Qualifying Final - The Left Bank Wrap Up with Taylor Cowper

East Fremantle were finals victors for the first time since 2014 after they beat Claremont comfortably by 48 points at New Choice Homes Park on Saturday.

The young Sharks defied their finals inexperience to start strongly and continue to show they are a team to be reckoned with this final’s series, running away with the win 16.10 (106) to 8.10 (58).

League Coach Bill Monaghan said he was impressed with his side’s performance. “The boys were switched on right from the start. The pressure and effort around the contest was impressive.

“Claremont, like most good sides do, had a good run in the third and kicked four which was disappointing”, said Monaghan. “We steadied again in the last term and kicked away”.

Monaghan said even though there were some tremendous individual performances the victory was sealed because of some great team football. “We are really proud of the effort, first final for most of our guys and first final for the club for a while it was a great team performance”.

The Sharks will now face minor premiers West Perth in next Saturday’s second semi-final at Pentanet Stadium, Joondalup. The winner of that clash will book a place in the Grand Final at Leederville Oval.

West Perth and Pentanet Stadium is a place that Bill Monaghan knows quite well after he coached West Perth to a Grand Final in 2018. “It’s a well driven path up to Joondalup for me", said Monaghan. “We will get up there and when we talk to the players, all we ask for is a good attitude and we will go and do it all again”.

EAST FREMANTLE 4.1, 7.7, 10.8, 16.10 (106)

def

CLAREMONT 2.2, 3.2, 7.9, 8.10 (58)

Goals – J Marsh 3 A Montauban 3 C Holmes 2 J Jansen 2 T Bennett F Gorringe R Lester-Smith J McDonald J Schoenfeld C Smith.

Best – K Baskerville C Eardley J Meade M Murdock M Tassone T Bennett