Cotter enters the history books with a coaching hat-trick and ‘St Nick’ makes his Sharks debut
ANOTHER season and another record for coach Jason Cotter, who completed the hat-trick of State League premierships in as many years in charge at Southport.
In the build-up, the Sharks lured hard-nosed defender Scott Lawton back to the club and the former Palm Beach-Currumbin star settled straight back into business, not knowing he was going to go on to bigger things at Fankhauser Reserve.
Lawton subsequently formed a formidable defensive unit alongside Greg Pemberton and the irrepressible Mark Bradley, who opened his second season in the Black V with three best-on-ground and two second best-on-ground honours over the first five rounds.
Up front, Rod Mackay and Tim Deacon staged a two-man war for goalkicking honours, with Mackay edging ahead to beat Deacon home by 80 to 67.
Adding to the forward firepower was Shaun Coughlan, the rock at centre half-forward, with Matty Young adding extra pressure in the battle for places in the starting 22.
Southport and the Brisbane Lions Reserves featured in a match with a difference – an exhibition fixture for premiership points played in chilly Toowoomba.
But the match was not on your regular-shaped footy oval. It was staged on a field covering two rectangular hockey fields, with the corners ‘rounded off’ to complete rather tight pockets and straight boundaries.
Nevertheless, the clash was entertaining and the Sharks prevailed over a Brisbane side that contained a number of future AFL stars, including Jonathan Brown.
The opening match of the season, against Northern Eagles and which the Sharks lost, also featured the seniors debut of Nick Riewoldt, who was destined for bigger things in the AFL, but who was to play a significant role in Southport’s grand final victory over their opening-round conquerors.
The Sharks started Riewoldt on a wing where he was matched up agai8nst future Lions star Jamie Charman.
Charman kept Riewoldt virtually touchless in the first half and, with his wide in trouble, coach Cotter worked some positional magic for ther third quarter.
He swung Riewoldt to the ruck and Clint Watts to on-ball duties – and things changed markedly as the Sharks went from 1.3 to 5.5 down at the big break to win by nine points in a low-scoring affair.
To this day, Cotter, his coaching assistants and the players still wonder how they got out of jail.
Southport’s grand final team:
Backs: Jayson Pate, Scott Lawton, Greg Pemberton.
Half-backs: Clint Watts, Mark Bradley, Craig Mansbridge.
Centres: Steve McLuckie, Shaun Stephens, Nick Riewoldt.
Half-forwards: Campbell Black, Sean Coughlan, Travis McKenzie.
Forwards: Tim Deacon, Rod Mackay, Lee Stewart.
Rucks: Ryan Martin, Nick Mansbridge, David Bain.
Interchange: Adam McKenzie, Gary Mann, Matt Young, Troy Crossley.
Grand final details:
SOUTHPORT 1.3 1.3 5.4 10.8 (68)
NTHN EAGLES 2.2 5.5 6.9 8.11 (59)
GOALS: Southport: S McLuckie 4, N Riewoldt 2, C Watts 2, S Stephens, G Pemberton. Northern Eagles: M Smith 3, D Nolan, P Wolfe, J Keogh, S Hawkins, D Dickfos.
BEST: Southport: S McLuckie, R Martin, S Lawton, C Watts, S Stephens, G Pemberton, N Riewoldt. Northern Eagles: D Benham, P Wolfe, S Hawkins, M Watts, D Dickfos, L Weller.
At Giffin Park, Brisbane.
Season details: Games played 20, won 15, lost 5.
Best and fairest: Mark Bradley.
Joe Grant Medal: Steve McLuckie.
Leading goalkicker: Rod Mackay (80).
MATCH RESULTS 2000
Round 1 (Mar 25):
NTHN EAGLES 1.2 6.7 12.9 15.10 (100)
SOUTHPORT 2.3 4.6 9.9 10.13 (73)
Southport goals: T Deacon 4, R Mackay 3, S Coughlan, S Stephens, D Bain.
Southport best: M Bradley, T Day, D Bain, C Black, S McLuckie.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 2 (Apr 1):
BRISBANE 6.6 14.13 20.14 23.18 (156)
SOUTHPORT 3.3 6.6 10.8 18.10 (118)
Southport goals: R Mackay 12, S Stephens 3, N Riewoldt 2, J Pate.
Southport best: R Mackay, M Bradley, S Stephens, D Bain, M Sullivan.
At Giffin Park, Brisbane.
Round 3 Apr 8):
SOUTHPORT 4.2 8.4 13.4 18.6 (114)
LABRADOR 4.6 6.8 8.9 10.12 (72)
Southport goals: R Mackay 9, T Deacon 4, C Black 2, M Sullivan, S McLuckie, C Watts.
Southport best: M Bradley, R Martin, R Mackay, D Bain, M Young.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 4 (Apr 15):
SOUTHPORT 7.3 15.5 19.5 25.8 (158)
REDLAND 2.4 3.6 6.11 11.14 (80)
Southport goals: T Deacon 6, R Mackay 6, N Riewoldt 3, M Sullivan 2, D Bain 2, N Mansbridge 2, S McLuckie, L Stewart, C Black, M Bradley.
Southport best: M Bradley, N Riewoldt, S McLuckie, M Young, L Stewart.
At Victoria Point.
Round 5 (Apr 22):
SOUTHPORT 3.4 7.9 12.11 19.13 (127)
BROADBEACH 0.0 2.2 3.2 4.4 (28)
Southport goals: R Mackay 7, T Deacon 4, C Watts 3, C Mansbridge 2, S Coughlan, S McLuckie, C Black.
Southport best: C Watts, M Bradley, R Martin, S McLuckie, M Young, A Devine.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 6 (Apr 29):
SOUTHPORT 4.4 5.7 11.10 17.18 (120)
MT GRAVATT 4.0 5.2 5.4 7.6 (48)
Southport goals: R Mackay 8, T Deacon 4, M Sullivan, C Watts, C Black, D Bain, M Bradley.
Southport best: S Stephens, M Sullivan, C Watts, M Young, S McLuckie.
At Dittmer Park, Brisbane.
Round 7 (May 6):
SOUTHPORT 3.3 8.6 11.13 14.14 (98)
MORNINGSIDE 4.3 6.4 7.6 8.9 (57)
Southport goals: C Mansbridge 4, R Mackay 3, S Coughlan 2, C Black 2, D Bain, T Deacon, M Hounslow.
Southport best: N Mansbridge, G Pemberton, S McLuckie, S Coughlan, T Day.
At Fankhsuser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 8 (May 14):
NTHN EAGLES 3.2 5.7 9.7 12.12 (84)
SOUTHPORT 4.3 4.4 8.5 12.8 (80)
Southport goals: R Mackay 7, T Deacon 5.
Southport best: J Pate, S Stephens, T Day, D Bain, N Riewoldt.
At O’Callaghan Park, Brisbane.
Round 9 (May 20):
SOUTHPORT 2.5 6.8 11.12 19.15 (129)
REDLAND 2.0 6.2 6.9 8.5 (53)
Southport goals: T Deacon 7, R Mackay 5, S Coughlan 2, L Stewart, M Young, D Bain, D Garrett, N Riewoldt.
Southport best: M Bradley, N Riewoldt, S Lawton, L Stewart, C Watts.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 10 (May 28):
SOUTHPORT 7.7 11.11 23.13 27.17 (179)
BROADBEACH 1.2 4.3 5.4 5.7 (37)
Southport goals: T Deacon 8, C Mansbridge 6, R Mackay 3, N Riewoldt 3, M Sullivan, S Coughlan, S McLuckie, L Stewart, T Day, D Bain.
Southport best: N Riewoldt, C Mansbridge, T Deacon, M Sullivan, M Young, S Lawton.
At Merrimac Oval, Broadbeach Waters.
Round 11 (Jun 3):
SOUTHPORT 3.2 8.2 14.5 20.8 (128)
LABRADOR 0.3 5.7 7.10 10.11 (71)
Southport goals: T Deacon 9, R Mackay 4, C Mansbridge 2, L Stewart, S Lawton, T Crossley, M Young, D Bain.
Southport best: T Deacon, M Young, L Stewart, T Crossley, S Lawton, G Pemberton.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 12 (Jun 6):
SOUTHPORT 6.3 13.4 16.10 22.10 (142)
BRISBANE 2.1 7.5 11.5 13.7 (85)
Southport goals: R Mackay 6, S Coughlan 4, T Deacon 4, M Sullivan 2, S McLuckie, C Watts, C Mansbridge, C Black, D Bain, A McKenzie.
Southport best: S Coughlan, S Lawton, G Pembertopn, C Watts, T Deacon.
At Toowoomba Hockey Fields.
Round 13 (Jun 17):
SOUTHPORT 5.7 15.14 22.23 28.29 (197)
MT GRAVATT 2.0 2.0 7.1 8.1 (49)
Southport goals: R Mackay 6, N Riewoldt 6, S McLuckie 3, B Martin 2, L Stewart 2, C Black 2, D Bain 2, N Mansbridge 2, M Sullivan, S Coughlan, S Stephens.
Southport best: S McLuckie, N Riewoldt, S Lawton, C Watts, M Sullivan, D Bain.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 14 (Jul 1):
MORNINGSIDE 3.3 8.3 11.5 15.9 (99)
SOUTHPORT 1.1 8.3 9.4 11.8 (74)
Southport goals: T Deacon 6, M Sullivan, S Watts, S Stephens, T Day, C Black.
Southport best: M Bradley, S Stephens, J Pate, S Lawton, T Crossley.
At Esplen Oval, Brisbane.
Round 15 (Jul 9):
SOUTHPORT 2.6 9.8 13.10 19.13 (127)
BRISBANE 2.5 2.5 3.10 5.10 (40)
Southport goals: T Deacon 5, M Young 2, J Pate 2, D Garrett 2, R Martin 2, S McLuckie, M Bradley, A Cooke, M Hounslow, G Mann, A Devine.
Southport best: S McLuckie, D Bain, A McKenzie, D Garrett, T Crossley.
At the Gabba, Brisbane.
Round 16 (Jul 15):
NTHN EAGLES 2.2 4.4 6.5 9.7 (61)
SOUTHPORT 0.4 1.5 1.7 2.13 (25)
Southport goals: T Deacon, C Mansbridge.
Southport best: S McLuckie, T Crossley, N Mansbridge, C Watts, M Bradley.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.
Round 17 (Jul 22):
SOUTHPORT 7.3 14.6 19.11 23.13 (151)
MT GRAVATT 2.1 6.6 7.10 8.12 (60)
Southport goals: C Mansbridge 5, D Garrett 4, T McKenzie 3, S Stephens 2, G Pemberton 2, D Bain 2, C Black, A McKenzie, N Mansbridge, N Riewoldt, S McLuckie.
Southport best: T Crossley, S McLuckie, C Mansbridge, J Pate, G Pemberton.
At Dittmer Park, Brisbane.
Round 18 (Jul 30):
SOUTHPORT 3.2 6.4 10.7 16.11 (107)
MORNINGSIDE 5.7 6.10 7.10 11.10 (76)
Southport goals: T McKenzie 3, D Garrett 3, C Mansbridge 2, N Riewoldt 2, C Black 2, D Bain, M Sullivan, G Mann, R Martin.
Southport best: N Riewoldt, C Black, S Stephens, R Martikn, L Stewart.
At Esplen Oval, Brisbane.
Second semi-final (Aug 13):
SOUTHPORT 2.2 3.5 8.8 9.10 (64)
NTHN EAGLES 1.2 3.3 7.5 9.7 (61)
Southport goals: C Black 2, R Mackay 2, L Stewart, C Mansbridge, S Stephens, D Bain, T McKenzie.
Southport best: N Mansbridge, T Crossley, R Martin, S McLuckie, S Stephens, L Stewart.
At Giffin Park, Brisbane.
Grand final (Aug 27):
SOUTHPORT 1.3 1.3 5.4 10.8 (68)
NTHN EAGLES 2.2 5.5 6.9 8.11 (59)
Southport goals: S McLuckie 4, N Riewoldt 2, C Watts 2, S Stephens, G Pemberton.
Southport best: S McLuckie, R Martin, S Lawton, C Watts, S Stephens, G Pemberton, N Riewoldt.
At Giffin Park, Brisbane.
