The biggest thing to come out of 1991 was after the footy had finished
SEASON 1991 was not the most successful in Southport’s history, football-wise, nor was it by any means a wipeout, yet plenty happened behind the scenes.
After the Sharks lost the grand final against Morningside, by a record 61 points, premiership coach Gavan McGuane stepped down after three years in charge.
But it was a dramatic annual general meeting that almost voted to get Southport back into the Gold Coast Australian Football League competition that stirred things up off the field.
When the Sharks elected to establish a new social headquarters at Musgrave Hill – officially opened early in 1989 on the back of Wally Fankhauser’s unbelievable $2 million donation – the club’s finances took a hammering.
In the days of the Owen Park operation, the social club was a money-spinner with a strong daytime trade, thanks to a nearby council depot and buoyant match-day turnover and large match-day crowds.
But when the club moved base in 1989, the drinkers and supporters did not follow and turnover slowly dwindled to a point that the club’s balance sheet showed an operating loss in the vicinity of $87,000.
Clearly things had to change and a strong push came from within the club’s management to abandon the Queensland Australian Football League – with its high association costs – and return to the GCAFL, where crowds and support had been much better.
It was actually the man who tipped in the $2 million to set up the new complex at the venue named after him, Mr Fankhauser, who led the charge for change.
He moved the motion to get back to the GCAFL, which was strongly supported by then treasurer Gerry Carmody.
“We felt if we got back to our grass roots we’d get better crowds and support,” said Carmody.
The AGM was attended by a member of the QAFL management team, who strongly urged the Sharks not to abandon the State League.
The board was split over the issue and those in opposition voiced strong concern that the pathway to the top for young Gold Coast players would be scuppered.
“The motion was lost by only a handful of votes,” said Mr Carmody, who was so concerned at the club’s situation, and the vote, he promptly resigned.
(Mr Carmody returned to the club’s board a year later and now has the social club’s superb restaurant Carmodys named after him).
Champion rover Jason Cotter, ironically mentored in the ANZ Bank by Carmody, stepped in as bean-counter for the following 1992 year.
History has it that the Sharks were to kick a huge goal in 1992 when poker machines were introduced into Queensland and, with such a modern and large social facility, the Sharks pounced.
They have since become the state’s number one licensed social club.
That is a far cry from when Cotter was player-treasurer.
“I can remember things were so tight that out on the field, once when somebody kicked a ball over the northern fence, I said to myself, ‘is anyone going to get it back’?”
On the playing field, the Sharks started the season off with 11 straight wins, to follow on their unbeaten 1990 flag, but when they lost to Morningside in round 14, a 32-match winning streak came to an end.
The Sharks subsequently beat their arch rivals Morningside by 12 points in the second semi-final, but were hammered by the same team in the grand final a fortnight later.
Craig Headland, a defender who first played for the Sharks in 1989, was a shining light after being switched to full-forward. He kicked 84 goals in a season in which two Victorian recruits, Joe Amad and Royce Enders, shared best and fairest honours and a number of youngsters made their debuts, including Jeff Brennan.
Season details: Games played 20, won 17, lost 3, lost grand final v Morningside 18.24 (132) to 9.17 (71).
Best and fairest: Joe Amad and Royce Enders tie.
Leading goalkicker: Craig Headland (84).
State Championship: Played 3, won 3, lost 0, won final v South Queensland 15.19 (109) to 8.4 (52) at Fankhauser Reserve.
RESULTS 1991
Round 1 (Apr 7):
SOUTHPORT 6.8 14.11 19.19 20.23 (143)
MORNINGSIDE 3.0 8.6 10.8 17.9 (111)
Southport goals: C Headland 9, C Mansbridge 2, D McMahon 2, C Black 2, J Cotter, R Enders, P Riewoldt, J Amad, S Lennox.
Southport best: J Cotter, P Siede, C Elliott, C Headland, S Lennox, D Bowtell.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 2 bye
Round 3 (Apr 21):
SOUTHPORT 8.3 11.7 15.9 23.15 (151)
KEDRON-GRANGE 4.6 9.10 9.14 14.22 (106)
Southport goals: C Rippon 5, P Riewoldt 3, D Askhar 3, C Headland 3, J Cotter 2, J Amad 2, R Enders, S Lennox, C Black, Z Taylor.
Southport best: J Amad, P Riewoldt,R Enders, D Bowtell, C Rippon, J Cotter.
At Anderson Oval, Brisbane.
Round 4 (Apr 28):
SOUTHPORT 8.5 13.7 20.19 33.26 (224)
MAYNE 0.1 1.5 1.5 3.6 (24)
Southport goals: C Headland 8, D Ashkar 5, R Enders 3, J Cotter 2, C Elliott 2, C Rippon 2, P Siede 2, S Lennox 2, M Smith 2, C Black 2, D McMahon, J Amad, Z Taylor.
Southport best: S Browne, R Enders, S Lennox, C Headland, D Norgate, C Black.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 5 (May 12):
SOUTHPORT 6.3 11.9 14.12 16.19 (115)
WEST BRISBANE 2.0 2.3 4.4 7.5 (47)
Southport goals: C Headland 7, D Ashkar 3, S Browne 2, S McLuckie, J Cotter, P Siede, R Enders.
Southport best: S Browne, T Lucas, R Enders, C Headland, J Cotter, J Amad.
At Chelmer Oval, Brisbane.
Round 6 (Apr 19):
SOUTHPORT 4.3 11.11 19.16 26.21 (177)
COORPAROO 3.3 3.3 5.8 5.9 (39)
Southport goals: P Siede 5, D Ashkar 5, J Cotter 3, C Headland 3, C Mansbridge 2, C Black 2, S Browne 2, R Enders, D McMahon, J Amad, M Smith.
Southport best: D Bowtell, S Lennox, S Stephens, T Lucas, C Mansbridge, D Ashkar.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 7 (Apr 26):
SOUTHPORT 8.4 12.6 19.9 26.14 (170)
NORTH BRISBANE 4.1 9.3 11.5 12.9 (81)
Southport goals: C Headland 6, C Mansbridge 5, P Siede 4, J Cotter 3, P Riewoldt 2, C Black 2, S McLuckie, C Crowley, D McMahon, J Amad.
Southport best: C Mansbridge, D Bowtell, J Amad, C Headland, P Siede, T Lucas.
At O’Callaghan Park, Brisbane.
Round 8 (Jun 2):
SOUTHPORT 7.4 12.9 14.14 22.18 (150)
MORNINGSIDE 1.2 5.6 9.11 11.16 (82)
Southport goals: D Ashkar 5, P Siede 3, C Headland 3, C Mansbridge 2, C Crowley 2, C Black 2, J Cotter, R Enders, J Amad, C Beggs, Z Taylor.
Southport best: P Siede, J Amad, D Ashkar, C Mansbridge, D Bowtell, J Cotter.
At Esplen Oval, Brisbane.
Round 9 bye
Round 10 (Jun 23):
SOUTHPORT 6.5 10.12 17.21 24.28 (172)
KEDRON-GRANGE 0.2 5.4 8.7 11.7 (73)
Southport goals: C Headland 8, D Ashkar 4, P Siede 4, J Amad 3, P McGarry, C Mansbridge, S Stephens, M Smith.
Southport best: C Headland, S Stephens, C Beggs, R Enders, D Ashkar, P Siede.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 11 (Jul 6):
SOUTHPORT 8.8 14.18 23.20 30.23 (203)
WEST BRISBANE 2.1 3.2 5.5 8.6 (54)
Southport goals: P Siede 7, J Amad 6, J Cotter 5, D Ashkar 4, R Jones 2, C Crowley 2, C Headland, T Lucas, S Lennox, P Riewoldt.
Southport best: S Lennox, J Amad, D McMahon, D Ashkar, M Smith,. P Siede.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 12 (bye)
Round 13 (Jul 13):
SOUTHPORT 13.8 14.14 24.17 32.19 (211)
COORPAROO 0.2 5.5 6.6 12.10 (82)
Southport goals: C Headland 8, J Amad 6, D Ashkar 4, R Enders 2, P Siede 2, S Lennox 2, M Smith 2, J Howes 2, J Brennan, S Stephens, S Browne, P Riewoldt.
Southport best: R Enders, C Headland, T Lucas, S Stephens, P Riewoldt, D Ashkar.
At Giffin Park, Brisbane.
Round 14 (Jul 20):
SOUTHPORT 7.6 12.10 14.17 21.18 (144)
NORTH BRISBANE 1.2 6.3 8.8 12.11 (83)
Southport goals: C Headland 7, S McLuckie 3, J Cotter 2, P McGarry 2, D Bowtell 2, M Smith, S Lennox, J Amad, P Riewoldt, R Jones.
Southport best: S Stephens, T Lucas, D Bowtell, J Amad, M Smith, C Headland.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 15 (Jul 28):
MORNINGSIDE 1.2 5.9 9.12 15.16 (106)
SOUTHPORT 1.3 4.5 6.8 11.16 (82)
Southport goals: C Headland 3, P McGarry 2, P Riewoldt 2, R Jones, P Siede, C Mansbridge, J Amad.
Southport best: S Stephens, R Enders, S Lennox, C Headland, J Amad.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 16 (Aug 3):
SOUTHPORT 6.1 8.8 17.12 19.19 (133)
MAYNE 1.2 5.6 10.8 13.10 (88)
Southport goals: C Black 4, R Jones 2, J Amad 2, D Ashkar 2, M Smith 2, J Henry, C Headland, S Lennox, C Mansbridge, R Enders, C Crowley, S McLuckie.
Southport best: S McLuckie, S Stephens, J Amad, C Black, S Browne, C Headland.
At Windsor Park, Brisbane.
Round 17 (Aug 11):
KEDRON-GRANGE 4.2 6.5 12.8 16.15 (111)
SOUTHPORT 3.5 7.11 9.12 13.14 (92)
Southport goals: J Cotter 2, C Mansbridge 2, D Ashkar 2, C Headland 2, C Elliott, R Enders, P Siede, S Stephens,. J Amad.
Southport best: P Riewoldt, S Stephens, R Enders, P Siede, C Headland, M Smith.
At Anderson Oval, Brisbane.
Round 18 (Aug 17):
SOUTHPORT 7.2 13.8 25.17 34.19 (223)
MAYNE 4.4 6.7 7.9 13. 15 (93)
Southport goals: P Siede 7, S McLuckie 5, J Cotter 5, C Crowley 5, J Amad 4, C Elliott 2, C Black 2, S Stephens, P Riewoldt, S Lennox, D Ashkar.
Southport best: J Amad, S McLuckie, P Siede, J Cotter, C Crowley, S Stephens.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 19 (Aug 25):
SOUTHPORT 7.6 12.15 20.19 31.24 (210)
WEST BRISBANE 2.1 6.3 7.7 8.9 (57)
Southport goals: J Amad 7, P Siede 5, C Mansbridge 4, R Jones 4, C Headland 3, C Crowley 3, D Bowtell 2, J Henry, J Cotter, S McLuckie.
Southport best: C Black, S McLuckie, J Brennan, J Amad, D Bowtell, S Stephens.
At Chelmer Oval, Brisbane.
Round 20 (Sept 1):
SOUTHPORT 4.8 15.13 24.20 35.23 (233)
COORPAROO 3.2 4.4 6.4 6.5 (41)
Southport goals: P Siede 10, C Mansbridge 7, J Henry 5, J Cotter 3, J Amad 3, C Crowley 2, C Elliott 2, D Ashkar, C Headland, M Smith.
Southport best: R Jones, D Bowtell, C Mansbridge, P Siede, S Stephens, J Amad.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 21 (Sept 8):
SOUTHPORT 5.6 6.9 13.13 21.17 (143)
NORTH BRISBANE 3.1 13.6 14.7 16.9 (105)
Southport goals: C Mansbridge 6, C Black 3, C Headland 2, P Riewoldt 2, C Crowley, C Rippon, R Enders, J Brennan, P Siede, S Stephens.
Southport best: D Crutchfield, C Headland, C Mansbridge, Z Taylor, S Lennox, C Black.
At O’Callaghan Park, Brisbane.
Second semi-final (Sept 15):
SOUTHPORT 6.5 8.5 14.11 18.13 (121)
MORNINGSIDE 5.1 10.5 12.6 17.7 (109)
Southport goals: D Ashkar 6, C Headland 5, J Amad 2, R Enders, C Mansbridge, J Cotter, S Stephens, C Black.
Southport best: J Cotter, C Headland, D Bowtell, D Ashkar, D Crutchfield, S Stephens.
At the Gabba, Brisbane.
Grand final (Sept 29):
MORNINGSIDE 5.6 6.10 13.14 18.24 (132)
SOUTHPORT 3.1 7.7 9.10 9.17 (71)
Southport goals: C Headland 4, J Amad 2, D Ashkar 2, R Enders.
Southport best: D Crutchfield, J Henry, J Cotter, C Headland.
At the Gabba, Brisbane.
