R10 WAFL WRAP UP WITH JACOB LANDSMEER - THANKS TO THE LEFT BANK

Six goals from key forward Dillon O’Reilly has guided East Fremantle back in to the top five, recording a 24 point victory over Swan Districts at the WACA on Saturday. 

Despite conceding the first two goals the Sharks controlled the contest for the most part, O’Reilly the difference with four first half majors before finishing with half a dozen in the 13.13 (91) to 9.13 (67) triumph. 

On a cold but dry winters day the wounded Sharks returned to their temporary home to play Swan Districts, having lost reigning best and fairest Milan Murdock, important goal kicker Cody Leggett as well as midfielders Josh Schoenfeld and Tom Joyce to injury out of their round nine loss to East Perth. 

The blue and whites started with consecutive behinds in the opening 90 seconds, Brayden Noble and Chris Jones taking their chances at the other end to give Swan Districts an early advantage. 

East Fremantle were controlling possession though, eventually able to kick accurately through Dillon O’Reilly after a strong mark deep inside 50. 

His second major arrived minutes later, a brilliant individual effort allowing him to snap across the body and put the Sharks in front. 

Jarrad Jansen finished strongly after a sizzling Jono Marsh pass, East Fremantle’s forward half pressure outstanding as they largely dominated the territory game in the opening stanza. 

With Reuben McGuire returning to the ruck and Hugh Dixon spending more time forward to cover Leggett’s absence the Sharks forward line was looking dangerous, Jono Marsh and O’Reilly both causing headaches for the Swans defence as they hit the scoreboard in the second term. 

O’Reilly had four majors before time on of the second quarter, a long Tom Bennett landing on his chest in the goal square as the key forward enjoyed the fast WACA track on a rare dry day of recent weeks. 

The lead had crept out to 22 points before Swans kicked consecutive goals, a long bomb from Harry Marsh steadying the home team heading in to half time. 

Bill Monaghan’s side got the decisive break in the first 15 minutes of the third term, O’Reilly kicking his fifth goal just four minutes in before the Marsh brothers combined for a major, older brother Harry with his second. 

Brayden Lawler snapped truly to push the margin out to 31 points, East Fremantle’s offensive threat and height proving too much for an undersized Swans defence. 

O’Reilly had half a dozen when a strong lead was honoured by another dazzling Jono Marsh pass, a sublime finish from the former Docker pushing the lead out to 37 points.

The game was over as a contest when Hugh Dixon kicked the opening goal of the final term from a free kick, Swans with the last three goals of the game to reduce the margin to 24 points, East Fremantle rarely headed after quarter time.

Dixon’s outstanding form continued with 24 disposals and 17 hitouts as he impacted both in the middle and up forward, Harry Marsh with 19 disposals and two goals and inclusion Jackson McDonald had 19 disposals in midfield. 

O’Reilly was the dominant player on the ground with 6.4 to go with 15 disposals and nine marks, giving him ten goals in his past two matches as he builds his form and confidence after two years blighted by a back injury. 

Having made six changes at selection, coach Bill Monaghan was pleased to get a response out of his playing group. 

“We were really disappointed with our defensive efforts against East Perth,” he said. 

“I thought our intent from the first bounce was excellent today.” 

The Sharks mentor was full of praise for key forward O’Reilly, who had ten shots on goal in a dominant display. 

“Dillon has had limited continuity over his career. His last few weeks have been very good.

“Before that he’s been showing glimpses and coming in and out of games. He’s still only 22, so we’re really happy to get him up and about.”

East Fremantle head in to the bye in round eleven with a 6-4 win-loss record, a game clear inside the top five with West Coast their next assignment on Saturday July 2nd at the WACA. 

COLTS:

On a very brisk Saturday morning the colts headed to the WACA to take on a dangerous Swan Districts side that has improved significantly from when we took them on earlier in the season.

Although the weather was fine the surface was very slippery and it did not take long for the centre of the oval to become quite boggy.

Swans started the game well and took early control with their midfielders finding the ball and using it much better than us. We found it hard to get our hands on the ball and our appetite for the contest was not there early. Luckily for us Swans did not hurt us on the scoreboard and only took a seven-point lead into the quarter time break.

The second quarter was a much better showing as we were sparked into action. Winning more of the ball around the contest and with better use of the ball over the field, it saw us create more scoring opportunities and add 4 goals and we turned at the main break with an eleven-point lead.

The third quarter resembled the first where Swans started to gain the ascendency and we allowed them back into the game to set up a big last quarter.

With the game on the line on in the last it was pleasing to see the boys step up when needed. We controlled the ball throughout and used the ball much better allowing us to hit the scoreboard regularly whilst our defence held strong containing Swans to four points for the term.

A hard fought 20-point win was a good result against tough opposition.

Zac Petersen led the way with 20 disposals and 7 tackles, Kobe Austin worked tirelessly in defence and provided some good rebound with 17 disposals and 5 marks and Mitch Zadow came to life after half time finishing with 16 disposals and 7 inside 50 entries. Griff Vladich proovided a strong target up forward with 3 goals, whilst Jack Cocking continues to hit the scoreboard with 2 goals.

Congratulations to Felix Visser who made his colts debut for EFFC

The colt’s team will now enjoy a couple of weeks of from games, but will continue to train hard over the break to set themselves up for a strong finish to the season.