WAFL R19 Wrap Up with Jacob Landsmeer - Thanks to The Left Bank

Sharks make statement in dominant Swans win

East Fremantle’s strong form has continued, recording their fifth straight win of the season in a 36-point victory over Swan Districts at Arena Joondalup on Saturday.

The 15.10 (100) to 9.10 (64) was the Sharks eleventh victory of their 2024 campaign, closing to within two points of Swans in third spot on the table with a fortnight remaining in the home and away season.

The win was set up by a dominant first half that produced eleven goals from ten individual goalkickers, the margin reaching 50 points in the third quarter before Swan Districts added some respectability to the scoreboard, not enough to stop the Sharks from cantering to a superb triumph.

The match up loomed as match of the round in the WAFL league competition, fourth hosting third with both teams in superb recent form.

Swan Districts had staked their claims as one of the premiership contenders since the sides last met in round five, going nine matches without defeat heading in to the clash.

The Sharks had won their previous four games in succession, producing a dominant 66-point derby win over South Fremantle in round 18 to firm for a finals berth.

Their recent form line against the black and whites was good too, having won their previous six encounters.

The travelling East Fremantle roadshow made its way north for the clash, Arena Joondalup the venue as the Sharks close in on a return to East Fremantle Oval, with the ground given the green light by the WA Football Commission for a return to train and play.

The club remains in dialogue with the Town of East Fremantle on a sub-lease agreement between the parties, with the round 21 clash against West Coast still a chance to be played at the venue.

Another picture-perfect winters day greeted the teams, the Sharks welcoming back Cody Leggett and Chadd Dunscombe for Michael Tassone (concussion) and Finn Gorringe (travel).

Having starred in the derby with four goals having been swung forward by coach Bill Monaghan it was Cam Eardley who opened the scoring, slotting the first goal after a strong mark just beyond the goal square.

Blaine Boekhorst capitalised on a Swan Districts fumble to double the Sharks tally at the eleven-minute mark, the Sandover Medallist kicking a goal against his former side on the ground he suffered his ACL injury two years ago.

Cody Leggett and Jono Marsh added majors as the Sharks snared the first four goals of the match, a scything Lachlan Blakiston run setting up Marsh’s major after a Jed Hagan handball found him just before the goal line.

Hagan made it five goals in a row in time on to give the Sharks a 33-2 lead, before a late Lewis Tester goal got Swans on the scoreboard just before quarter time, kicking a long running goal to break his side’s duck.

East Fremantle had dominated possession and territory for much of the first quarter thanks to the efforts of Blakiston in the ruck, midfielders Milan Murdock, Kyle Baskerville and Jarrad Jansen capitalising on their ruckman’s good work.

Swans forward Tom Edwards goaled to reduce the lead to 19 points early in the second term but the Sharks were firing on all cylinders, Chris Walker slotting a set shot goal from 50 to spark another four goal East Fremantle run.

Blakiston continued his dominant day with a set shot major of his own, before Dillon O’Reilly broke free of Brenton Hilton to hit the scoreboard.

By the time Milan Murdock snapped truly for the Sharks ninth major the reigning premiers also had the unique distinction of nine individual goalkickers, a 45 point lead a fair reflection of the gulf in class between the teams to that point of the game.

While Leigh Kohlmann broke the run of majors with a pair of majors it was only a brief moment of respite for Swans, Leggett becoming the first multiple goalscorer with a spectacular set shot finish from outside the boundary line at right half forward, reminiscent of his goal against West Perth at Fremantle Oval earlier in the season.

Alex Montauban became the tenth goalkicker in an exhilarating opening half, the game effectively decided in an hour of blistering football.

Leggett’s third goal nine minutes in to the third term made the margin 50 points, before Swans produced their best 15 minutes of football for the match to kick four consecutive goals as they sniffed a comeback, dragging the margin back to 26 points with more than a quarter to play.

Just as Swan Districts began to harbour dreams of a comeback Dillon O’Reilly hauled in a strong mark from a rushed Kyle Baskerville kick, able to slot the major from 40 metres out to steady the Sharks.

The visitors had spent their petrol tickets in their efforts to mount a comeback, the last quarter fizzling out as neither side managed a goal for the first 15 minutes of the term, Eardley and Leggett hitting the scoreboard as Bill Monaghan’s side made it five straight wins, raising the century with Leggett’s fourth major.

East Fremantle had winners all over the ground in a strong four quarter performance, Blakiston outstanding having assumed the number one ruck role mid-season with 15 disposals and 41 hitouts.

Baskerville (27 disposals and 11 tackles) and Murdock (24 disposals and a goal) had telling games, while Jarrad Jansen had 21 touches in yet another strong performance from the versatile premiership star, who also limited the influence of key Swans midfielder Nik Rokahr.

East Fremantle coach Bill Monaghan lauded another strong performance, particularly impressed with his side’s five goal opening term.

“We had a focus to come out with a good intensity around the footy, to work hard in tight and on the outside,” he said.

“Our pressure on Swans and our ability to move the ball was impressive early. Credit to Swans after half time, they moved the magnets around a little bit and really took the game on.”

“I was really pleased to get away with a six-goal win.”

The victory pushes East Fremantle to within two points of Swans (3rd) on the ladder, having emerged from the match with a clean bill of health and premiership midfielder Tom Joyce getting through his return from a rib injury in the Reserves earlier in the day.

The former Brisbane Lion and West Coast Eagle had 24 disposals and kicked a goal in the Reserves 13.12 (90) to 6.5 (41) win over Swan Districts in the Reserves clash, staking his claim for a recall.

He wasn’t the only premiership star who pressed their claims either, Jackson McDonald (30 disposals) and Josh Schoenfeld (24) also producing impressive performances, kicking 11 goals to four after half time after a sluggish first half.

Young key forward Jack Cocking kicked three goals to take his tally to 25 for the season, while Darcy Wills had 16 disposals and 28 hitouts in a strong ruck performance.

The win and an improved percentage pushes East Fremantle to second on the WAFL Reserves ladder, the Sharks with one match remaining before a round 21 bye.

Unfortunately, the Colts struggled continued at the top of the day, slumping to a 62-point defeat that was the Sharks ninth in succession.

Swans kicked the first seven goals of the match to make sure of the eventual 17.10 (112) to 8.2 (50) result, the Sharks first score not arriving until the eighth minute of the second term.

Luke Carrello had 23 disposals and 7 inside 50’s for East Fremantle, Elijah Stockden (20) also finding the football while Cian Bushe-Jones and Taj Forrest each finished with two majors.

The Sharks will face East Perth in their final Colts match of the season next Saturday, looking to snap their nine-game losing run to finish a tough 2024 campaign.

The Sharks head to Leederville to face the Royals across all grades in round 20, the League match in particular vital for East Fremantle’s chances of back-to-back premierships.