WAFL R6 & WAFLW R10 Wrap Up with Jacob Landsmeer - Thanks to The Left Bank

Sharks soar past Lions

East Fremantle has recorded consecutive victories for the first time in their premiership defence, producing a dominant seven goal to nil final term to run out comprehensive winners over Subiaco at Leederville Oval on Saturday. 

Coming off a six day break against a fresh Lions outfit, it was the Sharks who powered away from their opponents, kicking 7.1 to 3 behinds to record their third win of the season, 17.7 (109) to 7.10 (52). 

Cody Leggett returned to the side with four goals, while Brynn Teakle was the best player afield, kicking three goals from 16 disposals and winning a whopping 48 hitouts. 

The result pushes East Fremantle in to the top five for the first time this season, having just over a week ago occupied bottom spot on the table. 

Beautiful autumn conditions greeted the sides for the round six clash, the Sharks having held the wood over Subiaco in recent seasons with five straight victories dating back to the Lions premiership season of 2021. 

Last gasp hero in round five Jackson McDonald was one of three changes for the clash, missing due to a wedding as was premiership teammate Brayden Lawler. 

Tom Joyce, Cody Leggett and Corey Holmes came in to the Sharks 22, premiership ruckman Reuben McGuire pushed back to the reserves after struggling for form in recent weeks. 

Blaine Boekhorst was rested from all levels in his return from a knee reconstruction, having made a successful comeback six days earlier at Reserves level against Swan Districts. 

Subiaco made the fast start, kicking the opening two goals of the game through Ryan Borchetand Ben Sokol. 

While sluggish to start the contest East Fremantle quickly warmed to their task, Cody Leggett capitalising on a Jordan Lockyer turnover from a kickout to slot the Sharks first from 40 metres. 

East Fremantle’s pressure was beginning to rise and Brynn Teakle was giving his midfield first use, Fraser Turner able to convert a set shot after a deft Jamie Meade pass. 

Tom Joyce was in sublime clearance form in his first game since round 3, the injury plagued midfielder showing his grunt around stoppages to help Bill Monaghan’s side win the clearance battle. 

Veteran Cameron Eardley pushed forward for a rare goal late in the first side as the Sharks took control of the contest. 

A seven-point lead was extended rapidly in the second term, Josh Cripps finding Ben McGuire for the first goal of the term before a lovely finish from Josh Schoenfeld from left full forward extended the lead to 18 points. 

Sokol kept Subiaco in touch to break the run of five Sharks goals, but the midfield dominance was starting to show for the visitors, Leggett breaking clear inside 50 to kick consecutive goals from strong contested marks, kicking truly to push the margin beyond four goals. 

Teakle’s size was beginning to cause problems for Subiaco in the ruck, monstering Kody Eaton from a forward 50 stoppage to take clean possession and scrounge a major from 30 metres out. 

The Lions stayed in the game with goals to Jacob Evitt and Luke Foley, but a late snap from Luke English kept the Sharks four goals in front at the half, the reigning premiers asserting their dominance in general play and getting full reward on the scoreboard. 

The third term was more of a dour defensive arm wrestle, Subiaco kicking to what had proved to the scoring end. 

Teakle continued his ruck dominance by scoring the only East Fremantle goal of the quarter, too strong at another forward 50 stoppage and kicking truly on the run. 

Subiaco finally struck the target with goals to Sokol and captain Greg Clark in the time on period of the third term, leaving the game open heading in to the final stanza with East Fremantle’s lead standing at 17 points. 

With the Lions coming off the bye in round five some pundits may have tipped a final quarter fadeout from the Sharks, who had played just six days earlier against Swan Districts. 

Milestone man Jarrad Jansen stood up early in the final term, taking a strong mark before dishing off to Corey Holmes running in to the goal square to kick a steadying major. 

Jansen was again involved in a score assist as he dished off to Leggett who dribbled through his fourth goal of the afternoon to almost put the result beyond doubt. 

A trademark snap from Jed Hagan continued the final quarter dominance, Teakle showing great dexterity for a 203 cm ruckman to kick a dribbled snap from right full forward as the visitors ran away with the game.

The match had similar hallmarks to the round 20 clash last year, where the game was tight for three quarters before the Sharks class shone through, a brace of late majors for Jack Cleaver putting the full stop on a superb victory. 

East Fremantle had winners all over the ground, Kyle Baskerville finishing the leading possession getter with 29 disposals while Fraser Turner had 27 disposals and 10 marks, also kicking a first term goal. 

Perhaps the most impactful players were Cleaver (26 disposals, 9 inside 50’s, 8 tackles and 2 goals) and Teakle (16 disposals, 48 hitouts and 3 goals) while Leggett’s four goals made him the most impactful forward on the ground. 

Veteran defensive duo Cameron Eardley (23 disposals) and Matthew Jupp (19 disposals and 11 marks) held firm all day, a frugal back six only conceding seven goals on a beautiful day for football. 

The 57-point win was a fitting result for Jarrad Jansen’s 100th game for East Fremantle, the Bullcreek-Leeming product a strong contributor for the club since returning in 2018 from time at AFL clubs Geelong and Brisbane. 

Round seven sees a blockbuster match up against East Perth at Fremantle Oval, both clubs seen as genuine contenders for the 2024 premiership. 

Unfortunately, the Reserves suffered a 36 point defeat earlier in the day against Subiaco, 18 of the 25 goals kicked to the Leederville TAFE end of the ground. 

Subiaco kicked away in the second quarter with five goals before the Sharks reduced the margin to 11 points at the final change thanks to a five goal to one third term, the Lions able to steady in the last with six goals to two in their 15.10 (100) to 10.4 (64) victory. 

Premiership players Finn Gorringe and Reuben McGuire featured in the Sharks side, while Dillon O’Reilly completed his second game back from a knee injury. 

Ethan Paholski had 20 disposals and kicked a goal to be his side’s best player, while Jack Walsh had 19 disposals and also hit the scoreboard with a major. 

Phoenix Knight and Elijah Burrows kicked two majors apiece, East Fremantle slumping to their second Reserves loss of the season. 

The Colts suffered a heartbreaking four-point loss as part of the Colts Super Round at Arena Joondalup, the young Sharks outfit left to rue their last quarter inaccuracy as they kicked 2.6 while keeping the Lions scoreless, suffering a 7.7 (49) to 6.9 (45) defeat. 

Noah Dean kicked two goals from 17 disposals to be the only multiple goalkicker for the blue and whites, while Luke Carrello (30 disposals) and Elijah Stockden (28 disposals and a goal) had plenty of the ball, Sam Mainwaring’s side now 2-2 from their four matches this season. 

The Rogers Cup side tasted success in their clash with Swan Districts, seeing off a gallant opponent at Bassendean Oval. 

Leading by just four points at the last change the Sharks young guns did enough in the final term, kicking three goals straight after kicking 2.11 in the first three quarters, on their way to a 5.11 (41) to 5.3 (33) win.

Avuya Nomlatyu snared three goals for the winners to be the star forward on the ground, the Sharks two games clear of Swans in third spot on the Rogers Cup ladder. 

The WAFLW side had the weekend off, with the WAFLW State side taking centre stage at Optus Stadium.

Unfortunately, the Sandgropers suffered a 16 point loss, the Croweaters victorious 7.7 (49) to 5.3 (33). 

The Sharks had six representatives in the state squad, with the ladies premiership defence to resume next Sunday with a clash against West Perth at Fremantle Oval. 

The Rogers Cup side will also face the Falcons Sunday morning, in what looms as a stern challenge against the undefeated team of the competition through ten rounds.