Fairy-tale Farewell

The Sharks have finished the 2017 season on a high, with a convincing 61-point win over Swan Districts on Saturday.

An inspired East Fremantle side rallied for the retiring Andrew Stephen and Jesse Crichton to produce one of the team’s best efforts this year.

Joel Kalajzic got the ball rolling with the first goal of the game, just two minutes into the opening term. The Swans kicked one of their own before youngster Ambrose Ryan, added his first to give the Sharks a 7-point lead at quarter time.

Within the first 15 minutes of the second quarter, the Sharks had booted three majors through Carl Green, Dillon O’Reilly and a long-range bomb from Cam Symonds. The Swans were kept to two goals while Cam Eardley, Ambrose Ryan, Matthew Watson and Carl Green (on the ½ time siren) added goals to their tally giving East Fremantle a 38-point lead at the main break.

With finals spot potentially on the line, Swan Districts looked threatening early, kicking three goals for the quarter. However, with Watson adding two crucial majors and Dion Anthony kicking one of his own Old Easts were able to steady the ship.

East Fremantle produced their best quarter of footy in the final term, in what seemed to be a competition for the game’s best goal. Kalajzic kicked the first of eight to start the quarter, with Jamie McNamara following suit. Jonathon Marsh booted a goal from 50-metres out, only to be outdone by Cam Symonds who nailed his own from the 65-metre mark, within the centre square. Jack Perham added to the board while Ambrose Ryan kicked his third for the game, from what seemed like an impossible position. A last-minute change to move Andrew Stephen into the forward line, saw the man of the moment kick the last goal of the match and his career.

Jack Perham had one of his best outings all year finishing with 28 possessions, 19 kicks, 11 marks and a goal.