In spite of a 13 game winning streak the Magpies failed to make a controversial GCAFL Grand Final attended by 4000 fans.
The Magpies retained their loose grip on Owen Park after a concerted off-season push by Rugby League to obtain the lease (Click here to read article). Rugby League had begun to organise more effectively and the threats it posed to the Southport AFC and the GCAFL in regard to facilities, juniors, schools, and media space began to surface. For the first time all four major winter codes were fully operational on the Coast (Click here to read article). With the entry of the Beenleigh Bombers and Coolangatta Blues into the senior GCAFL competition to make six teams, Australian Football was still however, the leader on the Coast.
Ian Radcliffe (Photo) and Don Brown (Photo) were to return to the club in 1965 and were joined by burly ex-Sandgate defender Col Luhrs. Three members of the Napper family (Don, Les and Syd) were to play in many games together during the year. Early in the season it was thought that Don Napper (Photo) would be lured to play in Brisbane for Mayne. He stayed and shared the Best and Fairest award with Bob Manuel and Ken Rodger (Click here to read article).
After losing the first two games the Magpies remained undefeated for the next thirteen to finish the home and away series on top of the ladder and clear premiership favourites (Click here to read article). A last round narrow and unimpressive victory over Beenleigh was a warning of a loss of form during the finals. The Second Semi Final was lost by one point to Surfers Paradise. Demon’s recruit John Towner, the former Essendon key position player, dominated the match and was the difference in the end (Click here for Second Semi Final photo). A further narrow Preliminary Final loss was to follow to eventual Premiers, Palm Beach – Currumbin.
4000 spectators packed Salk Oval for a controversial Grand Final after which both Surfers Paradise and Palm Beach – Currumbin lodged protests and counter protests against unregistered new recruits playing under assumed names. Southport certainly couldn’t be blamed for this practice with its finals squad boasting seven players who had graduated from the juniors and Bob Manuel, Don Brown and Ian Radcliffe who had been with the club when it started in 1961.
While the other Coast teams are relying largely on interstate or Brisbane players, the “Magpies” have built up junior players of three seasons ago into experienced young players.
(Gold Coast Bulletin, April 14, 1965, p.47)
The Magpies were again ably led by Harold Peacock who, whilst steering Southport in the right direction, was also busy starting basketball on the Coast and slaying them on the golf course.
At the age of 39 years, Gold Coast Australian Football and Basketball Star, Harold Peacock, is still pacing it with players half his age. Observers at these games tell me that what impresses them the most of all is his ENTHUSIASM. They tell me that whenever there’s something to be done for the good of the sport, Harold is always there to lend a hand. That’s the spirit needed most in sport today. Since coming here, he has represented the Gold Coast in Rules football, golf, and basketball. He is Captain Coach of the Southport Rules team and the Flyers basketball team. Which all adds up to a very fine record. Well done Harold.
(Gold Coast Bulletin March 19, 1965, p.42)
Harold Peacock was, 20 years later, the founding Chairman of the successful National Basketball League (NBL) franchise, the Brisbane Bullets.
Rod Fox was awarded the Best Senior Clubman for the second year in a row (Click here for a photo of Fox kicking a goal). Ken Sharp won the Magpies first ever league medal when he took out the under 16 award.
Other articles/photos:
(Aftermath of a 65m Harold Peacock goal)
1965 Match Results
| Date | Venue | Home | Away | Southport Goalkickers and Best Players | ||||
| Round 1 | Sunday 2 May | Owen Park | Southport | 10.12.72 | Surfers | 15.6.96 | ||
| Round 2 | Sunday 9 May | Salk Oval | PBC | 8.10.58 | Southport | 7.11.53 | (Best: I.Radcliffe, Burns, Peacock, Rodgers, L.Napper, S. Napper) | |
| Round 3 | Sunday 16 May | Owen Park | Southport | n/a | Coolangatta | n/a | (Best: Manuel, I.Radcliffe, L.Napper, S.Napper) | |
| Round 4 | Sunday 23 May | Owen Park | Southport | n/a | Labrador | n/a | (Best: Burns, Rodgers, I.Radcliffe, Peacock, Boadle, Manuel) | |
| Round 5 | Sunday 30 May | Beenleigh Show Ground | Beenleigh | 5.12.42 | Southport | 11.16.82 | (Best: Blake, Peacock, Boadle, D.Napper, Rodger, Wright, Fox, Sherring) | |
| Round 6 | Sunday 6 June | Surfers Paradise | Surfers | 7.2.48 | Southport | 8.6.54 | (Best: Martin, Brown, Burns, D.Napper, L.Napper, Manuel) | |
| Round 7 | Sunday 13 June | Owen Park | Southport | 23.15.153 | PBC | 7.7.49 | (Best: Rodger, Burns, Martin, Peacock, Boadle, I.Radcliffe, Barron) | |
| Round 8 | Sunday 20 June | Len Peak Oval | Coolangatta | 5.4.34 | Southport | 21.16.142 | ||
| Round 9 | Sunday 27 June | Labrador Sports Ground | Labrador | n/a | Southport | n/a | ||
| Round 10 | Sunday 4 July | Owen Park | Southport | n/a | Beenleigh | n/a | ||
| Round 11 | Sunday 11 May | Owen Park | Southport | 14.34.118 | Surfers | 10.3.63 | (Best: Peacock, Burns, Manuel, I.Radcliffe, Jennings, Napper, Hood, Rodger) | |
| Round 12 | Sunday 18 July | Salk Oval | PBC | 7.9.51 | Southport | 13.14.92 | (Best: Coates, Rodgers, Peacock, Manuel, Napper) | |
| Round 13 | Sunday 25 July | Owen Park | Southport | n/a | Coolangatta | n/a | ||
| Round 14 | Sunday 1 August | Owen Park | Southport | n/a | Labrador | n/a | ||
| Round 15 | Sunday 8 August | Beenleigh Show Ground | Beenleigh | 9.13.67 | Southport | 11.12.78 | ||
| First Semi | Sunday 15 August | Salk Oval | PBC | n/a | Beenleigh | n/a | ||
| Second Semi | Sunday 22 August | Owen Park | Southport | 9.7.61 | Surfers | 9.8.62 | (Best: Manuel, Burns, Rodger, Sherring, Boadle) (Manuel 4) | |
| Prelim | Sunday 29 August | Owen Park | Southport | n/a | PBC | n/a | ||
| Grand Final | Sunday 4 September | Salk Oval | Surfers | 7.11.53 | PBC | 10.13.73 | ||
| Under 16 | Surfers | 8.11.59 | Southport | 3.1.19 | ||||
| Under 13 | Surfers | 5.7.37 | Labrador | 3.3.21 |