Coast Clash
| First meeting | 28 May 2011 (Gold Coast 113−77 Southport) |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | 19 April 2025 (Southport 111−56 Gold Coast) |
| Next meeting | 4 April 2026 |
| Trophy | Doc Mackenzie Cup |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 22 |
| All-time series | Gold Coast: 14 wins Southport: 6 wins |
The Coast Clash is an Australian rules football rivalry, contested by the Gold Coast Suns[a] and the Southport Sharks in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1] The clubs, which are both based on the Gold Coast in Queensland, first played each other in a senior match in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) during the 2011 season.[2] After the NEAFL disbanded in 2020, both clubs moved to the VFL.[3][4]
Since September 2022, Gold Coast and Southport have played for the Doc Mackenzie Cup, named after Alan 'Doc' Mackenzie (1946–2022), who served as Southport's president and a member of the Gold Coast board.[5][6]
As of the end of the 2025 season, Gold Coast has won 14 matches of the 21 matches played.[7] Since joining the VFL in 2021, Southport has been more successful, winning four Coast Clash matches to Gold Coast's two.[8][9]
Notable matches
Abandoned 2021 match
In round 11 of the 2021 VFL season, the second Coast Clash of the year was scheduled to take place on 26 June 2021.[10][11] However, the match was postponed because of COVID-19 border restrictions implemented by the Queensland Government for people travelling from Greater Sydney, with Gold Coast having played Sydney at Tramway Oval two weeks earlier.[12][13]
The match was rescheduled to take play on 31 July 2021 at Carrara Training Oval.[14] Half an hour before the match begun, the Queensland Government announced a snap lockdown affecting south-eastern Queensland, which would begin at 4pm the same day.[15] The match begun as scheduled at 10:30am, with Jacob Townsend kicking the first goal for Gold Coast followed by Southport's Kwabey Boakye levelling the scores, before Jed Foggo kicked two behinds for the Suns.[16]
After ten minutes of play, all players were ordered off the field and the match was abandoned for no result.[17] Although the match was officially declared abandoned, the finishing scores were 1.2 (8) to 1.0 (6).[18]
The match was rescheduled to be held in round 18, but the VFL season was curtailed on 1 September 2021.[19][20]
Results
| # | Year | League | Rd | Home | Away | Ground | Date | Winner | M | H2H | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Score | Team | Score | ||||||||||
| 1 | 2011 | NEAFL | 9 | Gold Coast | 18.5 (113) | Southport | 11.11 (77) | Sir Bruce Small Park | 28 May | GCS | 36 | +1 | [21] |
| 2 | 14 | Southport | 9.6 (60) | Gold Coast | 24.11 (125) | Fankhauser Reserve | 2 Jul | GCS | 95 | +2 | [22] | ||
| 3 | 2012 | 2 | Southport | 10.5 (65) | Gold Coast | 19.17 (131) | Fankhauser Reserve | 31 Mar | GCS | 66 | +3 | [23] | |
| 4 | 2013 | 7 | Gold Coast | 16.10 (106) | Southport | 11.11 (77) | Carrara Stadium | 4 May | GCS | 29 | +4 | [24] | |
| 5 | 2014 | 1 | Southport | 12.16 (88) | Gold Coast | 9.4 (58) | Fankhauser Reserve | 29 Mar | SOU | 30 | +3 | [25] | |
| 6 | 14 | Gold Coast | 4.6 (30) | Southport | 25.15 (165) | Carrara Stadium | 5 Jul | SOU | 135 | +2 | [26] | ||
| 7 | 2015 | 5 | Gold Coast | 17.16 (118) | Southport | 16.8 (104) | Carrara Stadium | 9 May | GCS | 14 | +3 | ||
| 8 | 14 | Southport | 13.10 (88) | Gold Coast | 18.10 (118) | Fankhauser Reserve | 11 Jul | GCS | 30 | +4 | |||
| 9 | 2016 | 14 | Gold Coast | 14.11 (95) | Southport | 9.8 (62) | Carrara Stadium | 2 Jul | GCS | 33 | +5 | ||
| 10 | 20 | Southport | 11.6 (72) | Gold Coast | 13.7 (85) | Fankhauser Reserve | 14 Aug | GCS | 13 | +6 | |||
| 11 | 2017 | 10 | Gold Coast | 23.18 (156) | Southport | 6.3 (39) | Carrara Stadium | 3 Jun | GCS | 117 | +7 | ||
| 12 | 17 | Southport | 6.4 (40) | Gold Coast | 14.14 (98) | Fankhauser Reserve | 22 Jul | GCS | 58 | +8 | |||
| 13 | 2018 | 9 | Southport | 12.7 (79) | Gold Coast | 14.9 (93) | Fankhauser Reserve | 2 Jun | GCS | 14 | +9 | ||
| 14 | 2019 | 11 | Southport | 9.9 (63) | Gold Coast | 12.6 (78) | Fankhauser Reserve | 15 Jun | GCS | 15 | +10 | ||
| — | 2020 | 3 | Gold Coast | — | Southport | — | Carrara Stadium | 2 May | — | — | — | [27] | |
| — | 11 | Southport | — | Gold Coast | — | Fankhauser Reserve | 13 Jun | — | — | — | [28] | ||
| 15 | 2021 | VFL | 6 | Southport | 17.14 (116) | Gold Coast | 5.3 (33) | Fankhauser Reserve | 21 May | SOU | 83 | +9 | |
| 16 | 16 | Gold Coast | 1.2 (8) | Southport | 1.0 (6) | Carrara Training Oval | 31 Jul | ABAN | — | +9 | |||
| 17 | 2022 | 21 | Gold Coast | 14.10 (94) | Southport | 12.13 (85) | Carrara Stadium | 13 Aug | GCS | 9 | +10 | ||
| 18 | PF | Southport | 14.25 (109) | Gold Coast | 13.3 (81) | Fankhauser Reserve | 11 Sep | SOU | 28 | +9 | [29] | ||
| 19 | 2023 | 8 | Southport | 10.14 (74) | Gold Coast | 12.4 (76) | Fankhauser Reserve | 13 May | GCS | 2 | +10 | ||
| 20 | 2024 | 7 | Gold Coast | 8.10 (58) | Southport | 16.9 (105) | Carrara Stadium | 12 May | SOU | 47 | +9 | ||
| 21 | 2025 | 4 | Southport | 16.15 (111) | Gold Coast | 8.8 (56) | Fankhauser Reserve | 19 Apr | SOU | 55 | +8 | [30] | |
| 22 | 2026 | 3 | Southport | — | Gold Coast | — | Fankhauser Reserve | 4 Apr | — | — | — | ||
Practice matches
Before entering the TAC Cup, Gold Coast played its first competitive match on 20 March 2009 against Southport – who were playing in the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL) at the time – at Carrara Stadium.
| # | Year | League | Home | Away | Ground | Date | Winner | M | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Score | Team | Score | ||||||||
| 1 | 2009 | — | Southport | 6.3 (39) | Gold Coast | 3.5 (23) | Carrara Stadium | 20 Mar | SOU | 16 | |
| 2 | 2015 | NEAFL | Gold Coast | 18.15 (123) | Southport | 2.2 (14) | Carrara Stadium | 14 Mar | GCS | 109 | [31] |
| 3 | 2016 | Gold Coast | 9.8 (62) | Southport | 11.13 (79) | Carrara Stadium | 12 Mar | GCS | 17 | [32] | |
| 4 | 2021 | VFL | Gold Coast | 15.3 (93) | Southport | 6.11 (47) | Carrara Stadium | 27 Mar | GCS | 46 | [33] |
| 5 | 2024 | Gold Coast | 11.4 (70) | Southport | 14.6 (90) | Carrara Training Oval | 1 Mar | SOU | 20 | [34] | |
| 6 | 2026 | Gold Coast | 13.8 (86) | Southport | 7.3 (45) | Carrara Training Oval | 6 Mar | GCS | 41 | ||
Records
Highest scores
| # | Score | Club | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25.15 (165) | Southport | Round 14, 2014 (NEAFL) at Carrara Stadium |
| 2 | 23.18 (156) | Gold Coast | Round 10, 2017 (NEAFL) at Carrara Stadium |
| 3 | 19.17 (131) | Gold Coast | Round 2, 2012 (NEAFL) at Fankhauser Reserve |
| 4 | 24.11 (125) | Gold Coast | Round 14, 2011 (NEAFL) at Fankhauser Reserve |
| 5 | 18.10 (118) | Gold Coast | Round 14, 2015 (NEAFL) at Fankhauser Reserve |
| 17.16 (118) | Gold Coast | Round 5, 2015 (NEAFL) at Carrara Stadium |
Lowest scores
| # | Score | Club | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1.0 (6) | Southport | Round 16, 2021 (VFL) at Carrara Training Oval |
| — | 1.2 (8) | Gold Coast | Round 16, 2021 (VFL) at Carrara Training Oval |
| 3 | 4.6 (30) | Gold Coast | Round 14, 2014 (NEAFL) at Carrara Stadium |
| 4 | 5.3 (33) | Southport | Round 6, 2021 (VFL) at Fankhauser Reserve |
| 5 | 6.3 (39) | Southport | Round 10, 2017 (NEAFL) at Carrara Stadium |
Shared history
Steve Daniel, who served as Gold Coast's NEAFL coach in 2016 and 2017, moved to Southport for the 2018 season and remained its head coach until the end of 2024.
Multi-club players
Jacob Dawson was an AFL-listed Gold Coast player from 2018 until the end of 2020, when he was delisted and joined Southport in the VFL for the 2021 season.
This list includes players who have been listed for Gold Coast in the AFL and the NEAFL.
| Player | Years at GCS | Years at SOU | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Boston | 2013–2015 | 2016–2021 | |
| Brayden Crossley | 2018–2019 | 2016; 2021– | |
| Jacob Dawson | 2018–2020 | 2021– | |
| Ryan Davis | 2016–2017 | 2018–2019 | |
| Sam Day | 2011–2024 | 2026– | |
| Ben Jepson | 2025– | 2024 | |
| Hewago Oea | 2019–2024 | 2025– | |
| Andrew Raines | 2015 | 2003 | [35] |
| Seb Tape | 2011–2016 | 2017–2022 | |
| Joel Tippett | 2011 | 2006; 2010 | [36] |
| Lachie Weller | 2018– | 2014 |
See also
Notes
- ^ The Gold Coast Suns compete in the Australian Football League (AFL) at a senior level, with its reserves team in the VFL (and formerly the NEAFL).
References
- ^ Davies, Hannah (11 September 2022). "Southport Sharks defeat Gold Coast Suns to make VFL grand final". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "GC SUNS kill of Sharks". Gold Coast Suns. 29 May 2011. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ "Inaugural VFL Coast Clash to be played under lights at Southport". AFL Queensland. 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "SUNS pressure-free ahead of VFL Coast Clash". Gold Coast Suns. 7 September 2022. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Special honour for Queensland football's godfather". AFL.com.au. 9 September 2022. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ Rhodes, Brendan (12 May 2023). "Sharks, Suns set to meet for Mackenzie Cup". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ Smith, Cameron (24 July 2017). "NEAFL: SUNS defeat local rivals Southport". Gold Coast Suns. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ Giardina, Annalyssia (15 April 2025). "SUNS set to reclaim the Mackenzie Cup in 2025". Gold Coast Suns. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ Onions, Lachlan (17 April 2025). "Gold Coast Suns and Southport Sharks prepare for 2025 Mackenzie Cup". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "2021 VFL fixture" (PDF). AFL.com.au. 14 April 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "VFL Round 11 Squad Announcement: Team confirmed to face ladder-leading Sharks". Gold Coast Suns. 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 14 March 2026. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "Coast Clash Postponed". Southport Sharks. 26 June 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ Rhodes, Brendan (27 June 2021). "Zebras complete Tigers' torment, Roos on a run". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ Cooper, Aaron (30 July 2021). "VFL Squad: Round 16". Gold Coast Suns. Archived from the original on 14 December 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ Mitchell, Georgina; Dib, Abbir (31 July 2021). "As it happened: NSW records 210 cases, Victoria two; Queensland enters snap lockdown". The Age. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "Gold Coast SUNS v Southport". AFL.com.au. 31 July 2021. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ "AFL and NRL games postponed as Queensland COVID lockdown sends codes scrambling". ABC News. 31 July 2021. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ Morris, Tom (31 July 2021). "VFL game cancelled after NINE minutes as Covid-19 mayhem hits Queensland". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 16 June 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ "Round 16 Postponed Game". Southport Sharks. 5 August 2021. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ Rhodes, Brendan (1 September 2021). "VFL season called off, VFLW Grand Final a League priority". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 September 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "Gold Coast Suns 18.5-113 def. 11.11-77 Southport". GameDay. NEAFL. 28 May 2011. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "Southport 9.6-60 def. by 24.11-155 Gold Coast Suns". GameDay. NEAFL. 2 July 2011. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "Southport 10.5-65 def. by 19.17-131 Gold Coast Suns". GameDay. NEAFL. 31 March 2012. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "Gold Coast Suns 16.10-106 def. 11.11-77 Southport". GameDay. NEAFL. 4 May 2013. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ Wilson, Terry (31 March 2014). "Gold Coast Sun Andrew Boston may be out long-term after bad ankle injury". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Edwards, Nat; Schmook, Nathan (6 July 2014). "State league wrap: Reid injured in VFL return". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "Gold Coast vs Southport". GameDay. NEAFL. 2 May 2020. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "Southport vs Gold Coast". GameDay. NEAFL. 13 June 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Geleit, Lachlan (11 September 2022). "Southport down Gold Coast to book place in VFL Grand Final". SEN. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "SUNS fall to Sharks in Mackenzie Cup clash". Gold Coast Suns. 22 April 2025. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ Turner, Kieron (14 March 2015). "Big win for SUNS in NEAFL practice match". Gold Coast Suns. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ Turner, Kieron (12 March 2016). "Sharks overrun SUNS in NEAFL practice match". Gold Coast Suns. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ "VFL SUNS v Southport: Practice Match Report". Gold Coast Suns. 27 March 2021. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ Rhodes, Brendan (16 March 2024). "2024 Smithy's VFL practice match schedule". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ "2023 Queensland Football Hall of Fame – Andrew Raines". AFL Queensland. 11 July 2023. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ Bowen, Nick (25 November 2013). "Third time lucky? That's the tip". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.