VFL club Southport Sharks were pleased to announce the signing of former Gold Coast small forward Hewago Paul Oea ahead of the 2025 season.

Oea joined the Suns as a Category B rookie ahead of the 2021 AFL season.

When he made his AFL debut against Collingwood in 2022, he became the first player from Papua New Guinea to play a game at AFL Level.

Oea played 13 games of senior football, kicking five goals during his time at the Queensland club.

The 23-year-old also played 69 NEAFL/VFL games for the SUNS, including being part of their 2023 VFL Premiership team.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Oskar Faulkhead of the Suns and Hewago Paul Oea of the Suns celebrates winning the VFL Grand Final match between Gold Coast Suns and Werribee at Ikon Park on September 24, 202,3 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Oea didn't feature at AFL level in 2024, but he was awarded the Suns' VFL Player of the Year.

He was offered a train-on place at the club following his delisting at the end of 2024 but has since joined the local VFL club.

Southport's GM of Football Operations, Jarrod Field, said, "We are very pleased to have Ace join us."

"He is an exciting young player with a lot of experience, and we look forward to seeing him play for the Sharks this year."

After finishing fifth in the 2024 VFL season, the Sharks went on a stoic finals run to make the decider against fellow standalone club Werribee.

Southport fell agonisingly short of becoming the premiers, losing to the Tigers by six points despite having four more scoring shots.