Preliminary Final Wrap thanks to The Left Bank

East Fremantle bowed out of the finals with a 28 point Preliminary final loss to Claremont on the weekend. After easily accounting for Claremont 2 weeks earlier, the rejuvenated Tigers jumped out of the blocks to put the Sharks on the back foot. Kicking with a slight breeze, the Tigers ran riot kicking 5.5 in the opening stanza.  The Sharks were shellshocked but a Tom Monaghan goal after the siren halted the streak and gave Bill Monaghan and co a chance to regroup at quarter time.

Claremont once again jumped out of the blocks in the 2nd quarter and kicked the first goal in the first minute. The rest of the quarter was an arm wrestle but the Sharks struggled to get the ball inside 50, with poor skill under pressure hampering their ball movement. Once again, the only goal for the quarter came after the siren, with Eddie Simpson converting and the Sharks heading into the sheds 42 points down. 

A big 3rd quarter was needed and the Sharks were again made to pay for a slow start, with Claremont kicking 2 goals in the first 2 minutes to blow the margin out.  Those would be the last goals Claremont kicked for the game as East Fremantle desperately tried to drag themselves back into the contest.  Goals to Tom Monaghan and Jed Hagan reduced the margin to 43 at the last break. A huge quarter was needed but despite threatening at times, the Tigers closed the game out to win their way through to the Grand Final. 

Better players for the Sharks were Jeremy Goddard in the ruck, who had 14 disposals, 8 clearances and 4 tackles, Jamie Meade, who had 21 disposals playing down back and through the middle and Jed Hagan, who kicked 2 goals from 11 disposals and 5 marks. 

While it was a disappointing end to the campaign, the Sharks can take plenty of positives from the season and will be looking to build on it in season 2023.