The Sharks look outside their ranks for a new coach and go with Mark Browning
FOR the first time in their State League history, the Sharks hierarchy decided not to go with one of their own, instead electing to appoint former Sydney Swans star Mark Browning as new coach to replace Cameron O’Brien.
Browning was signed on the strength of a premiership year in charge of North Hobart in the Tasmanian Football League, backed by his unquestioned background as a quality performer in the AFL.
O’Brien stayed on as a player and was joined by a troupe of bigger names, including ex-Brisbane Bear Steve McLuckie, a rising Steven Lawrence, Tasmanian forward Tim Oldenhof , Fraser McLauchlan from Morningside, Paul Baker from Victoria, lanky ruckman Matt McGuirk, who was to go on to big things in the Black V, and stylish half-forward Rob Thompson, previously listed with Adelaide.
Warwick Capper was still there, so was Brent Green, and the Sharks had any number of promising youngsters in a list that included Michael Walsh, Paul Oldham, Craig Richardson and Jeremy Parkinson.
Walsh and Oldham were yet two more youngsters who switched from the Surfers Paradise juniors to try their luck in the State League with Southport, hoping to earn a crack at the AFL, like so many of their predecessors had done.
Yet the players never really gelled as a unit.
Over the season, performance levels varied wildly and it eventually told because the Sharks were bundled out of the finals in straight sets, losing the second semi-final to Morningside by 12 points, then the preliminary final to Kedron-Grange by 33 points.
In a nutshell, the Sharks were never really in the swim and fell easy prey when the blowtorch was applied in big matches.
What was even more galling to the Sharks faithful was the fact they even lost the big grudge match against the Gold Coast XXXX All Stars, going down by a point – 10.10 (70) to 11.5 (71) – in a heated clash under the Fankhauser Reserve lights.
Season details: Games played 20, won 14, lost six.
Best and fairest: Matt McGuirk.
Leading goalkicker: Cameron O’Brien (60).
Representative: Lost to Gold Coast 11.5 (71) to 10.10 (70) at Fankhauser Reserve (lights).
MATCH RESULTS 1994
Round 1 (Mar 26):
SOUTHPORT 3.3 5.8 12.11 12.16 (86)
WEST BRISBANE 3.2 4.3 5.4 7.4 (46)
Southport goals: D Carlson 2, P Baker 2, W Capper, C Black, A Hamilton, R Jones, D Ashkar, T Oldenhof, R Thompson.
Southport best: P Baker, M Walsh, D Carlson, S Stephens, S McLuckie, W Capper.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Southport.
Round 2 (Apr 2):
SOUTHPORT 1.4 11.6 14.8 16.12 (108)
MT GRAVATT 5.3 6.4 11.6 13.9 (87)
Southport goals: C Headland 3, W Capper 3, C Black 2, A Hamilton 2, S Lawrence 2, C Mansbridge, A Lawson, S Stephenson, J Parkinson.
Southport best: J Parkinson, S Lawrence, C Headland, T Oldenhof, F McLachlan, P Siede.
At Dittmer Park, Brisbane.
Round 3 bye
Round 4 (Apr 16):
KEDRON-GRANGE 2.6 12.10 16.11 21.13 (139)
SOUTHPORT 3.3 3.8 8.7 10.10 (70)
Southport goals: P Siede 4, R Jones 2, C Headland, D O’Keeffe, P Baker, T Oldenhof.
Southport best: T Oldenhof, M McGuirk, C Headland, R Jones.
At Hickey Park, Brisbane.
Round 5 (Apr 24):
SOUTHPORT 2.1 5.5 8.6 9.6 (60)
NORTH BRISBANE 1.5 2.6 4.8 8.11 (59)
Southport goals: P Siede 2, J Cotter, C Mansbridge, S Stephens, J Parkinson, M Walsh, C Headland.
Southport best: M Walsh, J Parkinson, D Ashkar, R Jones, C Black, C Mansbridge.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 6 (May 1):
SOUTHPORT 2.5 4.10 10.13 14.21 (105)
MORNINGSIDE 1.1 5.3 7.9 13.9 (87)
Southport goals: W Capper 3, M Smith 2 S Lawrence 2, M McGuirk, J Parkinson, S Stephens, P Siede, J Cotter, S McLuckie, C Black.
Southport best: S Lawrence, R Jones, S McLuckie, C Black, A Turner, M Walsh.
At Esplen Oval, Brisbane.
Round 7 (May 8):
SOUTHPORT 5.4 11.6 15.9 20.10 (130)
MAYNE 2.2 8.2 10.3 15.8 (98)
Southport goals: W Capper 5, M Smith 4, S McLuckie 2, J Cotter 2, P Oldham 2, M McGuirk 2, R Jones, P Baker.
Southport best: J Parkinson, M Smith, J Cotter, W Capper, M McGuirk, T Oldenhof.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 7 (May 15):
SOUTHPORT 4.2 8.7 14.14 20.18 (138)
WEST BRISBANE 2.6 7.12 10.14 16.15 (111)
Southport goals: M Smith 4, W Capper 4, J Parkinson 3, R Jones 2, S Stephens 2, S McLuckie, S Lawrence, J Cotter, C Mansbridge, P Siede.
Southport best: M McGuirk, S Stephens, J Parkinson, R Thompson, M Smith, J Cotter.
At Chelmer Oval, Brisbane.
Round 8 (May 22):
MT GRAVATT 2.2 5.4 9.9 14.11 (95)
SOUTHPORT 4.5 6.10 9.13 11.16 (82)
Southport goals: S McLuckie 2, M Smith 2, C O’Brien 2, C Black, S Stephens, P Oldham, S Lawrence, J Parkinson.
Southport best: R Thompson, S Lawrence, C Mansbridge, C Headland, C Black.
At Fankhauser Rerserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 9 bye
Round 10 (Jun 3):
SOUTHPORT 4.1 6.2 6.5 14.9 (93)
KEDRON-GRANGE 1.0 1.2 5.7 6.7 (43)
Southport goals: W Capper 5, C Black 3, M Smith 2, J Cotter, S Lawrence, J Parkinson, R Jones.
Southport best: W Capper, M McGuirk, C Headland, D Bowtell, C Mansbridge, S Stephens.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill (lights).
Round 11 (Jun 12):
NORTH BRISBANE 2.3 8.3 9.7 13.14 (92)
SOUTHPORT 2.1 4.3 7.4 8.6 (54)
Southport goals: W Capper 5, A Hamilton 2, T Oldenhof.
Southport best: B Green, C Black, M McGuirk, W Capper.
At O’Callaghan Partk, Brisbane.
Round 12 (Jun 18):
SOUTHPORT 4.3 10.5 13.7 17.11 (113)
MAYNE 5.0 8.3 13.7 14.7 (91)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 5, A Hamilton 3, W Capper 3, S McLuckie 2, C Black, P Oldham, J Parkinson, P Baker.
Southport best: P Baker, J Cotter, D Bowtell, C O’Brien, F McLauchlan, P Oldham.
At Windsor Park, Brisbane.
Round 13 (Jun 26):
MORNINSIDE 3.3 8.4 12.10 15.13 (103)
SOUTHPORT 0.7 4.12 5.13 8.19 (67)
Southport goals: S McLuckie 2, C O’Brien 2, C Black, A Hamilton, S Lawrence, C Headland.
Southport best: D Bowtell, T Oldenhof, C Mansbridge, R Thompson.
At the Gabba, Brisbane.
Round 14 (Jul 3):
SOUTHPORT 6.4 13.8 19.12 26.18 (174)
WEST BRISBANE 2.1 5.2 6.4 9.7 (61)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 14, C Black 2, J Cotter 2, R Jones 2, B Green 2, W Capper 2, S James, T Oldenhof.
Southport best: C O’Brien, B Green, C Headland, R Jones, J Cotter, R Thompson.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 15 (Jul 10):
SOUTHPORT 7.2 14.6 21.12 25.16 (166)
MT GRAVATT 1.5 5.7 5.10 5.14 (44)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 13, S Lawrence 3, S Jasmes 2, B Green 2, J Cotter, M McGuirk, R Jones, P Oldham, M Kennedy.
Southport best: C O’Brien, C Mansbridge, B Green, J Cotter, S McLuckie, S Lawrence.
At Dittmer Park, Brisbane.
Round 16 bye
Round 17 (Jul 22):
SOUTHPORT 1.3 7.3 10.8 14.10 (94)
KEDRON-GRANGE 6.1 6.4 9.7 11.8 (74)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 5, M McGuirk 2, C Black, S McLuckie, J Cotter, C Mansbridge, P Oldham, J Parkinson, W Capper.
Southport best: M McGuirk, D Bowtell, C Mansbridge, R Thompson, J Cotter, C Black.
At Hickey Park, Brisbane.
Round 18 (Jul 31):
SOUTHPORT 2.4 4.7 9.8 12.11 (83)
NORTH BRISBANE 1.1 3.3 5.5 8.7 (55)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 5, B Green 2, S McLuckie, J Cotter, S Lawrence, R Jones, A Lowe.
Southport best: D Bowtell, M McGuirk, S McLuckie, J Cotter, S Lawrence, R Jones.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 19 (Aug 7):
SOUTHPORT 2.3 6.7 10.8 15.12 (102)
MORNINGSIDE 4.4 6.5 12.9 12.10 (82)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 4, M McGuirk 2, S Lawrence 2, C Black, S McLuckie, P Oldham, D Bowtell, B Green, T Oldenhof, R Thompson.
Southport best: M McGuirk, D Bowtell, S Lawrence, R Thompson, S McLuckie, C Headland.
At the Gabba, Brisbane.
Round 18 (Aug 14):
SOUTHPORT 3.3 8.10 15.12 24.18 (162)
MAYNE 2.2 3.4 6.8 9.9 (63)
Southport goals: B Green 3, P Oldham 3, P Baker 3, M McGuirk 2, C Black 2, W Capper 2, S Stephens 2, S McLuckie 2, J Cotter, R Jones, C Richardson, S Lawrence, D Bowtwell.
Southport best: S McLuckie, B Green, C Black, P Baker, P Oldham, S Lawrence.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Second semi-final (Aug 21):
MORNINGSIDE 2.4 6.4 11.7 14.12 (96)
SOUTHPORT 3.4 6.5 8.7 12.12 (84)
Southport goals: M McGuirk 4, C O’Brien 3, S McLuckie, P Oldham, S Lawrence, B Green.
Southport best: M McGuirk, R Jones, S McLuckie, S Lawrence, R Thompson, W Capper.
At the Gabba, Brisbane.
Preliminary final (Aug 28):
KEDRON-GRANGE 4.2 10.3 15.7 19.10 (124)
SOUTHPORT 3.2 6.6 11.10 13.13 (91)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 6, B Green 3, C Richardson 2, P Oldham, S Lawrence.
Southport best: C Mansbridge, C Headland, S Lawrence, C Richardson, B Green, M Walsh.
At the Gabba, Brisbane.
