R4 WAFL Wrap up with Jacob Landsmeer thanks to The Left Bank

LEAGUE REPORT WITH JACOB LANDSMEER THANKS TO THE LEFT BANK

East Fremantle has recorded a third straight win, booting the last four goals of the match to push away from a determined Perth side, winners by 28 points at the WACA. 

In wasn’t without a scare in the Sharks first home match of the 2023 season, the blue and whites kicking the last four goals of the game to win 16.9 (105) to 12.5 (77), equal top of the table after four rounds. 

Beautiful conditions greeted the sides for the first WACA clash of 2023, East Fremantle having recorded five wins from seven clashes in 2022 at their temporary home. 

With Perth chasing their first win of the season the opening passages of the match were hard fought and contested, Milan Murdock slotting the first goal of the match from a free kick from a tight angle in the right forward pocket. 

Perth quickly responded at the other end and had field position for a large chunk of the opening quarter, East Fremantle’s defence led by captain Matthew Jupp along with experienced players Cam Eardley and Jarrad Jansen resisting stoutly. 

Josh Schoenfeld punished a Demons turnover before a great spoil and follow up kick from Jansen found Hugh Dixon deep in the left forward pocket, the big man cooly slotting a major with a superb drop punt.

Kyle Baskerville made it four goals in seven minutes, the home side opening up a three goal lead at the first change. 

Dillon O’Reilly converted a set shot early in the second term as the Sharks gained control, the midfield outworking the Demons around the contest. 

Dixon kicked his second major at the 12 minute mark of the second term, only for Perth to boot the last three goals of the quarter, the Sharks lead only one point at the half as turnovers proved costly. 

Dixon steadied things with his third a minute on to the second half, Perth able to stay with their opponents for much of the term in what was becoming an arm wrestle. 

Jonathon Marsh began to have an impact on the contest, setting up Tom Joyce for a goal on his left foot from a forward 50 stoppage before captitalising on an Austin Davis fumble to boot a major himself from the goal square. 

Brayden Lawler kicked two in the term himself, the latter after the three quarter time siren as the Sharks held a four goal lead with a quarter to play. 

Just when home fans thought they could breathe easy the Demons produced a stunning burst to start the final term, booting four of the first five goals of the quarter to leave the margin at just nine points. 

The game needed a match winner, and it was Marsh who provided a moment of individual brilliance, shrugging tackles from a boundary throw in deep inside 50 and kicking a running outside of the right boot checkside from 30 metres that gave East Fremantle the breathing space they needed.

Lawler and Marsh both kicked three second half goals as the Sharks kicked the final three majors of the game, Perth forced to wait for their first win of 2023. 

Tom Joyce and Milan Murdock both found plenty of the ball, each registering 32 disposals and kicking a goal, while Kyle Baskerville also had 30 disposals with a major. 

Reuben McGuire (22 disposals and 20 hitouts) had a great ruck battle with Dakota Baldwin-Wright, while Eardley (27) and Jansen (24) showed poise late when needed. 

Sharks coach Bill Monaghan was pleased to get the win in what was a dour contest at times.

“It was a pretty tough watch. Both sides made plenty of mistakes,” he said. 

“We controlled a lot of the game if you look at the stats, but we didn’t really put them away.

“It’s a five goal win. It’s about banking wins and making sure we keep our momentum going. 

“We know this week against West Perth will be an even greater challenge.”

East Fremantle face the reigning premiers in round 5, a second straight home game at the WACA Ground. 

RESERVES

The East Fremantle Reserves were wasteful in front of goal and that lead to a 15 point loss to Perth on the weekend. In a relatively even game, Perth forward Kristian Cary proud the difference kicking 4.1 from his 8 kicks. 

The Sharks, missing twin towers Josh Cripps and Eddie Simpson, had the run of the play in the first quarter but were wasteful kicking 2.6 to trail Perth on 3.2. Orien Kerr was finding the ball through the middle while Muoteer Reech, playing his 2nd game, found the ball 7 times playing as a key forward. 

It was more of the same in the 2nd quarter, with the Demons booting 4.1 to 1.3 to open up an 18 point lead at the main break. The Sharks had dominated the inside 50 count, leading 24-15, but we wasteful, missing several simple shots. Orien Kerr continued to find the ball and was supported by Jackson McDonald and Jack Walsh through the midfield. 

In the pivotal 3rd quarter, Perth dominated the quarter, pumping the ball inside 50 17 times to 4 but the East Fremantle defence lead by Lennon Marlin, Sam Collins and Kale Paton were resolute to restrict the scoring. From 4 Inside 50s, the Sharks managed 2.2 but the margin increased to 28 points. 
Despite the handy lead, the Sharks never stopped believing and held the Demons goal-less in the last term. Despite enjoying ground position, inaccuracy again was the thorn in the side, kicking a wasteful 2.4 to go down by 15 points. 

In a relatively even performance, Orien Kerr lead the way in the midfield with 23 disposals and 4 tackles while Corey Holmes and Ben McGuire returned from injury and got through. Holmes has 19 disposals, 6 makes and kicked 2 goals while Ben McGuire had 18 disposals, 4 tackles and also kicked 2 goals. 

The Sharks Reserves will be looking to bounce back this week against West Perth at the WACA. 

COLTS

After a week off, we were looking forward to our contest against the unbeaten Perth side who have been taking all before them this season. Excited to be back on our home turf at the unusual time of 5pm and under lights it presented a great opportunity for us to challenge for top spot on the ladder.

Perth started well winning the ball from the midfield and giving their forwards ample opportunities to score. Our backline held up well early but eventually the amount of ball coming in took its toll and we finally conceded a couple of goals to them. In the latter stages of the first term, we found some clean ball and managed to get the game back on out terms. Jack Cocking found himself on the end of some good ball movement and found the goals for us.

After a quarter time reset and with some better organisation around the ball it enabled us to take some more control around the ground and start to play more to our game style which reflected on the scoreboard as we set up a small lead over the duration of the quarter. Unfortunately, a lack of concentration allowed Perth to claw back the lead late in the quarter and head into half time with a nine-point lead.

With the game on the line heading into the third quarter it was disappointing that we did not respond to the situation and Perth bullied us around the contested ball and added another two goals for the quarter to hold a comfortable 23-point lead at three quarter time.

We needed to kick early goals in the last quarter to have any chance, but it was not to be, Perth continued their dominance and added early goals to put the result beyond doubt early in the final term. A couple of late goals added some respectability to the score line, but overall, we were well beaten by a very good Perth side on the night.

Jack Cocking provided a target for us with 2 goals, along with small forward Jayden Davis who also worked hard at ground level to finish with 2 goals.

Harry Pickett continued his good form with a solid game down back, Clayton Wood worked tirelessly in the midfield, whilst Chadd Dunscombe led our tackle count with a game high 12 tackles.

A lot to learn from the game, and plenty to work on this week at training as we look forward to our next match on Saturday 9:10am against West Perth at the WACA.