By Will Jeffares
A dominant Southport side has ended Frankston’s remarkable 2024 campaign with an attacking masterclass in the Elimination Final, running out 92-point winners in an incredibly high-scoring affair at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
Playing in hot, windy conditions, a six-goal to nothing first term to the Sharks set up their victory before both sides piled on the majors to record the bizarre 30.15 (195) to 16.7 (103) result.
The loss sees Frankston now out of the Smithy’s VFL Finals Series, closing the curtain on an exceptionally successful season for the Club.
After breaking a 16-year drought to feature in the Finals Series, the Dolphins will be hungry to make it two successive Finals appearances next year after getting a taste of September action under Jackson Kornberg.
Southport flexed their muscles in all major categories around the ground, with their star power across the field proving too much for a persistent Frankston side.
The home side nearly doubled the visitor’s scoring shots, as well as putting up strong numbers in the clearance department (47-30), disposals (403-296), marks (121-82) and inside 50s (64-45).
The Dolphins suffered an early blow leading into the encounter after in-form midfielder Tom Murphy was ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering an ankle injury in last week’s enthralling win over Gold Coast in the Wildcard Round.
It didn’t get much better for Frankston either in the first quarter against the Sharks, with the home side holding the Dolphins scoreless as they put through six unanswered majors to record a 44-point advantage at quarter time.
There were two moments of brilliance to start the second term for Frankston, with Seb Quirk and Nick Burke both slotting ridiculous goals from tight angles to make it two in a minute as the Dolphins attempted to claw their way back into the contest.
However, Southport would answer back with three majors of their own to extend their strong lead before Lachie Riley put through a snap to stem the flow.
It wouldn’t take long for the Sharks to kick another six in a row to blow out the margin. Josh Stern got one back with a great finish on the run before another late Southport goal had the deficit sitting at 80 points at the main break.
Noah Gown dribbled home his first of the afternoon in the opening minute of the second half before Southport responded with another two goals.
Taj Campbell-Farrell converted his set shot and, while Southport would put another major on the board, the young midfielder also found Matt Johnson in the goal square moments later, who put through his first of the day.
Jack Newnes made it two in a row for the Dolphins until the Sharks responded with their own pair of majors. Gown got his second late in the term, but a Southport goal on the siren had the margin at 87 points heading into the final term.
The home side opened the last quarter with two goals, before Tyson Milne, who spent time in the midfield throughout the contest, slotted one from 50 out of a centre clearance and Gown added his third and fourth of the contest to make it a hat-trick of majors for Frankston.
Johnson’s second stopped a run of three consecutive Southport goals. Quirk also snuck home his second to cancel out another Sharks goal, as the home side added another two not long after.
George Grey won himself a late free-kick inside 50, kicking truly from the resulting set shot as Gown made it a handful with his fifth. The final siren sounded soon after as Southport ran out victors.
In what was a tough day for the Dolphins, Campbell-Farrell put in another encouraging display to be amongst the side’s best, finishing with 21 disposals, six marks and an equal team-high six clearances to go along with a goal.
Gown provided a bright spot up forward for Frankston with his five second-half goals, while Trent Mynott (21 disposals, six marks) and Quirk (two goals, 20 disposals, six clearances) had some good moments in the middle.
Grey (one goal, 23 disposals, five tackles) put in a fine performance, as did Jackson Voss (21 disposals) and Tyson Milne (one goal, 20 disposals, five clearances).
While the season came to a disappointing end, Jackson Kornberg and his side will take a well-earned break as they hope to recharge and take their game to another level in 2025, with a real buzz growing around Kinetic Stadium as supporters and members alike continue to get excited about the future of their side.
SOUTHPORT 6.8 16.10 22.13 30.15 (195)
FRANKSTON 0.0 4.2 9.2 16.7 (103)
GOALS
Gown 5, Quirk 2, Johnson 2, Newnes, Grey, Campbell-Farrell, Milne, Burke, Stern, L. Riley
BEST
Campbell-Farrell, Gown, Voss, Grey, Mynott, Quirk
