Five first-half majors for Noah Gown weren’t enough for Frankston as they fell to a 40-point defeat against Southport on Saturday afternoon at Fankhauser Reserve.
Despite it being a high-scoring and entertaining encounter between both sides, the Sharks were able to pull away from the Dolphins in the second half, getting the margin out to beyond 50 points during the fourth quarter, before late goals for Frankston had the final result sitting at 22.10 (142) to 16.6 (102).
Despite the disappointing final scoreline, the Dolphins can take plenty of positives away from the contest as they were able to put up a healthy score and kept up with last year’s grand finalists for large portions of the game.
Southport kicked off proceedings with an early pair of goals. Gown took a great mark running back with the flight of the ball before converting to get one back for Frankston, and to get his first of the day.
The Sharks would respond with another, before Corey Ellison won himself a free kick inside 50, kicking truly from the set shot. A trio of late goals for the home side saw the margin extend out to 23 points at the first break.
Trent Mynott found Gown on the lead with a great kick inside 50, who got his second goal early in the second term.
Southport quickly cancelled out Gown’s major with one of their own, before the big man took another impressive grab inside 50 to get his third.
Darby Hipwell parted the seas through traffic to slot a great goal and get Frankston back within two kicks, but a Southport double re-established their lead out beyond four goals.
Gown continued to cause major headaches for the Sharks, grabbing his fourth before quickly snapping home goal number five to get the deficit back to 13 points.
A costly turnover inside defensive 50 led straight to a Southport major, as they added another late to see their lead grow. Tom Blamires got one back for the Dolphins, as the margin sat at 20 points at the main break.
It was the perfect start to the second half for Jackson Kornberg’s side, with a great move from the centre bounce ending in the hands of Ellison, who slotted a ridiculous checkside from deep in the pocket for his second, as they cut the Southport lead to 14 points.
Despite the Sharks responding, Blamires would kick his second to keep Frankston hot on the home side’s heels.
However, Southport would again respond instantly, before adding three more consecutive goals as their advantage blew out to 37 points.
In his first appearance of the season, Lachie Sharp got one out the back, but another goal for the Sharks had the difference at 38 points at the final break.
Two early majors for the home side got the margin out just beyond 50 points, as Southport continued to pile on the goals.
Blake O’Leary and Tom Murphy got a quickfire double for the Dolphins to bring the margin to 40 points. As a run of three more goals for Frankston cancelled out a Sharks goal, with Tarkyn O’Leary, Matt Johnson and Nick Burke all getting on the scoresheet to cut the Southport lead to 28 points.
Two late goals for the home side, however, secured the 22.10 (142) to 16.6 (102) result.
Tom Blamires was great for Frankston, finishing with two goals and a team-high 26 disposals as he continues to display some great form in his first season at the Club. Likewise, fellow Zebra-turned-Dolphin, Darby Hipwell, was also strong in the contest, tallying 23 disposals (15 contested), eight clearances and a goal.
Noah Gown (eight disposals, five marks) was prolific in front of the big sticks, kicking five majors, while also handing off a few chances to add to his tally.
Trent Mynott (19 disposals, 12 marks, six score involvements) put in a lively performance, as did Tom Murphy, who finished with one goal, 23 disposals (10 contested) and a team-high nine clearances.
Lochie Reidy (23 disposals, nine marks) and Tyson Milne (20 disposals, nine marks) were also amongst the side’s stronger performers on the day.
In his 50th VFL game, Seb Quirk had 16 disposals (10 contested) and five clearances.
The Dolphins will now turn their attention to next week’s ‘Battle of the Bay’ against Sandringham, in what shapes as a massive clash at Kinetic Stadium on Saturday night, with the first bounce at 7:10 PM (AEST).
SOUTHPORT 6.1 11.5 17.8 22.10 (142)
FRANKSTON 2.2 8.3 11.6 16.6 (102)
GOALS
Gown 5, Ellison 2, Blamires 2, Sharp, T. O’Leary, B. O’Leary, Murphy, Johnson, Hipwell, Burke
BEST
Blamires, Gown, Murphy, Hipwell, Mynott
