Southport co-captain Mike Manteit returns from injury for a Thursday night showdown with Geelong. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos

SOUTHPORT will step onto the national stage for the first time when it takes on Geelong in a Smithy’s VFL blockbuster at Fankhauser Reserve on Thursday night.

The Sharks were due to face Port Melbourne on a Thursday night last year before the game was called off due to COVID, and they have been desperately waiting for their opportunity to showcase themselves to the entire competition.

And they get a golden opportunity on their home deck, coming off a 52-point statement victory over Werribee at Avalon Airport Oval last Saturday night against a fellow top-four team from last year in the Cats, who had a strong win against the Brisbane Lions last Friday.

View the Smithy’s VFL teams HERE

Southport has been boosted by the return of co-captain Mike Manteit and No.1 ruckman Fraser Thurlow for the clash, while it has handed a debut to Jay Foon, a 26-year-old from just down the road at Labrador, with former skipper Seb Tape suffering a hamstring injury last week and Riley Bowman and Callum Searle being omitted.

Geelong will also be stronger than last week, with Zach Guthrie back after a week in the AFL and Francis Evans returning from suspension, while Lachlan Bond will make his club debut after having played one match for Carlton last year, the trio replacing the omitted Ned Harris, Louis Herbert and Charlie Sprague.

Thursday’s match starts at 7.05pm live on AFL.com.au.

Twitter: @BRhodesVFL

Geelong's Francis Evans (battling with Gold Coast's Wil Powell) returns from suspension to take on Southport on Thursday night. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images via AFL Photos

SOUTHPORT v GEELONG

Thursday, April 14, 7.05pm @ Fankhauser Reserve
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 7pm)

SOUTHPORT
IN: J Foon (debut), M Manteit, F Thurlow
OUT: S Tape (hamstring), R Bowman, C Searle (both omit)

GEELONG
IN: L Bond (new, 20, Carlton), F Evans, Z Guthrie
OUT: N Harris, L Herbert, C Sprague (all omit)

Prediction: Southport by 15

 

Brendan Rhodes’ winners: Last Round: 7. Season: 20

All Smithy’s VFL matches in 2022 can be viewed live and free. The VFL Match of the Round will be screened each week on Channel 7, with all other matches to be livestreamed via vfl.com.au and the AFL Live Official App. Radio station 3WBC will also again be broadcasting regular matches.
To access live scores, results, ladder, stats and to link to live streams/replays, download the VFL/W Official App from the Apple or Google Play app stores.
Keep track of your Smithy’s VFL team via our VFL Match Centre, which features live scores, team and player stats, match timeline, events summary and Fantasy points. Check it out here (https://www.afl.com.au/vfl/fixture)