The premiership honeymoon was soon to be over
It was perhaps an indication of what was to come later on when Southport began the defence of their 1983 premiership on March 25, 1984.
Only 11 players from the previous year’s grand final side were named by the Sharks for their season-opener against Kedron at Anderson Oval in Brisbane.
Gone from the 1983 side were Peter Munro, Andrew Bos, Steve Wells, Zane Separovich, Mick Hering, Doug Byron, Tom O’Connor and George Budge, while Zane Taylor was out injured.
Previous year’s star Tim Tagliabue started pre-season nursing a groin strain he copped playing indoor cricket.
He battled on through the first six rounds, but the problem persisted, so he decided, with no suitable operations available in that era, to return home to Ballarat.
Tagliabue returned for the 1985 pre-season training, completed it, but again broke down. He was offered a good job on theMornington Peninsula and accepted it, retiring at the age of 27 years.
Such a significant turnover of playing personnel had to have some sort of effect – and it did – because the Sharks were to lose their first four games of the new season.
That run of losses remained the equal worst in the club’s state league history up to the end of 2010.
To cover so many losses, the Sharks had recruited heavily, luring Trevor Surman and Peter Bull from South Australia, Brett Thompson from Collingwood’s reserves, Lachlan Butler from Carlton’s reserves and Mark Frawley, formerly from Ballarat and a nephew of St Kilda star Danny.
John Millane, brother of the late Collingwood premiership skipper Darren, also linked and not far into the season, the Sharks signed blonde left-footer, Carlton reserves forward Gavin Exell.
Exell made his Southport debut in round five and bagged four goals. He proved a top recruit, kicking 66 goals for the season, including a best haul of 12 in round 15.
Exell lasted just one season in Queensland and subsequently proved his class by playing 53 VFL games for Geelong and another five with Fitzroy.
Southport’s 1984 campaign never really hit top gear and perhaps it was an omen that early in the season, when the 1983 premiership flag was unfurled at Owen Park in round three (April 8), the Sharks drowned.
On an afternoon remembered more for atrocious weather than the footy, Coorparoo beat the home side by 4.10 (34) to 4.6 (30), a late goal from Terry O’Neill sinking the Sharks.
Up to half a metre of water covered the entire ground as a mini-cyclone battered south-east Queensland.
Southport subsequently won 12 of their remaining 18 games, but were bundled out of the premiership race when Morningside beat them by 11.12 (78) 8.12 (60) in the preliminary final.
The season was notable for the emergence of one Jason Dunstall, a chunky kid from Coorparoo who was to go on to great things in the VFL.
Dunstall played well against Southport because in round 12 at Giffin Park, he kicked eight goals in a winning Coorparoo side and he kicked seven when the Roos again beat the Sharks by 16 points in the qualifying final.
Southport again featured prominently in the midweek Foster’s Championship, winning five of six preliminary games before what was basically a reserve-grade side lost the final to Sherwood by 27.12 (174) to 8.9 (57) at Windsor Park in Brisbane.
That Southport fielded a second-string side in that match was understandable given the club had a state league qualifying final to play against Sandgate three days later.
Southport’s lower grade sides also made the play-offs, the reserves losing the minor semi-final to Morningside and the colts the grand final against Sandgate. Season details: Games played 21, won 12, lost 9.
Best and fairest: Peter Guy.
Leading goalkicker: Gavin Exell (66).
Foster’s Championship: Played 7, won 5, lost 2 (lost final v Sherwood). Lost final to Sherwood, 27.12 (174) to 8.9 (57) at WindsorPark, Brisbane.
1984 RESULTS
Round 1 (Mar 25):
KEDRON 3.4 8.9 16.13 17.15 (117)
SOUTHPORT 3.2 10.7 12.9 17.14 (118)
Southport goals: M Davidson 3, P Boyce 3, W Walsh 3, J Millane 2, T Tagliabue 2, G McGuane, M Frawley, C Crowley, B Tripp.
Southport best: W Walsh, A Miles, C Crowley, S Short, G McGuane, M Davidson.
At Anderson Oval, Brisbane.
Round 2 (Apr 1):
WESTERN DISTRICTS 3.5 7.6 13.9 19.14 (128)
SOUTHPORT 4.3 8.7 13.9 17.10 (112)
Southport goals: B Thompson 5, P Boyce 3, M Davidson 3, M Frawley 3, A Miles, J Cotter, D Franklin.
Southport best: S Short, G McGuane, P Boyce, P Bull, J Cotter, M Frawley.
At Chelmer Oval, Brisbane.
Round 3 (Apr 8:
COORPAROO 2.2 3.8 3.9 9.4 (34)
SOUTHPORT 3.2 3.2 3.4 4.8 (32)
Southport goals: L Girardi 2, B Thompson, G McGuane.
Southport best: B Tripp, L Girardi, J Millane, D Franklin, G McGuane, M Youngs.
At Owen Park, Southport.
Round 4 (Apr 15):
MAYNE 7.0 11.3 16.8 23.14 (152)
SOUTHPO0RT 2.2 8.8 12.11 16.15 (111)
Southport goals: T Tagliabue 4, B Thompson 3, M Frawley 2, G McGuane 2, G Coventry, J Millane, B Tripp, P Bull, C Van Wyk.
Southport best: S Short, G McGuane, P Bull, D Franklin, G Conn, J Millane.
At Windsor Park, Brisbane.
Round 5 (Apr 23):
SOUTHPORT 3.8 9.14 17.21 22.26 (158)
SANDGATE 2.4 3.4 5.4 9.4 (58)
Southport goals: B Thompson 7, M Frawley 7, G Exell 4, T Tagliabue 2, D Franklin 2, Z Taylor.
Southport best: Z Taylor, G McGuane, K Walsh, G Exell, M Frawley, J Millane.
At Lemke Road, Brisbane.
Round 6 (May 6):
SOUTHPORT 5.4 11.12 17.15 24.21 (165)
WILSTON-GRANGE 0.5 4.9 8.15 12.17 (89)
Southport goals: G Exell 7, M Frawley 5, R Glassell 3, B Thompson 2, L Girardi, J Millane, T Tagliabue, G McGuane, D Franklin, Z Taylor, L Butler.
Southport best: L Girardi, P Bull, M Frawley, G Exell, G McGuane, C Crowley.
At Owen Park, Southport.
Round 7 (May 13):
SOUTHPORT 4.3 9.4 14.11 16.17 (113)
SHERWOOD 0.1 1.2 3.3 6.7 (43)
Southport goals: G Exell 7, B Thompson G Exell 7, B Thompson 4, M Frawley 2, J Millane, G McGuane, K Walsh.
Southport best: A Miles, L Girardi, M Youngs, P Bull, Z Taylor, G Exell.
At Leyshon Park, Brisbane.
Round 8 (May 27):
MORNINGSIDE 3.3 10.9 14.13 16.19 (115)
SOUTHPORT 4.3 4.7 12.11 15.15 (105)
Southport goals: G Exell 4, T Mustey 3, M Frawley 2, L Butler 2, G Coventry, G McGuane, C Crowley, B Hughes.
Southport best: L Girardi, G Exell, M Frawley, B Tripp, S Short, M Youngs.
At Owen Park, Southport.
Round 9 (Jun 6):
SOUTHPORT 7.6 11.10 11.11 20.14 (134)
WINDSOR-ZILLMERE 3.2 4.4 10.7 12.12 (84)
Southport goals: G Exell 5, M Frawley 4, R Glassell 4, T Surman 3, L Butler 2, P Boyce, B Hughes.
Southport best: G McGuane, L Girardi, B Tripp, J Millane, T Crowley, M Youngs.
At O’Callaghan Park, Brisbane.
Round 10 (Jun 10):
SOUTHPORT 0.4 7.10 10.12 12.21 (93)
KEDRON 2.1 4.4 4.9 4.10 (34)
Southport goals: M Frawley 4, B Hughes 2, G Exell 2, P Guy, G Coventry, B Tripp, G McGuane.
Southport best: C Crowley, S Short, J Millane, P Guy, G Exell, G McGuane.
At Owen Park, Southport.
Round 11 (Jun 17):
SOUTHPORT 6.4 10.5 15.10 15.13 (103)
WESTERN DISTRICTS 0.3 3.6 4.9 8.13 (61)
Southport goals: M Frawley 4, G Exell 3, B Hughes 3, G Nuspan 2, P Bopyce, G McGuane, R Glassell.
Southport best: L Butler, G Exell, B Hughes, C Crowley, Z Taylor, P Guy.
At Owen Park, Southport.
Round 12 (Jun 23):
COORPAROO 3.3 7.8 10.10 17.15 (115)
SOUTHPORT 5.8 8.10 11.11 15.14 (104)
Southport goals: B Thompson 5, T Surman 3, B Hughes 2, G Exell 2, J Cotter, D Coombe, R Glassell.
Southport best: J Millane, P Guy, B Thompson, M Youngs, K Walsh, G McGuane.
At Giffin Park, Brisbane.
Round 13 (Jun 30):
SOUTHPORT 6.0 14.4 20.11 26.16 (172)
MAYNE 9.3 11.6 18.8 23.8 (146)
Southport goals: B Thompson 9, B Hughes 5, G Coventry 3, M Frawley 3, J Millane, G Nuspan, T Surman, L Keighran, R Glassell, L Butler.
Southport best: L Keighran, J Millane, B Thompson, B Hughes, T Crowley, G Coventry.
At Owen Park, Southport.
Round 14 (Jul 15):
SOUTHPORT 5.5 7.11 12.13 16.19 (115)
SANDGATE 3.2 7.3 7.4 6.5 (41)
Southport goals: B Hughes 3, G McGuane 3, G Coventry 3, P Guy 2, M Frawley 2, G Exell 2, G Nuspan.
Southport best: T Crowley, P Guy, B Hughes, J Millane, G Coventry, M Youngs.
At Owen Park, Southport.
Round 15 (Jul 22):
SOUTHPORT 5.6 14.11 19.16 23.17 (155)
WILSTON-GRANGE 7.0 11.2 16.3 19.6 (120)
Southport goals: G Exell 12, G McGuane 3, B Hughes 2, G Coventry, J Millane, M Frawley, T Surman, L Girardi, L Butler.
Southport best: G Exell, P Guy, J Cotter, T Surman, G Coventry, T Crowley.
At Hickey Park, Brisbane.
Round 16 (Jul 29):
SOUTHPORT 6.5 9.12 15.15 21.20 (146)
SHERWOOD 5.3 7.10 10.12 12.14 (86)
Southport goals: M Frawley 5, B Hughes 3, G Exell 3, T Surman 3, B Thompson 3, G McGuane 2, G Coventry, L Butler.
Southport best: T Crowley, P Guy, C Crowley, L Butler, G McGuane, J Millane.
At Owen Park, Southport.
Round 17 (Aug 5):
MORNINGSIDE 3.4 9.6 12.6 20.9 (129)
SOUTHPORT 5.2 7.7 10.12 14.15 (99)
Southport goals: B Hughes 3, G Exell 3, G McGuane 2, C Crowley 2, T Surman 2, G Coventry, J Cotter.
Southport best: S Short, P Guy, B Hughes, T Surman, M Youngs.
At Esplen Oval, Brisbane.
Round 18 (Aug 12):
SOUTHPORT 7.5 14.9 18.18 26.21 (177)
WINDSOR-ZILLMERE 2.3 5.7 10.9 11.13 (79)
Southport goals: M Frawley 8, G Exell 4, P Guy 2, G Coventry 2, G McGuane 2, C Crowley 2, J Millane, G Nuspan, D Franklin, T Surman, B Tripp, L Butler.
Southport best: P Guy, M Frawley, B Hughes, S Short, M Youngs, D Franklin.
At Owen Park, Southport.
Qualifying final (Aug 19):
SOUTHPORT 11.2 16.10 20.14 26.15 (171)
SANDGATE 1.0 1.1 4.3 11.7 (73)
Sourthport goals: M Frawley 11, G Exell 6, G McGuane 4, T Surman 2, G Coventry, D Coombe, L Butler.
Southport best: M Frawley, P Guy, G McGuane, M Youngs, L Butler, G Exell.
At Windsor Park, Brisbane.
Major semi-final (Aug 26):
COORPAROO 6.4 10.4 14.14 23.21 (159)
SOUTHPORT 6.3 10.10 12.13 16.15 (111)
Southport goals: M Frawley 5, G Exell 3, T Surman 2, G McGuane 2, P Guy, B Hughes, J Cotter, L Butler.
Southport best: P Guy, L Girardi, M Frawley, T Surman, G McGuane, L Butler.
At Windsor Park, Brisbane.
Preliminary final:
MORNINGSIDE 4.2 5.5 9.7 11.12 (78)
SOUTHPORT 3.2 6.5 7.11 8.12 (60)
Southport goals: T Surman 3, C Crowley 2, G Exell 2, M Frawley.
Southport best: T Crowley, L Girardi, C Crowley, M Youngs, G McGuane, L Butler.
At Windsor Park, Brisbane.
