Labrador could not sustain a brilliant first half display highlighted by four goals from leukemia survivor Shane Burn, succumbing to Southport by 48 points.

The Tigers showed plenty of heart to kick the first four goals of the game and lead by six points at the long break, but conceded 10 goals to one after halftime to lose 17.15 (117)-10.9 (69).

Burn had the Cooke-Murphy Oval faithful in raptures in the opening half, booting one goals in the first term and three in the second as the Tigers looked capable of producing their second big upset in the space of seven days.

Playing senior football again after his brave battle with leukemia, Burn led well and marked strongly, adding the sole goal in the final half to finish with five for the day.

So good was Burn that he had Southport great Clint Watts moved off him and gun defender Kurt Niklaus for company for the second half.

The Tigers were unable to put a lid on lively half-forward Justin Kahlefeldt, who worked hard up and down the ground to cut them to pieces.

Midfielder Jason Burge was just as lively, his sheer pace proving difficult for the Tigers to counter.

While Trent Knobel was very good for Labrador around the ground, he completed limited rockwork, allowing Broc McAulay to dominated the taps and give his running brigade first use of the ball.

The Tigers did have two good wins in the midfield, with Mark Reilly doing an excellent tagging job on Danny Wise and regular forward Corey Munson shading the in-form David James.

Southport workhorses Darren O’Brien and Fraser Pope took charge of the midfield in the second half, while Dayne Beams again found plenty of space inside the forward 50.

Beams kicked two goals and, like last week at Broadbeach, could easily have doubled that tally.

Labrador were delighted with the effort of stalwart Nathan Gurcuillo, who held gun full-forward Ben McEntee to just two goals despite a glut of ball in the second half.

Brett Sinclair and Russell Alleway had a good duel, with Sinclair kicking two goals and coming out on top on points, although he was nowhere near as damaging as the previous week.

Southport mixed up their attack and sent Kevin Tandogac forward in the final term and he responded with two goals.

AFLQ

Labrador turned the finals race upside down with a shock win over Morningside.

The Panthers tumbled out of the four, losing 20-16 (136) to 21-9 (135) in a game that was sealed when giant ruckman Trent Knobel kicked his fifth goal in the dying moments.

“He was massive,” said coach Byron Donnellan of Knobel. “But we had Nathan Gurciullo keeping Kent Abey to only three goals, we had Mark Reilly shut down David Lillico and we had Rusty Alleway do the same on Jarrod Price.”

Knobel, a former AFL player with Brisbane, St Kilda and Richmond, has been instrumental in two thrillers for Labrador this season.

In round 7, he snatched victory with two late behinds in a two-point win against Zillmere.

Thursday, August 7 will mark 150 years since the first recorded game of football was played.

To celebrate this milestone, Kick Around Australia Day has been scheduled, giving all Australians the opportunity to join in the celebrations and it’s only thirty days away.

As part of Kick Around Australia Day, primary and secondary schools around the country are encouraging students to wear their footy colours to school, organise kicking and handballing competitions or complete one of the new footy themed programs that have been developed in line with the curriculum.

To register your school, visit www.afl.com.au/schools.

Businesses across Australia are also invited to join in the celebrations by offering employees the opportunity to stop work and have a kick of the footy on August 7 or wear their footy scarf to work.

Community football clubs can take part in the festivities by holding a BBQ or pie night after training

To find out more about how you get involved in Kick Around Australia Day, visit www.150years.com.au.

Today we welcome the return of defender Shane Burn. One of the bravest Tigers of all time, Shane has made it back after a wretched run with injuries and illness. He has had a total knee reconstruction, is in remission from leukaemia and recently had several melanomas removed from his back. “But let me tell you he is not in our side on sympathy, he has earned his spot,” said Labrador coach Byron Donnellan.