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

Sharks slump to elimination final defeat to Tigers

East Fremantle’s dreams of back-to-back premierships for the first time since 1946 has come to an early end, defeated by Claremont in the elimination final at Revo Fitness Stadium on Sunday.

The Sharks led at quarter time but were thoroughly outplayed after the opening half hour of football, the Tigers bringing a level of intensity that proved too hard to match in the 12.7 (79) to 7.13 (55) result, ending the reigning premiers season.

The scene was set for a high-octane high-quality contest between two fierce rivals, East Fremantle opting to play the match at Revo Fitness Stadium despite the venue being Claremont’s regular home ground.

It was a ground that held little fears for Bill Monaghan’s side, having won their three matches played at the venue in the 2024 home and away season including a 90-point thrashing of the Tigers in round two.

East Fremantle made just one change from their round 21 win over West Coast, premiership defender Lennon Marlin returning from a back injury with fellow premiership player Ben McGuire the unlucky man to make way.

Claremont welcomed back stars Alec Waterman and Jye Bolton for the clash, conditions overcast but dry for a winner takes all contest.

The match had all the hallmarks of a final from the opening passages of play, possessions hard fought and often won under pressure with fierce tackling a highlight of the first quarter.

East Fremantle missed some early chances to hit the scoreboard kicking to the scoring end of the ground, Alex Montauban and Jarrad Jansen unable to hit the target inside 50.

Eventually it was the dependable Harry Marsh who broke through for the game’s opening major after 18 minutes, able to snap from a stoppage and give the Sharks some reward on the scoreboard.

Lennon Marlin and Chadd Dunscombe were excellent early along with Max Murphy, while Jansen and Milan Murdock were involved in midfield.

A late goal after a strong grab from Keiran Gowdie after the quarter time siren lifted the spirits of the Tigers, only trailing by 3 points at the first change despite eight scoring shots to five.

The Sharks return of 1.7 would prove costly, Cody Leggett missing a straightforward shot after a strong contested mark that let the Tigers defence off the hook.

Claremont lifted their game in the second quarter and the Sharks relinquished their stranglehold on the game, Waterman kicking truly to give his side the lead in the opening stages of the quarter.

It was the first of five goals without a blemish for the quarter for Claremont, East Fremantle made to pay for their early inaccuracy.

Cody Leggett broke the run of goals at five with a major from a set shot in time on of the second quarter but undid that good work when he crudely challenged Jye Bolton on Claremont’s half forward line, the umpire paying a 50-metre penalty for the late contact.

Bolton subsequently goaled from 20 metres out, handing the Tigers crucial momentum heading in to half time with an 18-point advantage.

East Fremantle needed to come out breathing fire in the third term kicking with the aid of the breeze to the apartments end, Bill Monaghan making some positional changes as he pushed Jed Hagan and later Jono Marsh on to wings.

Unfortunately, it didn’t have the desired result, Alex Manuel kicking the opening goal of the quarter from a kick boot to ball before the goal line.

With their season on the line the Sharks dug their heels in, Claremont still controlling field position but the back six holding up resolutely, Marlin and Murphy towers of strength down back along with small defenders Dunscombe and Tassone.

Harry Marsh eventually weaved his way through to boot his second major, but it was a short-lived momentum boost for the Sharks as Manuel and Hamish Davis responded for Claremont, pushing the margin out to five goals by the final break.

Jarrad Jansen was swung in to the ruck for the final quarter to combat Ollie Eastland’s dominance, East Fremantle briefly threatening a comeback when Jack Cleaver and Leggett kicked consecutive Sharks goals for the first time in the match to reduce the margin to 18 points with plenty of time to play.

That momentum was extinguished quickly by a Claremont side that had outworked and outmuscled East Fremantle for most of the afternoon, Hamish Davis kicking a goal on the run to steady his side.

Ollie Sheldrick added another and Davis kicked his fourth goal to make certainty of the result, pushing the lead out to 37 points before goals in junk time to Leggett and Blaine Boekhorst reduced the final margin to 24 points.

That margin was remarkably the Sharks biggest loss of their premiership defence, competitive in every match they played but ultimately lacking the consistency that defined their 2023 premiership year.

Only Jack Cleaver (21 disposals) and Milan Murdock (20) reached the 20-disposal mark, Kyle Baskerville (19) working hard while Jansen showcased his wonderful versatility, spending time forward, in midfield and in ruck across his 17 disposals.

Leggett finished the season as his side’s leading goalkicker, his 3.2 the only real imprint on the scoreboard from any of the regular forwards as Jed Hagan, Jono Marsh and Dillon O’Reilly all went goalless.

Marlin was outstanding in defence along with Max Murphy and Chadd Dunscombe, the latter playing 15 games in his debut season and looking at home as a small defender, winning his battle on the day with Zac Mainwaring by keeping him goalless.

East Fremantle General Manager of Football Brad Dodd reflected on the end of the League side’s season, falling short of back-to-back premierships despite qualifying for a third straight finals campaign.

“It’s a disappointing way to end the season.” He said.

“Outside of the first quarter, we weren’t able to match or handle the Claremont pressure and that leaves everyone disappointed.

“We failed to capitalise and get full value for the dominance early and to Claremont’s credit they fought tooth and nail and turned the tide.”

Having produced largely consistent performances for most of their premiership defence, Dodd lamented a lack of contributors against the Tigers.

“We had a lot of players down on normal output and that needs to drive them going into pre-season,” he said.

“Finals amplify mistakes, and we made too many.”

The 2024 campaign produced no shortage of wonderful moments, headlined by Jackson McDonald’s goal after the siren to defeat Swan Districts at Bassendean Oval in round 5, a demolition of South Fremantle in the Derby in Round 18 and strong wins over fellow finalists Claremont (Round 2), Swan Districts (Round 19) and Peel Thunder (round 15).

However losses by slim margins to West Coast (4 points in Round 3) and East Perth (3 points twice in Round 7 and Round 20) would prove decisive in such a tight season, on top of a negative four premiership points penalty that threatened to cost the club September football altogether.

Making finals was no mean feat with all that in mind, but most significantly because the club failed to return to East Fremantle Oval to play any football at all in 2024, having originally been scheduled to return to the venue in May.

It meant the men’s and women’s grades used venues such as Claremont, Fremantle and Leederville Oval as home venues, even venturing to Arena Joondalup and Rushton Park on opposite points of the compass to act as the ‘home’ side in a largely frustrating season for all players, coaches and support staff.

Dodd acknowledged these issues had played a part in the club’s 2024 campaign.

“There were a lot of distractions throughout the season and I’m proud of the way the players, coaches and staff just got on with the job.

“We will regroup and recharge and go again in 2025 – hopefully at Shark Park.”

East Fremantle’s Reserves finals campaign got off to a disappointing start, beaten by four points in a high-quality contest against Subiaco earlier in the day at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Very little settled the sides all day on the scoreboard, but a late burst from Subiaco at the end of the third term that opened up a four goal lead proved important to the final result.

The Sharks whittled that lead back to draw scores level by the eight minute mark of the last quarter, only for Subiaco to steady with goals to Richard Bartlett and Jacob Evitt.

Luke English kicked a clutch set shot goal from 40 metres out with two minutes remaining to bring the margin back to four points, but time ran out as the Lions prevailed 12.12 (84) to 12.8 (80).

A five-goal final term was in vain for the Sharks, their second loss by under a goal to Subiaco this season.

It means East Fremantle must now defeat rivals South Fremantle in the first semi-final at Leederville Oval to progress to a preliminary final, their season now with no second chances.

English was his side’s best with 25 disposals and 2 goals, while Ben McGuire responded strongly to his omission from the league side with 21 disposals, Darcy Wills with some big moments in the ruck with 15 disposals and 26 hitouts.

The Reserves first semi-final starts at 11:45 AM on Saturday, as the Sharks look to progress to a preliminary final.