WAFL R15 Wrap Up with Jacob Landsmeer - Thanks to The Left Bank

Marsh powers Sharks to crucial win over Thunder

East Fremantle has recorded its most crucial win of the 2024 season, taking down ladder leaders Peel Thunder by 23 points at Rushton Park on Saturday.

The Sharks held sway on the scoreboard all day, a low scoring first half before the game opened up after the main break, East Fremantle with five consecutive goals either side of three-quarter time to open up a match winning lead, closing things out for a 13.11 (89) to 10.6 (66) win.

The result pushes the reigning premiers back in to the top five with five matches remaining, hoping to find their best form at the right time of the season.

Key forward Jono Marsh was a key player in the victory, kicking a game high four majors to be a focal point in attack.

The Sharks made their second trip down the Kwinana Freeway for 2024 to face the Thunder, this time as the home side with no other alternatives available as a host venue due to country week football being run at the majority of WAFL venues out of use for the weekend.

The teams had clashed in the opening round of the season, Peel winning the Grand Final rematch by 19 points.

Last year’s runners up have proven to be one of the form teams of the 2024 season, coming in to the round 15 clash on top of the table with a 9-3 record.

The Sharks by contrast have endured a largely frustrating premiership defence, unable to find consistency having so far failed to string more than three wins in succession together.

Peel were without key players Liam Reidy, Will Brodie and Patrick Voss (AFL duties) while dual premiership veteran Blair Bell was out with injury, but the Sharks were also without stars Matthew Jupp (concussion), Tom Joyce (ribs), Blaine Boekhorst (shoulder) as the mid-season toll of a WAFL season was laid bare for both clubs.

On a cold but dry winter’s afternoon the Thunder were dealt an early blow, losing star midfielder Neil Erasmus to concussion sustained in the opening minutes of the match.

Odin Jones kicked the first goal of the match on his WAFL league debut for the home side, but the Sharks started to win ascendency around stoppages through midfield duo Kyle Baskerville and Milan Murdock, Jack Cleaver also having a say on proceedings.

While Thunder ruckman Max Knobel was winning the majority of hit outs Lachlan Blakiston was having an impact at ground level for the Sharks, Jono Marsh able to kick the ‘home’ side’s first goal of the day at the 16-minute mark.

Strong body work from Cody Leggett in a one-on-one marking contest with Ethan Hughes allowed the premiership forward to mark and goal to open up a slight advantage for East Fremantle, leading by 8 points at the first change.

Dillon O’Reilly presented strongly early in the second term in what had been a largely dour contest to mark a Kyle Baskerville pass and finish in front of goal, a two-goal margin handy in a low scoring match.

More great follow up work from Blakiston in the ensuring centre square contest allowed Jed Hagan to take a strong mark at half forward, wheeling and spotting Jono Marsh who slotted his second from a tight angle at left full forward.

A late goal to Nathan Wilson reduced the margin to just 12 points at half time, but East Fremantle had scoreboard ascendency in what was a fairly even battle around the ground, more efficient going inside 50 than their opponents.

Leggett opened the second half with his second major as he continued to provide a significant presence close to goal, but Peel looked to be pushing back in to the game when consecutive goals to Taberner and Corey Tregenza reduced the margin to one straight kick.

 With their season on the line East Fremantle found another gear, kicking the next five goals of the game to put a gap between the sides on the scoreboard that would prove decisive to the result.

Some brute strength from Jono Marsh from a stoppage gave the spearhead his third goal of the day, providing some highlights for the Sharks faithful who had made the trip down to Mandurah for the clash.

Tom Bennett added another before older Marsh Brother Harry capitalised on some great forward pressure to pounce on an errant Hugh Davies kick, intercept marking the ball on the 50-metre arc before launching a long bomb to add another major for East Fremantle.

When Jed Hagan and Bennett kicked the first two goals inside three minutes of the final quarter the game was sealed for the Sharks, the margin blowing out to 40 points.

Peel made one last late charge with four straight goals, Ben McGuire steadying any nerves with a goal at the 29-minute mark of what was a long last quarter.

Marsh finished the day fittingly with his fourth goal, the standout player on the ground as the former Magpie and Saint looks set to find his best form late in the season.

East Fremantle General Manager of Football Brad Dodd was pleased to get a win in a pressure laden contest against the ladder leaders.

“It was a tough, contested game where time and space was at a minimum. We were able to control stoppages which gave us field position and opportunities to score,” he said.

“We again defended really well- though it was disappointing to concede 6 goals in the last quarter as Peel chased the game.”

Dodd also lauded the side’s depth, missing some key personnel much like their opponents.

“We are finding was to win and it’s a testament to our depth with Joyce, Jupp, Boekhorst, Meade and McDonald still missing and a number of others only recently returning.

“We’d expect to keep improving should we stay healthy.”

While Marsh was the most impactful forward it was the midfield duo of Baskerville (29 disposals, 9 marks and 9 tackles) and Murdock (29 disposals and 7 tackles) who had perhaps the biggest say in the game, matching Peel’s midfield in the clinches and giving the side clearance dominance.

Harry Marsh also appears to be finding his feet after hamstring surgery in April, recording 20 disposals and a goal in his third match of the season. Jack Cleaver continues to develop as a midfielder, finishing with 24 touches and 9 tackles in another strong performance from the 20-year-old in just his 27th senior game.

Earlier in the Reserves the Sharks overcame a three-quarter time deficit to overcome Peel Thunder, kicking the only three goals of the last term in the 10.11 (71) to 8.10 (58) result.

The Sharks started slowly, trailing by 30 points early in the third term before a pair of Mitch Zadow goals turned the tide for the Sharks, who kicked four goals to one in the third quarter to close to within 5 points.

In all East Fremantle would kick seven goals to one after half time to overcome their slow start to the match, winning by 13 points to snap a three-game losing streak.

Ethan Paholski’s fine season continued with 21 disposals, while promoted Colts star Declan Pauline marked his reserves debut with 20 touches of his own.

Darcy Wills had a superb game in the ruck, winning 19 disposals and 32 hitouts to help give his side momentum out of the centre in the second half.

Unfortunately, the day started on a disappointing note, the Colts slumping to a sixth straight loss with a 9.5 (59) to 11.9 (75) result.

The match was close throughout, the margin under a goal at every change before Peel pushed away in the final term, kicking four goals to two to keep the Sharks waiting for their next win.

State under 18’s player Luke Urquhart (22 disposals) and Luke Carrello (21) were among the best for East Fremantle, while Kaydn Wilson and Jake Boniwell each kicked two majors.

Round 16 sees East Fremantle head North to Arena Joondalup to play West Perth across all grades, their last assignment before their final bye of the home and away season.