A big year for Wise, but it all went wrong at the business end of the season
From an individual perspective, captain Danny Wise had a cracker of a season, even though a hamstring injury forced him to miss perhaps the two most vital matches of the season – the first semi-final, then the preliminary final – when the Sharks dipped out of the premiership race after losing to Morningside.
Elsewhere, though, it was all rosy for the class rover. He was named captain of the Queensland rep side that thrashed Tasmania at Fankhauser Reserve, he then won the Grogan Medal and completed the hat-trick by winning Southport’s best and fairest ahead of Darren Pfeiffer.
Pfeiffer was one of three ex-AFL players recruited by football manager Jason Cotter.
Pfeiffer was previously listed by Adelaide and Carlton and was joined at Musgrave Hill by Dean Putt and Cleeve Hughes, both formerly with Richmond.
The Sharks also pulled off a coup when they signed outstanding former Zillmere on-baller and Queensland star Matt Payne to a two-season deal.
The Sharks recruited strongly and had access to several young talents on the list of the Gold Coast Suns.
Early in the season, Southport looked the goods. They had a string of big wins, including one by 76 points against Morningside, one by 61 against Brisbane, and a third by 49 points against Mt Gravatt.
In the middle of that run was a second loss in Darwin when Northern Territory beat the Sharks by eight points.
But after that, the Sharks’ form became erratic, to the point where, in round 13, Labrador beat them for only the second time since 1997 – and for the first time at Fankhauser Reserve.
When Morningside beat the Sharks the next weekend the signs were there that they were not at their best, and when Redland scored their first victory over the Sharks seven dqays later, things looked grim.
A 24-point loss to Mt Gravatt in round 17 did nothing for the confidence in the camp either yet, after losing to Morningside in the qualifying final, the Sharks smashed Mt Gravatt by 67 points in the first semi.
But Morningside again had their measure, taking a tense preliminary final by seven points at Coorparoo.
Not long after the elimination of his side from the title race, Craig Crowley resigned as coach, to make way for the third coming of Norm Dare.
Season details: Games played 21, won 14, lost 7.
Grogan Medal: Danny Wise.
Best and fairest: Danny Wise.
Leading goalkicker: Cleve Hughes (83).
2010 Match Results
Round 1 (Apr 10):
SOUTHPORT 5.4 8.8 14.10 16.14 (110)
REDLAND 1.1 7.5 9.6 12.11 (83)
Southport goals: C Hughes 4, M Fowler 2, J Van Unen 2, C MacLaren 2, D James, C Pettersson, M Payne, G Screech, D Carmody, Z Callinan.
Southport best: B Caputi, D Lynch, D James, B Merrett, D Wise, M Fowler.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 2 (Apr 17):
SOUTHPORT 4.3 9.5 15.7 18.9 (117)
BROADBEACH 1.2 4.5 4.8 8.9 (57)
Southport goals: C acLaren 4, C Hughes 3, B Merrett 2, G Screech 2, B Scalzo 2, D Pfeiffer, C Pettersson, D James, M Payne, D Wise.
Southport best: J Van Unen, D James, D Pfeioffer, B Merrett, D Lynch, C MacLaren.
At Merrimac Oval, Broadbeach Waters.
Round 3 (Apr 24):
SOUTHPORT 3.5 6.10 13.15 15.22 (112)
LABRADOR 3.1 5.2 9.4 12.5 (77)
Southport goals: M Fowler 4, C MacLaren 3, B Scalzo 2, C Hughes, D Carmody, J Van Unen, M Payne, J Haberfield, D James.
Southport best: D James, C MacLaren, B Merrett, M Payne, D Pfeiffer, D Wise.
At Cooke-Murphy Oval, Labrador.
Round 4 (May 2):
SOUTHPORT 2.2 6.4 8.7 13.9 (87)
NTHN TERRITORY 2.4 5.7 7.9 9.13 (67)
Southport goals: J Van Unen 4, C Hughes 3, C MacLaren 2, M Fowler 2, B Merrett, D Pfeiffer.
Southport best: B Caputi, D James, D Pfeiffer, J Van Unen, M Payne, D Putt.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 5 (May 8):
SOUTHPORT 5.1 13.6 16.9 21.21 (147)
ASPLEY 3.1 5.1 10.2 11.3 (69)
Southport goals: C Hughes 9, C MacLaren 5, B Merrett 3, G Screech 2, H Watts, D Pfeiffer.
Southport best: C Hughes, D Lynch, C MacLaren, J Haberfield, B Merrett, D Wise.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 6 (May 15):
SOUTHPORT 8.2 12.6 18.8 21.14 (140)
MORNINGSIDE 3.2 3.6 6.7 9.10 (64)
Southport goals: C Hughes 6, M Fowler 4, C MacLaren 2, D Wise 2, C Pettersson 2, B Grant, J Van Unen, B Merrett, D James, G Screech.
Southport best: D Wise, K Niklaus, C Hughes, D Pfeiffer, M Payne, J Bourke.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 7 (May 22):
SOUTHPORT 5.4 12.14 13.22 19.27 (141)
BRISBANE 2.6 4.6 7.8 12.8 (80)
Southport goals: C Hughes 5, D Pfeiffer 4, D Wise 2, M Payne 2, M Fowler, C MacLaren, B Merrett, B Scalzo, G Screech, D James.
Southport best: D Pfeiffer, D James, B Scalzo, K Niklaus, B Merrett, B Caputi.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 8 (May 29):
NTHN TERRITORY 3.5 6.6 10.11 13.14 (92)
SOUTHPORT 1.0 2.3 6.7 12.12 (84)
Southport goals: C Hughes 4, G Screech 2, B Scalzo 2, M Payne, M Fowler, D Wise, D Pfeiffer.
Southport best: K Niklaus, G Screech, D Pfeiffer, C Pettersson, J Bourke, D Putt.
At TIO Stadium, Darwin.
Round 9 (Jun 5):
SOUTHPORT 2.6 7.10 11.13 19.15 (129)
MT GRAVATT 2.1 6.4 7.10 11.14 (80)
Southport goals: C Hughes 7, C MacLaren 5, G Screech, B Scalzo, J Van Unen, M Payne, C Pettersson, M Fowler, D Pfeiffer.
Southport best: D Wise, D Pfeiffer, C Hughes, C MacLaren, D Putt, G Screech.
At Dittmer Park, Brisbane.
Round 10 (Jun 19):
SOUTHPORT 5.3 11.7 13.10 15.15 (105)
BRISBANE 2.2 3.4 7.10 9.12 (64)
Southport goals: C Hughes 5, B Scalzo 2, C Pettersson 2, D Pfeiffer 2, A Devine, C MacLaren, M Wise, R Thompson.
Southport best: D Pfeiffer, D Wise, J Bourke, B Merrett, K Niklaus, C Hughes.
At Giffin Park, Brisbane.
Round 11 (Jun 26):
SOUTHPORT 5.5 7.9 11.12 13.17 (95)
WESTERN MAGPIES 1.1 2.7 3.8 5.9 (39)
Southport goals: C MacLaren 3, C Hughes 2, M Fowler 2, D Wise 2, D Grant, D Putt, C Pettersson, D Pfeiffer.
Southport best: D James, G Screech, D Pfeiffer, K Niklaus, D Wise, A Devine.
At Sherwood Oval, Brisbane.
Round 12 (Jul 3):
SOUTHPORT 4.4 9.8 15.10 21.12 (139)
BROADBEACH 0.1 0.2 1.4 4.8 (32)
Southport goals: C Hughes 11, D Wise 3, B Merrett 2, M Payne, M Fowler, R Liddy, C Pettersson, D Carmody.
Southport best: C Hughes, D Wise, B Grant, K Nikloaus, A Devine, D Pfeiffer.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 13 (Jul 10):
LABRADOR 2.4 6.8 8.11 13.17 (95)
SOUTHPORT 3.1 5.2 7.7 8.11 (59)
Southport goals: C Hughes 3, C MacLaren 2, D Wise, D Pfeiffer, M Wise.
Southport best: M Wise, D Wise, M Quigley, K Niklaus, J Van Unen, J Bourke.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 14 (Jul 18):
MORNINGSIDE 3.3 7.9 12.14 15.14 (104)
SOUTHPORT 6.6 8.9 9.11 13.13 (91)
Southport goals: J Van Unen 2, L Wilson 2, A Devine, G Screech, D Wise, B Grant, C Pettersson, B Merrett, J Crawford, M Payne, D Pfeiffer.
Southport best: D Pfeiffer, A Devine, D James, D Wise, M Wise, C Pettersson.
At Esplen Oval, Brisbane.
Round 15 (Jul 31):
REDLAND 8.5 11.8 15.11 17.13 (115)
SOUTHPORT 5.1 9.6 13.11 15.17 (107)
Southport goals: B Merrett 4, M Payne 3, D Putt 2, D James 2, D Wise, C Pettersson, D O’Brien, B Caputi, B Davis.
Southport best: D James, M Payne, D Pfeiffer, D Putt, C MacLaren, D Wise.
At Victoria Point.
Round 16 (Aug 7):
SOUTHPORT 7.3 12.11 17.16 22.20 (152)
WESTERN MAGPIES 0.3 1.5 4.5 7.6 (48)
Southport goals: C Hughes 7, D Pfeiffer 3, D Wise 3, M Payne 2, B Davis, G Screech, A Devine, M Quigley, J Van Unen, B Scalzo, D James.
Southport best: D James, T Daniel, D Pfeiffer, D Wise, A Devine, C Hughes.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 17 (Aug 14):
MT GRAVATT 3.5 5.6 9.10 15.13 (103)
SOUTHPORT 3.3 4.8 8.9 11.11 (77)
Southport goals: B Merrett 2, D Putt 2, D Wise, C Hughes, M Fowler, M Quigley, M Payne, B Scalzo, D Pfeiffer.
Southport best: M Payne, D Putt, A Devine, K Niklaus, D Pfeiffer, D Wise.
At Fankhauser reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 18 (Aug 21):
SOUTHPORT 2.3 6.6 11.11 15.16 (1206)
ASPLEY 4.2 6.4 8.5 11.9 (75)
Southport goals: B Scalzo 5, D Wise 3, C Hughes 3, C MacLaren, B Merrett, D CArmody, M Quigley.
Southport best: D Pfeiffer, B Scalzo, D Wise, D James, A Devine, T Daniel.
At Graham Road Oval, Brisbane.
Qualifying final (Aug 29):
MORNINGSIDE 4.1 12.6 13.10 18.13 (121)
SOUTHPORT 2.4 4.6 5.10 11.12 (78)
Southport goals: C Hughes 2, D Putt 2, C Pettersson, M Wise, M Fowler, C MacLaren, T Daniel, M Payne, G Screech.
Southport best: M Payne, D Putt, A Devine, J Bourke, T Daniel, D Pfeiffer.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
First semi-final (Sept 4):
SOUTHPORT 3.4 12.6 14.9 20.10 (130)
MT GRAVATT 3.4 4.9 6.13 8.15 (63)
Southport goals: C Hughes 5, T Knight 4, C MacLaren 3, D Pfeiffer 2, D Grant 2, B Merrett, T Daniel, M Payne, J Van Unen.
Southport best: T Daniel, M Payne, D Pfeiffer, C Hughes, D Lynch, D Putt.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Preliminary final (Sept 12):
MORNINGSIDE 1.5 3.7 8.13 8.17 (65)
SOUTHPORT 1.1 4.3 5.3 9.4 (58)
Southport goals: C Hughes 2, A Devine, B Scalzo, D Putt, C MacLaren, B Merrett, C Pettersson, D Pfeiffer.
Southport best: T Daniel, M Payne, K Niklaus, D Lynch, A Devine, D Pfeiffer.
At Giffin Park, Brisbane.
