R2 League Wrap Up with Jacob Landsmeer thanks to The Left Bank

R2 WAFL Wrap Up with Jacob Landsmeer thanks to The Left Bank

A dominant midfield performance and dogged defence has led East Fremantle’s league side to their first win of the 2023 season, holding on to win by four points over Swan Districts at Bassendean Oval on Saturday. 

Goals were hard to come by for both sides, East Fremantle maintaining a buffer on the scoreboard for most of the day but never comfortable enough to edge clear of a defiant Swans, Bill Monaghan’s men hanging on for a 7.15 (57) to 7.11 (53) victory. 

The triumph was soured by a potentially serious knee injury to defender Michael Tassone, scans expected to confirm the severity of the injury early in the week. 

Both teams were coming off nail-biting losses on Good Friday in round one, East Fremantle beaten by four points by Peel Thunder and Swans going down by just a point to East Perth.

Overcast skies greeted the sides for the round two clash, the Sharks the only team to beat Swans at home in season 2022. 

The visitors attacked relentlessly in the opening minutes, registering three behinds before Fraser Turner snapped accurately from 30 metres. 

Milan Murdock was everywhere in midfield with strong support from Harry Marsh and Tom Joyce, but there was no reward for scoreboard dominance with seven shots in the first 23 minutes returning 1.6. 

Ben Hewett made the most of a rare chance for Swans with a goal after the quarter time siren to cut the East Fremantle lead to just five points.

The home side made a better start to the second term and levelled the scores, East Fremantle sparked in to action with four goals in a row to finish the opening half.

Joyce first kicked truly from a set shot before a towering contested mark from Dillon O’Reilly was also duly converted. 

Alex Montauban claimed a strong one handed mark and made it three goals in six minutes, Hugh Dixon with his first goal since returning from West Coast after winning a free kick to push the margin out to 23. 

Jesse Palmer slotted a late major for Swans to keep the home team in touch, the third term a real arm wrestle as both sides went without a goal for more than 20 minutes. 

Sadly Tassone collapsed to the ground with a right knee injury early in the third term after an awkward change of direction, ruled out of the game to leave the Sharks a player down. 

The visitors were winning the territory battle and giving their forwards opportunities but simply couldn’t convert, Swans letting them off the hook with three consecutive behinds at the other end. 

It took until the 22 minute mark of the third term for the first major, Brayden Lawler with a brilliant run down chase winning him a free kick for holding the ball at the top of the Sharks goal square, giving the Sharks a 20 point lead. 

Again Swans goaled late to keep the contest alive, Tom Edwards then with the first of the last to reduce the margin to ten points. 

O’Reilly took another strong grab and kicked truly to give the visitors some breathing room. 

Ruck duo Eddie Simpson and Reuben McGuire both squandered chances to seal the game, Mitch Bain’s major for Swans at the 24 minute mark setting up a grandstand finish. 

With just over a minute remaining the Sharks won the clearance and were able to lock the ball in their forward half, a couple of desperate smothers from 150 gamer Cameron Eardley making sure Swans couldn’t mount a push forward. 

The siren sounded with the ball in midfield, East Fremantle clinging on for a four point victory. 

Murdock was best afield for a second straight week for the Sharks, finishing with 34 disposals and 11 tackles in a typically robust showing from the young midfielder. 

Harrison Marsh (31 disposals) and Fraser Turner (29 disposals) also had a fair say on the outcome, Joyce outstanding as well with 28 touches and O’Reilly with two majors, fellow key forward Dixon important late moving in to the ruck. 

Coach Bill Monaghan was pleased to register the first win of season 2023 in what had been a grind of a contest. 

“I thought we jumped out of the blocks really well, our stoppage work and ability to get the ball forward in the first half and in particular the first quarter was outstanding,” he said. 

“We didn’t take our chances, therefore we kept them in the game. We should have blown them away early and then had to fight hard in the second half. 

“It was a tough win but I’m sure it will do us some good in the long term.” 

The Sharks mentor was hopeful Tassone had escaped a season ending anterior crucial ligament knee injury.  “ It doesn’t look good. You always fear the worst. There’s some things there that say it’s not point to an ACL (injury),” Monaghan said.   

"There’s some lateral pain and some muscle pain around there, it’s just whether they have coupled with the ACL.  We are hoping for the best. We are hoping for Michael’s sake it’s not an ACL.” 

Monaghan had nothing but praise for milestone man Eardley, who becomes a life member of the club having reached 150 games.  

“Cam is an outstanding person, his courage when he plays football is outstanding as well. You’ve got to take a bit of good with the bad with Cam because he’s such a competitive person. He plays on the edge with tackling and spoiling.  He deserves 150 games and life membership and hope there’s plenty more in him.” 

Earlier the Colts won by 47 points to remain unbeaten, the Reserves suffering a 25 point defeat before the league gave the blue and whites bragging rights for the day at Basso. 

Round 3 sees East Fremantle face West Coast at Mineral Resources Park, on Sunday April 23 at 2:10 PM. 

Images: Pixell Photography