WAFLW R12 Wrap Up with Jacob Landsmeer - Thanks to The Left Bank

Superb Sharks move to top spot

East Fremantle has moved to top of the WAFL Women’s ladder, producing trademark performances at either end of the ground to record a superb 105 point victory over Peel Thunder at Lane Group Stadium on Saturday. 

The Sharks dominated from start to finish, keeping the home side scoreless on their way to a 16.9 (105) to 0.0 (0) result that propelled them to top spot, thanks to West Perth’s upset win over Claremont. 

Sunny conditions greeted the sides in Mandurah, the Sharks hoping to extend their winning streak to seven with a win over the bottom placed Thunder. 

The gulf in class between the sides was evident from the opening minutes, East Fremantle registering four goals in the opening term to establish an early dominance that was maintained for the duration of the contest. 

After beginning with a brace of behinds in an attritional start the game’s first goal came from Zipporah Fish, able to produce an intercept at half forward to cut off a handball and then slot truly on the run from 35 metres. 

An excellent clearance set up Tiani Teakle for another major a minute later, able to lead out from full forward to make on her chest and kick accurately from inside 50. 

Goals to Sara Pluschke and Alicia Blizzard continued the strong start, more of the same arriving in the second term as Peel Thunder had no answers to midfield and territory dominance from Matt Templeton’s side. 

A superb clearance from Fish to start the second quarter gave Teakle a simple mark and goal. Mylee Leitch finding the target from close range to push the margin to 40 points.

By half time the lead sat at an even ten goals, some great defensive work behind the ball making the Sharks defence impenetrable as Peel gave it their all but couldn’t find a way through the watertight backline. 

The tackling pressure was also immense from the visitors, Teakle with three goals up forward by half time to continue the Sharks dominance. 

Emmelie Fiedler was giving her midfield first use in ruck in the absence of Laura Catherine, the reigning premiers showing no signs of slowing down after half time as they piled on another three goals in the third term. 

Their ball movement was far too slick for a young Thunder outfit, the opening goal of the third term coming after just 15 seconds thanks to a brilliant knock from Fiedler in to the path of Fish, her deep kick inside 50 soccered through by an opportunistic boot from Sharon Wong. 

Fiedler herself got on the scoreboard to capitalise on her good work later in the term, showing great dexterity for a tall player to kick a roving goal from a long kick inside 50. 

Having kept Peel Thunder scoreless to the last change the challenge remained for the Sharks heading in to the final stanza, looking to become the first side to keep a team scoreless this season. 

They were able to achieve that feat and score four more goals to push the margin in to three figures, Fish completing the century milestone with the final goal of the game to bookmark the match with majors. 

East Fremantle’s defence managed to keep a blank opponent scoresheet from 17 inside 50’s, some great work on the last line in the last term in particular helping produce a remarkable scoreline. 

Domonique Fedele produced a brilliant smother and finish to hit the scoreboard in the last stanza, Fish’s goal coming with the final kick of the match after a brilliant spoil at centre half forward, grabbing the ball and as her name suggests, zipping past two would be tacklers to kick truly on the burst. 

The result is comfortably the biggest winning margin of the year, the Sharks failing to concede a goal in either of their meetings with Peel Thunder in the 2024 season. 

Fish showcased her class with 29 disposals, 12 inside 50’s and two goals, further increasing her chances of being taken with the opening pick of the 2024 AFL Women’s Draft later this year. 

Teakle kicked four goals in a strong forward half showing, while Alicia Blizard finished with three goals. 

Samara Pluschke snared two majors to go with 20 disposals to also be one of the most impactful afield, Wong also with two majors while captain Ashleigh Gomes was her usual self with 16 disposals to lead from the front. 

The victory increases East Fremantle’s percentage to 234.3, Claremont’s shock loss to West Perth giving the reigning premiers a game plus percentage gap on the Tigers ahead of their Grand Final rematch next Saturday at Revo Fitness Stadium. 

East Fremantle’s only loss this season was to the Tigers in round three when they suffered a 34 point defeat at the same venue, keen for retribution to confirm their premiership credentials. 

The Rogers Cup also came to Mandurah and conquered, defeating Peel Thunder by 36 points, 9.6 (60) to 3.6 (24). 

Avuya Nomlatyu, Grace Freeman and Olivia Keady each finished with two goals for the winners, who sit well entrenched inside the top five in third spot with eight wins from eleven games. 

The men’s program had the bye due to the 2024 Kia State Game, Western Australia suffering a heavy defeat to South Australia.

East Fremantle’s Milan Murdock was best afield, adding a State Simpson Medal to go with his Grand Final best on ground last year as he amassed 25 disposals and 2 goals, while Cameron Eardley (25 disposals) and Brynn Teakle (20 disposals and 16 hitouts) also tried hard. 

The WAFL season resumes on Saturday, East Fremantle hosting Perth at the Sharks second temporary home of Revo Fitness Stadium, the club to celebrate the 1974 premiership side 50 years on from their triumph over the Demons.