The Sharks' winning week

The Sharks' theme song was on repeat over the weekend at ATOM Stadium as East Fremantle players belted out "onward to victory" six times in a perfect weekend for all active levels in its system.

The run stretches out to seven when you include the mid-week victory to the 16s Dulux Development squad over Subiaco at HBF Arena. The only team who hasn't contributed to the run is the Women's League side, who had a bye with seven of their players in action in the first ever women's derby at Domain Stadium.

While the League team stole the spotlight with their 50 point win over West Perth on Saturday (match report), it was a set up by two brilliant performances by the Colts and Reserves sides who won by 90 and 30 points respectively.

Playing in the night-cap, the 16s Dulux Development side fell behind quickly putting the perfect weekend at risk, but the youngsters were outstanding the in second half to come back from a six goal deficit at half time to win by a two goal margin.

If the Women's teams were feeling the pressure to continue the run on Sunday it didn't show, with both the Youth GIrls and Reserves notching up convincing wins over cross town rivals South Fremantle.

All teams will be in action this weekend against Claremont, with the Men's games on Saturday at 9am (Colts), 11:30am (Development League) and 2:15pm (League) and the Women's on Sunday at 10am (Youth Girls- Winnacott Reserve), 1:20pm (League) and 3:20pm (Reserves). 

YOUTH GIRLS

Under new coach Chris Boulay and assistant Ashleigh Gomes, the Youth Girls side started their season with a solid 24 point win.  Fifi Cowden, in her 4th season in the side, led the team for the first time and said it was an honour to captain the girls. 

“It’s really great to have a leadership role and to be able to help develop some of the other girls’ players having played for a few years.”

The Sharks had 6 individual goal scorers, with new player Monique Thorne scoring two, on their way to a 4 goal win. 

East Fremantle 7.5.47 defeated South Fremantle 3.5.23

Goals: 2 Monique Thorne, 1 Karen Adams, Kate Inglis-Hodge, Fifi Cowden, Lindsay Fowler, Emma Zanoli

Best: Hayley Carstairs, Kate Inglis-Hodge, Monique Thorne

WOMEN'S RESERVES

The Women's Reserves continued the run, belting South Fremantle by 49 points in their season opener.  The Sharks were deadly accurate up front, kicking ten goals and just two behinds for the match, with club stalwart Julie Nichols contributing six goals in her 99th match. The Sharks debuted no less than 9 players, including Cass Williams, Brianna Jones, Sophie Stanforth, Cadian Lodge and Katelyn Murray who pulled on an AFL guernsey for the first time. 

The Sharks came out of the blocks firing, with ruck Tracey Anderson combining beautifully with rover Ashleigh Gomes to dominate the centre clearances in the first quarter. The new structures put in place by second year coach Wendy Booth created plenty of space in the forward 50m and assisted the forwards in kicking eight goals straight before the first of only 2 behinds. Best a field was new recruit Stef Italiano, whose pace and skills on the ground could not be matched and will have grabbed the attention of Head Coach Steph Walding ahead of the League team's first match this Sunday. 

East Fremantle 10.2.62 defeated South Fremantle 2.3.21

Goals: 6 Julie Nichols, 1 Jacquie Edwards, Katelyn Murray, Narelle Scott, Nicole Bosotin

Best: Stefanie Italiano, Ashleigh Gomes, Julie Nichols

DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE REPORT

The Development League continued to show that the depth at the Club has improved with another polished win on Saturday.  After a slightly sluggish start, albeit in light drizzle, which made ball handling tough, the Sharks boys started to gain ascendancy in the last 10 minutes of the first quarter. 

It was the second quarter where the Sharks really broke the game open, with crisp ball movement and excellent pressure on the West Perth players, forcing them in to error.  It was that quarter where the boys kicked 5.3 to the West Perth’s 2 points.

The second half went goal for goal with West Perth scoring 5.6 to our 5.5, but in the end that second quarter was decisive in the end with the Sharks running out 30 point winners.

After missing the first two rounds of the season Cameron Crisafio made the most of his recall, at his miserly best in defence.  He was ably supported by Josh Cuneo and Julian Locantro, both of whom continue to apply pressure on the League defenders with consistent good form.  Tyler Chalwell had 25 disposals and 11 marks, often playing as a key defender, whilst Adrian Ricciardello was excellent up forward, kicking three goals and providing outstanding leadership.  Tom Marshall, in his first season as a senior player, continues to show that he has a bright future at senior level with a solid game through the midfield, collecting 24 possesions and kicking a goal.

East Fremantle 13.11.89   def.  West Perth  8.11.59

COLTS REPORT

The Colts, like the Development League boys also recorded their second straight win in defeating West Perth by a convincing 90 points.  Defensively the team was rock solid, restricting West Perth to just the solitary goal in the first half.  Ruckman Lachlan Kleppe played his best game of the year, collecting 16 possessions, 20 hitouts, 6 marks and a goal.  His ruck work game the Sharks first touch on many occasions, where Kyle Baskerville (26 possessions), Corey Holmes (24 and 8 inside 50’s) and Matthew Burton (25) were able to win plenty of the ball.  With three key forwards out this week (Strnadica, Bonomelli and Zurhaar) there was some concern over the Sharks ability to kick a winning score.  They need not have worried.  Hamish Rodgers presented well, bringing the ball to ground on many occasions, where the Tiger Sharks in Drew Blurton, Ambrose Ryan and Sam Lewis had a feeding frenzy kicking 6 goals, 5 goals and 2 goals respectively. 

East Fremantle                  19.11 = 125                         def.                        West Perth          5.5 = 35