Topsy-turvy season follows Crowley’s successful debut stint in charge

IT was perhaps an indication of season’s fortunes when Southport surrendered their Broadwater bragging rights to Labrador for the first time in State League.

It was round 13 and the Sharks fell by 13 points at Cooke-Murphy Oval, a result that led to wild celebrations at Tigerland, the club even going to the extreme of putting on free drinks for an hour in the social club.

It was the first time since Labrador entered the State League in 1997 that they had downed their neighbours.
Then the Sharks, again for the first time, earned the title of worst team on the Gold Coast when they lost back-to-back derbys as Broadbeach beat them by 10 points at Merrimac Oval a week later.

Earlier, class utility Chris Lambart and cousins Dan and Steve Brittain joined Southport from Zillmere.
The Brittains, respective sons of renowned Southport ‘adversaries’ Craig and Wayne, landed at the Sharks after Wayne was sacked as coach of Zillmere.

Tall key position utility Ben Caputi signed from East Fremantle and during the season ruckmen Broc McCauley and James Mulligan – to go on to AFL club lists – were also lured from the ranks of the Surfers Paradise juniors.

The Sharks were up and down through the year, eventually finishing third after the home-and-away series.
They then lost a qualifying final against Morningside, exacted sweet revenge on Labrador with a 26-point win in the first semi-final and they reversed the trend by beating Morningside by 22 points in the preliminary final.
This earned them a crack at Mt Gravatt in the grand final, but the Vultures were way too good, taking the flag by a convincing 38 points at Gold Coast Stadium.

Southport lost twice to Mt Gravatt in the home-and-away action, the last one by 48 points after they trailed by only 11 points at three-quarter time.

The season statistic of 13 wins and 10 losses says it all about the erratic Sharks. That was the most number of defeats the Sharks have had in a State League season.

After Morningside beat the Sharks by 68 points in the qualifying final, coach Crowley described the insipid effort as ‘as soft a performance in my time at the club’.

Ben McEntee kicked 100 goals in a season for the second time. He went into the grand final on 95 majors and kicked five to reach three figures, although it was a bitter-sweet personal achievement given the final result.

Season details: Games played 23, won 13, lost 10.
Best and fairest: Ben McEntee.
Leading goalkicker: Ben McEntee (100).

MATCH RESULTS 2007

Round 1 (Apr 14):
SOUTHPORT  5.4  12.8  13.9  18.13 (121)
ZILLMERE      0.1   4.2   10.8   12.12 (84)
Southport goals: B McEntee 8, C Watts 3, F Pope 2, D O’Brien, D Eaton, C Lambart, B Merrett, B McCauley.
Southport best: C Betts, D Carmody, B Merrett, C Lambart, D Hawkins.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.

Round 2 (Apr 21):
SOUTHPORT  5.3  10.8  15.12  15.16 (106)
SUNCOAST      2.4   2.7    5.11      7.15 (57)
Southport goals: B McEntee 4, B Merrett 3, G Johnson 2, J Burge, B McCauley, F Pope, D O’Brien, D Eaton, C Watts.
Southport best: B Merrett, G Johnson, D Brittain, D Grant, G Screech.
At Gold Coat Stadium,. Carrara.

Round 3 (Apr 28):
SOUTHPORT  4.0  10.5  11.6  16.12 (108)
LABRADOR    2.6  2.10  4.15      6.17 (53)
Southport goals: B McEntee 5, D Wise 2, F Pope, D Carmody, D O’Brien, D Eaton, J Burge, B Caputi, B McCauley, D James, G Johnson.
Southport best: G Johnson, D O’Brien, C Lambart, D Hawkins, B Caputi, B McCauley.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.

Round 4 (May 5):
SOUTHPORT  8.4  14.4  20.8  23.11 (149)
REDLAND       3.2    6.7  7.10    12.11 (83)
Southport goals: C Watts 4, B McEntee 4, F Pope 3, J Burge 2, J Holland 2, B McCauley, D Carmody, D Hawkins, D O’Brien, D Wise, G Johnson, A Devine, D Lynch.
Southport best: D O’Brien, F Pope, C Watts, J Burge, G Johnson.
At Victoria Point.

Round 5 (May 12):
MT GRAVATT  4.3  7.6  10.8  13.10 (88)
SOUTHPORT    1.2  3.6    6.7      9.9 (63)
Southport goals: G Screech, D Wise, A Devine, B McEntee, B Merrett, D Lynch, J Holland, J Burge, G Johnson.
Southport best: D Hawkins, G Screech, K Tandogac, J Holland, B Merrett.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.

Round 6 (May 20):
MORNINGSIDE  0.6  6.9  11.11  15.13 (103)
SOUTHPORT      3.5  5.6    9.10    14.12 (96)
Southport goals: B McEntee 3, C Watts 2, D McEntee 2, B Merrett 2, D Wise, G Johnson, J Holland, A Devine, T Zimmer.
Southport best: D O’Brien, B Merrett, B Caputi, K Tandogac.
At Esplen Oval, Brisbane.

Round 7 (May 27):
SOUTHPORT  6.2  9.4  13.6  14.11 (95)
ZILLMERE     2.2  4.4   7.12  12.16 (88)
Southport goals: J Burge 3, M Lynch 3, S Brittain 2, B McEntee 2, D Wise, B Caputi, F Pope, C Watts.
Southport best: A Devine, M Lynch, J Burge, B Merrett, E Dureya.
At O’Callaghan Park, Brisbane.

Round 8 (Jun 2):
SOUTHPORT     4.5    8.8  15.11  23.14 (152)
BROADBEACH  1.8  5.11   6.14      7.15 (57)
Southport goals: B McEntee 6, D Wise 4, M Lynch 3, B Merrett 3, C Miller 2, D O’Brien, E Dureya, B McCauley, D Hawkins, G Johnson.
Southport best: D Wise, B Merrett, D Carmody, C Watts, D Grant, D Johnson.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.

Round 9 (Jun 16):
SUNCOAST     6.2  8.6  12.8  14.11 (95)
SOUTHPORT  3.3  8.6  9.10  11.14 (80)
Southport goals: M Lynch 4, D Wise 2, D O’Brien 2, D Carmody, B Merrett, C Miller.
Southport best: B Caputi, D Hawkins, D James, M Lynch, D Wise.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.

Round 10 (Jun 23):
MORNINGSIDE  3.1  7.4  8.8  16.14 (110)
SOUTHPORT      5.1  6.2  9.3      13.4 (82)
Southport goals: D Wise 5, B McEntee 5, D Carmody, B Merrett, J Burge.
Southport best: A Devine, D Lynch, B Caputi, D Wise, B McEntee.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.

Round 11 (Jun 30):
SOUTHPORT  7.2  10.5    16.7  20.11 (131)
ZILLMERE      2.7  6.12  10.14  14.17 (101)
Southport goals: B McEntee 6, D Hawkins 2, M Lynch 2, D Eaton 2, D James 2, D Wise 2, G Screech, D Carmody, C Watts, M Wise.
Southport best: L Jenkins, D James, D Lynch, B Mcentee, D O’Brien.
At O’Callaghan Park, Brisbane.

Round 12 (Jul 7):
SOUTHPORT    0.9  4.12  10.13  14.15 (99)
MT GRAVATT  1.2   2.5     3.11    7.14 (56)

Southport goals: B McEntee 5, M Wise 2, J Burge, C Watts, B Merrett, D Lynch, D James, D Wise, C Miller.
Southport best: D Wise, B Caputi, G Johnson, B McEntee, A Devine.
At Dittmer Park, Brisbane.

Round 13 (Jul 14):
LABRADOR    6.3  9.5  11.10  14.11 (95)
SOUTHPORT  1.5  5.9   5.10  11.16 (82)
Southport goals: B McEntee 3, J Burge 2, F Pope, M Lynch, D O’Brien, A Devine, C Miller, D James.
Southport best: D James, A Devine, D O’Brien, D Carmody, C Miller.
At Cooke-Murphy Oval, Labrador.

Round 14 (Jul 21):
BROADBEACH  2.2  3.5  6.7  11.7 (73)
SOUTHPORT     3.4  4.4  6.4    9.9 (63)
Southport goals: B McEntee 2, D Wise 2, M Wise 2, A Devine, B Merrett, J Burge.
Southport best: D James, C Watts, D O’Brien, M Lynch, C Betts.
At Merrimac Oval, Broadbeach Waters.

Round 15 (Jul 28):
SOUTHPORT  4.5  13.9  20.12  28.18 (186)
REDLAND      2.1    4.1      6.3        6.3 (39)
Southport goals: B McEntee 10, C Watts 5, M Lynch 4, D Carmody 2, S Brittain 2, A Devine 2, J Burge 2, B Merrett.
Southport best: D Carmody, B McEntee, M Lynch, C Watts, B Merrett.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.

Round 16 (Aug 4):
SUNCOAST     7.4  11.6   14.7  17.11 (113)
SOUTHPORT  3.4   9.6  10.10   12.12 (84)
Southport goals: B McEntee 7, S Brittain 2, D Carmody, D O’Brien, B Merrett.
Southport best: B McEntee, D Hawkins, M Lynch, D Carmody, D James.
At the Gabba, Brisbane.

Round 17 (Aug 11):
SOUTHPORT  1.2  7.5  11.9  18.13 (121)
LABRADOR    2.2  4.3    8.4        8.6 (54)
Southport goals: B McEntee 9, M Lynch 3, D Wise 2, C Miller 2, A Devine, D James.
Southport best: D Charleston, D James, B McEntee, M Lynch, A Devine, S Brittain.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.

Round 18 (Aug 18):
SOUTHPORT  4.2  7.7   11.9  17.14 (116)
REDLAND       2.5  5.6  10.12   13.16 (94)
Southport goals: B McEntee 6, D James 3, D Wise 3, D O’Brien 2, B Merrett, C Betts, J Burge.
Southport best: B McEntee, B Merrett, D Wise, D Hawkins, D O’Brien.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.

Round 19 (Aug 25):
MT GRAVATT  1.3  6.5  9.9  15.17 (107)
SOUTHPORT    1.2  5.3  8.4        9.5 (59)
Southport goals: S Brittain 2, M Lynch, D CArmody, D Brittain, C Lambart, D McEntee, J Burge, G Johnson.
Southport best: G Johnson, D Carmody, D Eaton, K Tandogac.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.

Qualifying final (Sept 2):
MORNINGSIDE  7.4  10.7  14.11  20.11 (131)
SOUTHPORT       1.3   6.4      7.8        9.9 (63)
Southport goals: T Knight 2, B McEntee 2, S Brittain, D Wise, C Miller, D Hawkins, D James.
Southport best: B Merrett, A Devine, D Charleston, G Screech, D Carmody.
At Giffin Park, Brisbane.

First semi-final (Sept 8):
SOUTHPORT  1.0  5.4  6.6  11.12 (78)
LABRADOR    2.0  4.0  5.3      8.4 (52)
Southport goals: T Knight 3, J Burge 3, D Eaton 2, B McCauley 2, B McEntee.
Southport best: B McCauley, D Eaton, D Charleston, D Carmody, A Devine, K Tandogac.
At Fankhauser Reserve, Musgrave Hill.

Preliminary final (Sept 16):
SOUTHPORT      3.4    6.6  10.15  18.19 (127)
MORNINGSIDE  3.2  10.6   14.6    16.9 (105)
Southport goals: B McEntee 6, T Knight 3, D Eaton 2, D O’Brien, C Watts, D Wise, B Merrett, B McCauley, J Burge, D James.
Southport best: D Eaton, J Burge, M Lynch, B McEntee, D Wise, A Devine.
At Giffin Park, Coorparoo.

Grand final (Sept 23):
MT GRAVATT  5.3  8.7  11.10  16.12 (108)
SOUTHPORT     3.1  4.5     6.7    10.10 (70)
Southport goals: B McEntee 5, D O’Brien, D Eaton, D McEntee, B Merrett, J Burge.
Southport best: D James, B Caputi, D McEntee, B Merrett, J Burge.
At Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara.