WAFL RESERVES GRAND FINAL Wrap Up with Jacob Landsmeer - Thanks to The Left Bank

Sharks deliver Reserves premiership after taming Tigers

East Fremantle has produced a superb Grand Final performance, accounting for minor premiers Claremont to claim the 2024 WAFL Reserves premiership at Optus Stadium on Sunday. 

The Sharks largely dominated the contest against the highly fancied Tigers, leading at every change in the 11.6 (72) to 6.3 (49) triumph. 

Reuben McGuire starred for the Blue and Whites, winning the Merv McIntosh Medal as best player afield with 24 disposals and 36 hitouts. 

Claremont had dominated the Reserves competition in season 2024, losing just one match for the home and away season against South Fremantle in round 14. 

East Fremantle had certainly challenged them in the home and away season however, suffering a one-point loss in round 13 where they had more disposals, inside 50’s and scoring shots. 

Beautiful conditions greeted the players for the biggest game of the Reserves season, some dew underfoot but magnificent sunny conditions overhead as the Tigers and Sharks began their quest for premiership glory. 

It took not even a minute for East Fremantle to strike first blood, the returning Jamie Meade on the end of a good handball chain and able to rush a kick to full forward, where young key forward Jack Cocking presented strongly to mark and goal from the square. 

From that point Michael Farmer’s side never relinquished the lead, able to handle Claremont’s pressure and the cleaner of the two teams in a ferocious start to the match. 

Reuben McGuire was having a great battle with Max Rohr in the ruck, the East Fremantle engine room of Jackson McDonald, Enrique Aiken-Featherstone and Declan Pauline all having an early impact. 

Max Murphy and Griffin Vladich were on song early, positioning themselves well in defence to thwart early forward thrusts from the Tigers. 

A great transition from defensive fifty down the northern side of the ground led to a goal for Noah Dean, snapping truly after receiving a handball from big man Darcy Wills, the major doubling the Sharks lead.

Early signs were encouraging for the side, but Claremont fought back late in the term with a major to Dylan Mulligan at the 17-minute mark, reducing the Sharks margin to seven points at the first change.

The pressure was still hot in the second term, conditions still slippery for players with dew still evident on the Optus Stadium surface. 

After 7 minutes of pressure and ferocity Zach Rankin broke through for the Sharks third major, winning a free kick for a high tackle at left full forward and kicking truly to extend the lead. 

A superb passage of play led to a Jamie Meade goal, defenders Max Murphy and Jackson McManus combining on the wing before Murphy set Rankine on a run, spotting Ethan Paholski at centre half forward with a bullet pass. 

Paholski sent Meade away on the run inside 50, the midfielder kicking a sublime goal to stamp home the East Fremantle advantage.

Some desperate smothers highlighted the Sharks tenacity, Claremont able to scrounge a major through Ben Evans to stay within two goals. 

As would prove the case all day the blue and whites had an answer, a costly fumbled mark in defence for the Tigers leading to a Matthew Burton snap that gave East Fremantle a 19-point lead at half time. 

The defining period of the match came in the third term, the often referred ‘premiership quarter’ coming to fruition as the Sharks slammed on five successive goals to put the result basically beyond doubt. 

Corey Holmes produced a trademark small forward goal to open the scoring, snapping around his body from 25 metres out, tidying up a scrubby entry from Austin Ball. 

East Fremantle’s transition and ball movement was proving far too good for Claremont, Max Murphy setting up Ethan Paholski for the Sharks seventh goal. 

Reuben McGuire was beginning to gain control in the ruck, his athleticism and skill proving too much for Tigers big man Max Rohr. 

He set up Burton for his second goal with a deft kick to his advantage in the pocket, the left footer able to snap to push the margin out to 37 points. 

Key forwards Cocking and Darcy Wills combined to continue the dominant term, Wills with a strong contested mark and quality finish as the goals kept coming for the Blue and Whites. 

Jackson McManus was having a superb quarter, hauling in three outstanding intercept marks that all led to goals as the backline continued to deny Claremont. 

The young talls were standing up everywhere, Cocking taking another big grab and making it six goals in a row for East Fremantle, the minor premiers seemingly without an answer to the Sharks onslaught. 

Zane Sumich pulled a goal back just before three quarter time for Claremont, but the margin was still 42 points with 28 minutes to play, East Fremantle within sight of their first Reserves flag in 16 years. 

To the Tigers credit they made a game of it with the first three goals of the final quarter to briefly entertain a spectacular comeback, reducing the margin to 22 points with 15 minutes remaining. 

As had been the case all day though the Sharks had an answer when it mattered, Reuben McGuire winning the tap from the centre clearance and setting up a move inside fifty, Zach Rankin spotting Burton on the lead.

The Bullcreek-Leeming junior kicked truly for his third major, extinguishing any faint hopes Claremont had of a miraculous victory.

It would prove to be the final goal of the game, the game falling a little flat in the dying minutes as East Fremantle counted down the clock to premiership glory, Claremont aware of their fate.

The siren sounded on a 29-point premiership win for the Sharks, their first premiership at Reserves level since 2008, when they also beat Claremont for the title at Subiaco Oval.

Michael Farmer’s side had done it the hard way, playing four finals after a narrow loss first up to Subiaco, followed by wins over South Fremantle (semi-final), Subiaco (preliminary final) and the Tigers.

East Fremantle’s backline held up superbly, Claremont with more inside 50’s but only able to kick six majors from their 42 entries, compared to the Sharks eleven from 41.

Max Murphy (22 disposals and 6 marks), Griffin Vladich (20 disposals and 9 marks) as well as Jackson McManus (12 disposals and 5 marks) were outstanding in defence, setting the tone for the game from the early stages.

However, there was no doubting Reuben McGuire was best afield, winning the Merv McIntosh Medal with 24 disposals, 7 marks and 36 hitouts to showcase his class in the ruck and around the ground.

Jackson McDonald also added a Reserves flag to go with a league medallion last year, winning 23 disposals in midfield.

Ethan Paholski (20 disposals and a goal) completed a fine season while young gun Declan Pauline (18 disposals) and Zach Rankin (17 disposals and a goal) also had a telling say on the game.

There were no passengers in a dominant four quarter display, an outstanding triumph over a quality opponent who had lost just one match for the season.

The result confirmed the depth in the club’s playing stocks, and despite some player retirements and movement, East Fremantle is likely to remain a force in the WAFL for many years to come.