Come On Boys, Make a Noise….

Those are the first words of the Sharks victory song which is traditionally sung at the end of each game to celebrate another great win.

In fact, our club song has never been changed over the years and with the success of the club in recent seasons, is a tune that players and supporters are getting very used to.

The credit goes to the players and coaches, and a hard working committee and group of volunteers who have teamed up to change the clubs fortunes both on and off the field.

The Southern Sharks was founded originally as Sutherland Australian Football Club Inc. in 1972 in the Sydney Football Association (SFA). Founding members included Kerry and Rob Mowlem (Rob was the First President), Ray Jamieson, Graham Baldock and Bill Free.

The years between 1972 and 1984 saw the new club make the SFA semis a couple of times and forge great rivalries which in those days included Campbelltown, Bankstown, St Ives and Manly Warringah, with whom we still have great rivalry today. In 1973, in just the second year of the Sharks, we were Third Grade runners-up to Western Suburbs.

In 1984 the Sharks won their first of three premierships – on the same day. They won First Grade under Phil Brown (beating St Ives) and Reserve Grade under Terry Cummins (beating Hawkesbury). Since then, the Sharks won the Reserve grade premiership in 1986 and were runners-up in 1985 and 1993. Third Grade were runners up in 1986 and 1989 while Under 18′s lost a close Grand Final in 2000.

After some lean seasons in the late 1990′s the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks were re-named Southern Sharks at the turn of the century and on-field fortunes turned around in 2002 with the arrival of senior coach Sean Fitzpatrick. First Grade made the finals from 2002-2004 while Reserve Grade made the finals in 2004 and again in 2005 where they fell just 8 points short of a Grand Final berth.

The Southern Sharks has a terrific rapport with other clubs in the Sydney AFL. We welcome visiting teams, ensuring their trip to Gwawley Oval is met with hospitality and the game is played in the highest spirit. We also don’t mind the opposition hearing our club song nice and loud after a win!

While rivalry on the field is one thing, the life long relationships one develops in football circles is another. The Sharks reputation for being one of the most `social clubs’ has never been tarnished over the years. Annual Ladies Days, Old Boys Days, and club functions such as trivia nights or even an after-the-game drink at the club’s hotel sponsor are all met with popularity every year.

The legacy continues…Come on boys, make a noise…