With their season teetering on a cliff’s edge, the Southport Sharks produced a resounding 18-point win over the Redland Bombers at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday.
The Bombers had run and plenty of scoring opportunities throughout the game.
What they didn’t have was Jack Anthony, who produced his best game since a season-ending neck injury in Round 9 last year in the Sharks’ 11.14 (80) to 8.14 (62) win.
Having spent most of 2017 deep in defence, Anthony was forced forward as the home side were without fellow key forward Hamish Shepheard through injury.
The former Collingwood and Fremantle forward was a sure thing in front of goal, kicking 5.2, and was almost unstoppable one on one.
Anthony’s performance was mirrored by in-form Southport midfielder Jordan Keras, who continued his fine 2017 campaign in style, finishing with 44 disposals, 12 clearances and five tackles.
Bomber midfielders Hayden Bertoli-Simmonds and Soul Cormick led the way for the Bombers, finishing 32 and 24 disposals respectively. The pair were a lone positive for the away side.
Redland’s 2016 leading goal kicker Luke Rogerson was deployed in a new role in defence as the team was without Peter Yagmoor, operating a loose sweeper, but not even he could curb the Sharks’ dominance.
Like Anthony, key forward Jackson Paine was vocal up forward, kicking four of his side’s seven goals, including the first in both the first and second quarters.
After three consecutive losses heading into the game, Southport coach Nathan Bock assured the performance was empirical for the team’s confidence.
“I think the first three and a half quarters was really positive and I think the guys got a lot of confidence from that,” he said.
“Our form over the last three weeks has been really ordinary. We needed to respond and I think they did that today.”
Bock also chimed in on Anthony’s match-winning performance, suggesting the forward was the main catalyst for the Sharks’ dominance early on.
“He was outstanding. He probably took the game from the scruff of the neck early and set his presence on the game and the rest of the boys jumped on his coattails,” he said.
The Bombers got the jump in the opening term, registering the first two inside 50s and found the scoresheet within the first minute through Paine.
Southport responded almost immediately via Anthony, who after spending most of the season playing in defence, kicked two first quarter majors.
Inaccuracy continued to plague the Bombers’ forward line, which collectively kicked only two goals before half-time despite having 11 scoring shots.
Their missed opportunities in front of goal weren’t their only downfall, as the midfield were thoroughly beaten by Southport in the clearances 43-27 despite winning the hit outs 41-44.
The Sharks were far more effective in front of goal, and undoubtedly benefited from Redland’s tendencies in trying risky kicks when rebounding from defence, adding a further 3.2 before the half.
It wasn’t long before 194cm ruckman Jed Turner got in on the act, wheeling around on his right to kick the Sharks’ first of the second half.
By three-quarter time and with a seven goal deficit in play, the game was all but over.
Despite a five-goal term for the Bombers, early goals through Wade Hancock and Tom Thynne only secured the victory for the Sharks. For the second consecutive week, it was a case of too much left for too late for Redland, who now sit bottom of the table.
After an electric performance against Canberra last week, Redland forward James Rayner lasted less than a quarter, suffering a knee injury early in the match.
The victory lifts Southport off the bottom of the NEAFL ladder and an opportunity to climb higher against Gold Coast awaits next week.
Redland continue to rue their opportunities as yet another season transpires into a ‘what could have been’ scenario. They fly to Sydney next week to face the Giants.
Southport Sharks v Redland Bombers at Fankhauser Reserve
SOUTHPORT 3.2 6.5 8.10 11.14 (80)
REDLAND 1.5 2.9 3.10 8.14 (62)
GOALS – Southport: J Anthony 5, W Hancock 2, J Baxter, D Lancaster, T Thynne, J Turner. Redland: J Paine 4, J Huddy, A Christensen, J Rolls, B Bailey.
BEST – Southport: J Anthony, J Keras, C Filewood, M Fowler, A Boston, T Thynne. Redland: H Bertoli-Simmonds, J Paine, A Williams, J Rolls, B Bailey.