VFL Round 2: Sharks take sting out of Hornets.

Southport have made it two from two in their inaugural year of the revamped VFL competition by defeating Aspley at Fankhauser Reserve on the Gold Coast. The home side’s inaccuracy at goal looked likely to prove costly midway through the final term when the Hornets got to within five points. However the Sharks steadied and went onto win 14.25.109 to 15.5.95.

Former Western Bulldog and Carlton player Billy Gowers was again lively at full forward booting five goals for the winners while ex-Brisbane Lions player, Matthew Hammelmann, booted a game-high six for Aspley.

Conditions were near perfect for football at Southport and both sides were keen to keep their momentum rolling after round one victories in their debut games in the competition. It was the travelling Hornets who were first to get going with two quick goals from Hammelmann. Southport responded however and took a five point lead into the first change.

The Sharks settled in the second quarter but were wasteful in front of goal kicking four goals nine behinds. Aspley full back Liam Dawson was finding life difficult handling Gowers who booted two second term goals. At the other end Shark’s defender Rhys Clark had the big job on Hammelmann.

Leading by eighteen points at the main break Sharks fans would have been scratching their heads in frustration at their side’s inaccuracy. It didn’t get any better in the second half either as again the Sharks failed to capitalise on the good work around the midfield through the likes of Jesse Joyce, Michael Manteit and Jacob Dawson.

They booted three goals six to the Hornets four straight, three of Aspleys from the boot of Hammelmann. Gowers was again in the thick of it and at the 27-minute-mark he ran down an Aspley defender and kicked a team lifting goal from the resulting free kick.

An eighteen point lead at the final change and the Sharks appeared to have the answers having had 31 shots on goal to Aspley’s thirteen. Their grunt at the contested ball and ability to then find open spaces on the big expanses of Fankhauser Reserve proving difficult to counteract for Aspley.

Aspley were not to be outdone though and when Connor Stackelberg snagged two goals in a minute entering time-on in the final quarter, the Hornets were within five points! Rhys King steadied the ship however for the Sharks and they managed to secure their second win in as many weeks.

Better players for Southport included Gowers with is five goals, Lukas Webb again providing drive from around the packs, Dawson and Fraser Thurlow won the rucking duels. For Aspley, Hammelmann with his six goals, Thomas Baulch again showed promise kicking two goals and defender Jacob Allison tried hard repelling many Shark attacks.

Round three of the VFL sees Southport travel to Sydney to take on the GWS while Aspley face a difficult away trip taking on the much improved Frankston.