Unbeaten premiership leads to opinion that this was the best Southport side of all time
IT is statistically impossible to argue against opinion that this side was the greatest Southport combination to go around in state league.
Numbers just cannot be ignored because, of all the Sharks’ seasons in the QAFL, this was, as Tina Turner once sang, simply the best. During this glory year, the Sharks posted some huge scores.
It was perhaps the most dominant season in QAFL/QSFL/AFLQ history because Southport’s numbers have ever been matched or beaten – and perhaps they never will be.
During the 18 matches they played, the Sharks broke the 200-points scored barrier five times; they broke the 150-points barrier six times; and on the other seven times they scored more than 100 points.
Not once did the rampaging Sharks score less than 100 points – a truly amazing effort under coach Gavan McGuane.
They conceded 100-plus points only twice and nine times restricted the opposition to less than 50 points.
For the record, in the 16 home-and-away matches, the Sharks scored 2806 points (average 175.3 per game) and finished with a percentage of 325.14.
In two finals matches, the Sharks scored 345 points and conceded 142 for a percentage of 242.95.
They beat Morningside by 30.19 (199) to 7.13 (55) in the major semi-final, then again beat the Panthers in the grand final by 22.14 (146) to 12.15 (87) to cap a year of absolute domination.
The club lost its usual quota of quality campaigners from the 1989 grand final side, including Peter Guy, Ray Sarcevic, Darren Carlson and Paul Drever.
But there were some absolute bonuses in the recruits.
At the top of the list was Cameron O’Brien, the hugely talented key forward, who walked out on the Brisbane Bears mid-season. His first game for Southport produced 10 goals against Windsor-Zillmere and he booted 83 from only 10 appearances in the Black V.
Such was the impact O’Brien had, he relegated Craig Crowley (61) to second spot on the season’s goalkicking list.
Dean McMahon, Rod and Gary Brewster, Glen Reeves and Steve Toose all rose to fill the breech – and all were rewarded with premiership medals.
The grand final team of the year was:
Backs: Dean McMahon, Scott Lawton, Craig Headland.
Half-backs: Mick Kenny, Steve Handley, Brad Dobson.
Centres: Rod Brewster, Zane Taylor, Dean Bowtell.
Half-forwards: Gary Brewster, Peter Riewoldt, David Ashkar.
Forwards: Craig Crowley, Cameron O’Brien, Phil McGarry.
Rucks: Paul Siede, Glen Reeves, Jason Cotter.
Interchange: Rob Jones, Steven Toose.
Details of the clash were:
SOUTHPORT 2.2 9.5 13.8 22.14 (146)
MORNINGSIDE 3.8 5.9 10.13 12.15 (87)
GOALS: Southport: C O’Brien 5, P McGarry 5, G Reeves 3, R Jones 2, D Bowtell, P Riewoldt, M Kenny, D Ashkar, R Brewster, Z Taylor, P Siede. Morningside: D Vickery 5, C Waterson 2, S Stewart 2, J Perez, D Bourke, F McLaughlan, D Fogarty.
BEST: Southport: Z Taylor, D McMahon, R Jones, J Cotter, B Dobson, P Siede. Morningside: C Waterson, D Fogarty, C Edwards, M Walsh, A Gaw.
It was a wild and willing clash, with the QAFL subsequently viewing the match video and coming up with a total of 11 reports.
McGarry (three separate charges) and Crowley (three) topped a lengthy rap sheet.
That success completed a wonderful year, the club aptly named as SUPER SHARKS on the back page of The Gold Coast Bulletin of October 8.
The club’s seniors did not lose a game all season, adding a nine-match winning streak in the midweek State Championship to the XXXX Premiership.
Season details: Games played 18, won 18, lost 0.
Best and fairest: Jason Cotter.
Joe Grant Medal: Zane Taylor.
Grogan Medal: Jason Cotter.
Leading goalkicker: Cameron O’Brien (83).
State Championship: Played 9, won 9, lost 0, won final v Morningside by 19.21 (135) to 11.14 (80) at the Gabba.
RESULTS 1990
Round 1 (Apr 29):
SOUTHPORT 4.1 12.3 16.8 16.14 (110)
WINSOR-ZILLMERE 1.7 1.10 5.13 8.15 (63)
Southport goals: R Pangrazio 3, J Cotter 3, R Enders 2, D Bowtell 2, P Riewoldt 2, R Jones, G Reeves, B Dobson.
Southport best: C Headland, I O’Dwyer, R Brewster, B Dobson, J Cotter, Z Taylor.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 2 (May 6):
SOUTHPORT 3.5 7.9 12.15 20.20 (140)
MAYNE 0.3 6.4 7.7 12.9 (81)
Southport goals: C Crowley 7, D Bowtell 3, R Enders 2, C Mansbridge 2, I O’Dwyer 2, R Jones, J Cotter, B Dobson, S Browne.
Southport best: B Dobson, J Cotter, D McMahon, C Crowley, D Bowtell, R Jones.
At Windsor Park, Brisbane.
Round 3 bye
Round 4 (May 20):
SOUTHPORT 7.3 12.5 17.11 22.16 (148)
MORNINGSIDE 0.2 2.3 4.4 9.6 (60)
Southport goals: W Capper 7, P McGarry 4, R Jones 2, J Cotter 2, J Brennan 2, M Kenny 2, G Reeves, I O’Dwyer, C Headland.
Southport best: G Reeves, S Browne, J Cotter, R Jones, I O’Dwyer, D Bowtell.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 5 (Jun 3):
SOUTHPORT 6.7 14.15 27.21 33.28 (226)
SANDGATE 0.0 1.1 2.2 6.2 (38)
Southport goals: P McGarry 5, C Mansbridge 5, D Bowtell 5, I O’Dwyer 5, J Cotter 4, R Enders 4, R Jones 3, P Riewoldt 2.
Southport best: R Jones, B Dobson, I O’Dwyer, G Brewster, J Cotter, D Bowtell.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 6 (Jun 11):
SOUTHPORT 7.3 13.13 20.18 25.22 (172)
COORPAROO 3.2 5.4 8.7 10.9 (69)
Southport goals: C Crowley 9, C Mansbridge 5, R Jones 2, J Cotter 2, G Brewster 2, G Reeves, P McGarry, B Dobson, R Enders, Z Taylor.
Southport best: J Cotter, C Mansbridge, R Jones, Z Taylor, B Dobson, C Crowley.
At Giffin Park, Brisbane.
Round 7 (Jun 17):
SOUTHPORT 6.6 11.16 16.21 25.26 (176)
WESTERN DISTRICTS 0.0 0.0 2.2 2.6 (16)
Southport goals: C Crowley 6, C Mansbridge 4, D Askhar 4, R Jones 3, J Cotter 2, P McGarry 3, C Headland, Z Taylor.
Southport best: R Jones, J Cotter, D Ashkar, C Mansbridge, C Headland, D McMahon.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 8 (Jun 24):
SOUTHPORT 3.5 9.7 16.11 21.17 (143)
KEDRON-GRANGE 4.2 8.4 11.7 11.11 (77)
Southport goals: C Crowley 8, C Mansbridge 5, D Ashkar 4, J Cotter, R Pangrazio, P Riewoldt, G Brewster\.
Southport best: P Riewoldt, B Dobson, D McMahon, C Headland, P Siede, Z Taylor.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill (lights).
Round 9 (Jul 7):
SOUTHPORT 8.6 17.10 26.20 33.29 (227)
CALOUNDRA 2.1 2.1 3.1 3.2 (20)
Southport goals: C Mansbridge 7, G Reeves 6, C Crowley 6, M Fischer 4, D Ashkar 3, R Enders 2, C O’Brien 2, R Jones, P Riewoldt, C Headland.
Southport best: C Mansbridge, R Enders, G Reeves, Z Taylor, D Bowtell, C O’Brien.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 10 (Jul 15):
SOUTHPORT 5.2 12.5 18.9 28.15 (183)
WINDSOR-ZILLMERE 1.3 1.4 3.5 3.6 (24)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 10, C Mansbridge 5, C Crowley 4, D Ashkar 3, J Cotter 3, R Enders, C Rippon, R Jones.
Southport best: J Cotter, D Bowtell, Z Taylor, P Siede, C O’Brien, C Mansbridge, R Enders.
At O’Callaghan Park, Brisbane.
Round 11 bye
Round 12 (Jul 29):
SOUTHPORT 5.5 11.7 23.12 32.18 (210)
SANDGATE 2.2 4.8 6.8 6.11 (47)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 7, C Crowley 7, R Pangrazio 6, R Enders 4, R Jones 2, C Mansbridge 2, D Ashkar 2, P Siede, G Brewster.
Southport best: R Enders, J Cotter, R Jones, C Rippon, R Pangrazio, S Toose.
At Lemke Road, Brisbane.
Round 13 (Aug 5):
SOUTHPORT 5.3 9.12 10.17 15.21 (111)
MORNINGSIDE 0.1 5.6 8.10 15.12 (102)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 9, C Crowley 2, R Pangrazio 2, C Mansbridge, J Cotter.
Southport best: C O’Brien, J Cotter, S Toose, D Bowtell, C Headland, S Lawton.
At Esplen Oval, Brisbane.
Round 14 (Aug 12):
SOUTHPORT 9.4 19.7 29.12 36.16 (232)
COORPAROO 3.0 4.1 4.3 5.5 (35)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 5, C Crowley 7, C Rippon 6, J Cotter 4, P Riewoldt 3, G Brewster 3, R Jones 2, R Enders 2, S Toose.
Southport best: Z Taylor, C Crowley, R Enders, D Bowtell, G Brewster, J Cotter.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 15 (Aug 19):
SOUTHPORT 6.4 12.5 19.10 29.13 (187)
WESTERN DISTRICTS 5.1 5.4 10.7 17.9 (111)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 8, D Ashkar 3, J Cotter 3, P McGarry 3, R Jones 3, C Rippon 3, D Bowtell 2, R Brewster, C Mansbridge, S Toose, C Crowley.
Southport best: R Jones, J Cotter, D Ashkar, C Mansbridge, C Headland, Z Taylor.
At Chelmer Oval, Brisbane.
Round 16 (Aug 26):
SOUTHPORT 3.3 8.5 13.6 17.10 (112)
KEDRON-GRANGE 1.1 3.2 6.5 7.6 (48)
Southport goals: A Garton 4, C O’Brien 3, D Ashkar 3, P McGarry 2, C Mansbridge 2, C Crowley, R Brewster, P Riewoldt.
Southport best: D McMahon, S Lawton, C Headland, B Dobson, S Handley, Z Taylor.
At Anderson Oval, Brisbane.
Round 17 (Sept 2):
SOUTHPORT 7.4 11.9 19.13 26.19 (175)
MAYNE 1.1 1.4 2.6 5.8 (38)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 11, R Brewster 6, D Ashkar 3, P McGarry 2, G Reeves, J Cotter, C Crowley, G Brewster.
Southport best: J Cotter, Z Taylor, G Brewster, C O’Brien, R Brewster, S Handley.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 18 (Sept 9):
SOUTHPORT 5.5 15.9 27.13 39.22 (256)
CALOUNDRA 1.1 3.2 5.3 5.3 (33)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 8, J Cotter 7, A Garton 4, R Jones 3, C Crowley 3, R Brewster 3, D Ashkar 3, Z Taylor 3, P Riewoldt 2, G Reeves, P McGarry, S Toose.
Southport best: J Cotter, R Jones, P Siede, G Reeves, S Toose, C O’Brien.
At Carter Park, Caloundra.
Second semi-final (Sept 23):
SOUTHPORT 4.4 11.8 23.12 30.19 (199)
MORNINGSIDE 4.6 5.9 6.12 7.13 (55)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 13, D Ashkar 5, R Jones 4, P McGarry 3, J Cotter 2, R Brewster 2, D Bowtell.
Southport best: C O’Brien, D Bowtell, P Siede, J Cotter, D Ashkar, G Reeves.
At the Gabba, Brisbane.
Grand final (Oct 7):
SOUTHPORT 2.2 9.5 13.8 22.14 (146)
MORNINGSIDE 3.8 5.9 10.13 12.15 (87)
Southport goals: C O’Brien 5, P McGarry 5, G Reeves 3, R Jones 2, D Bowtell, P Riewoldt, M Kenny, D Ashkar, R Brewster, Z Taylor, P Siede.
Southport best: Z Taylor, D McMahon, R Jones, J Cotter, B Dobson, P Siede.
At the Gabba, Brisbane.
