5.12 21.15 (131)
MAYNE 0.3 6.5 7.7 8.10 (58)
Southport goals: P Drever 3, C Headland 3, R Sarcevic, P McGarry, B Prendergast, M Kenny, D Ashkar, C Van Wyk.
Southport best: M Kenny, R Sarcevic, P Drever, P McGarry, C Headland, C Van Wyk.
At Windsor Park, Brisbane.
Round 12 (Jul 29):
SOUTHPORT 24.18 (162)
SUNSHINE COAST 7.5 (47)
Southport goals: D Ashkar 5, C Headland 3, C Van Wyk 2, A Kennedy 2, Z Taylor 2, P Drever 2, R Sarcevic, C Crowley, M Harrison, S Glascott.
Southport best: A Kennedy, D Ashkar, C Crowley, S Glascott, M Kenny, P Snare.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 13 (Aug 6):
SOUTHPORT 0.3 14.6 17.13 21.15 (141)
WESTERN DISTRICTS 2.2 5.5 8.6 10.12 (82)
Southport goals: M Kennedy 7, D Ashkar 4, P McGarry 3, R Sarcevic, M Harrison 2, M Kenny 2, M Fischer.
Southport best: C Crowley, P Drever, S Lawton, M Kennedy, R Sarcevic, S Handley.
At Chelmer Oval, Brisbane.
Round 14 (Aug 13):
SOUTHPORT 7.3 17.4 26.12 30.22 (202)
KEDRON 2.1 2.2 2.3 3.3 (21)
Southport goals: R Sarcevic 20, P Siede 2, P Guy, P Drever, M Kenny, A Kennedy, D Ashkar, C Van Wyk, Z Taylor, M Fischer.
Southport best: R Sarcevic, C Crowley, M Kenny, A Kennedy, C Headland, B Prendergast,
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 15 (Aug 20):
SOUTHPORT 8.6 11.11 13.14 21.16 (142)
COORPAROO 1.4 4.6 6.10 6.12 (48)
Southport goals: R Sarcevic 12, M Kenny 2, P McGarry, P Drever, M Harrison, D Bowtell, D Ashkar, G Brewster, Z Taylor.
Southport best: M Kenny, C Carmichael, C Crowley, R Sarcevic, D Ashkar, P Guy.
At Giffin Park, Brisbane.
Round 16 (Aug 27):
SOUTHPORT 3.4 8.6 10.10 12.17 (89)
WILSTON-GRANGE 3.3 4.4 8.8 9.10 (64)
Southport goals: P McGarry 2, B Prendergast 2, A Kennedy 2, D Moore 2, C Crowley, J Cotter, M Kenny, D Ashkar.
Southport best: D Bowtell, M Kenny, A Kennedy, Z Taylor, D Moore, D Carlson.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 17 (Sept 3):
SOUTHPORT 3.1 10.6 15.9 24.16 (160)
SANDGATE 0.2 1.2 3.3 5.3 (33)
Southport goals: R Sarcevic 5, J Cotter 4, A Kennedy 3, D Ashkar 3, C Headland 2, A Bond 2, M Harrison, M Kenny, P Snare, D Moore, P McGarry.
Southport best: A Kennedy, B Prendergast, D Bowtell, P Drever, C Carmichael, P Guy .
AT Lemke Road, Brisbane.
Round 18 (Sept 10):
MORNINGSIDE 1.1 7.4 8.8 14.13 (97)
SOUTHPORT 4.4 6.7 7.9 7.13 (55)
Southport goals: P McGarry 2, J Cotter 2, A Kennedy 2, C Crowley.
Southport best: P Drever, Z Taylor, C Headland, D Carlson, D Bowtell.
At Esplen Oval, Brisbane.
Qualifying final (Sept 17):
SOUTHPORT 3.0 6.3 13.3 15.8 (98)
WINDSOR-ZILLMERE 2.7 6.12 8.14 10.16 (76)
Southport goals: A Kennedy 3, B Prendergast 2, D Carlson 2, M Kennedy 2, R Cavanagh 2, R Sarcevic, P Riewoldt, M Kenny, C Headland
Southport best: C Carmichael, P Drever, C Headland, P Snare, C Crowley, J Cotter.
At O’Callaghan Park, Brisbane.
Second semi-final (Sept 24):
SOUTHPORT 1.2 5.5 6.7 13.8 (86)
MORNINGSIDE 4.5 6.7 7.10 9.11 (65)
Southport goals: D Ashkar 3, R Sarcevic 2, J Cotter 2, D Bowtell 2, C Crowley, P Drever, A Kennedy, S Handley.
Southport best: J Cotter, P Guy, C Headland, D Bowtell, D Carlson, S Lawton.
At O’Callaghan Park, Brisbane.
Grand final (Oct 8):
SOUTHPORT 3.3 7.5 13.9 16.17 (113)
WINDSOR-ZILLMERE 2.2 8.4 10.5 12.5 (77)
Southport goals: R Sarcevic 4, D Ashkar 3, S Handley 2, M Kennedy 2, J Cotter, M Kenny, A Kennedy, D Moore, R Jones.
Southport best: R Sarcevic, S Handley, D Moore, C Carmichael, D Ashkar, J Cotter.
At the Gabba, Brisbane.
