Sharks Move Two Games Clear

It was a mixed day of results for the Sharks at HBF Arena Joondalup on Saturday against West Perth, with both the Colts and Reserves arguably putting in their worst performances of the year and the League continuing on their winning way and moving two games clear in the top four.

Colts

The Colts were looking to a solid win against the West Perth Colts, a win that would now have seen them slip in to the top four.  Unfortunately our players struggled to handle the early morning dew and subsequent slippery conditions, with our boys fumbling and using the ball less efficiently than needed.  Whilst we had the same number of possessions, more hitouts and more marks, it was the ability of the West Perth boys to be cleaner at ground level that enabled them to create more scoring opportunities and therefore apply scoreboard pressure. 

A massive game presents itself this week for the Colts, playing Subiaco who are just percentage ahead in the four.  A win will see us take that position on the ladder.

East Fremantle                                  6.5 = 41                 def by                   West Perth                         8.12 = 60

GOALS: 2 M.Kleppe, 1 B.Minissale, F.Perry, J.Snadden, M.Sewell

BEST: L.O'Donnell, C.Strnadica, W.Colreavy, N.Morton-Smith, J.Snadden, O.Parish

Reserves

The Reserves headed in to their game against West Perth searching for their 8^th consecutive win and the chance to remain equal top of the ladder.  However our boys came up against a very focussed and physical West Perth side who were fighting for their season and a possible spot in the top four. 

Apart from kicking the first goal of the game our boys were never really in the hunt and did not kick a goal for the remainder of the first half to trail by 33 points at the main break.   Things unfortunately did not improve after the break with turnovers and poor team defence allowing West Perth to kick 10 goals to 3 to record a very convincing 80 point win. 

Whilst the result was not what we would have liked some players must be commended on their efforts in what was a tough day at the office.  Our boys still remain in second and will hope for a much better game against the very impressive top of the ladder Subiaco this weekend at Medibank.

East Fremantle                                  4.5 = 29                 def by                   West Perth                         16.13 = 109

GOALS: 1 B.Ellis, A.Howson, A.Kirk, J.Schleicher

BEST: M.Franklin, J.Green, J.Cuneo, J.Schleicher

League

It was left to the senior side to restore some Sharks pride against a West Perth side that was looking to take our spot in the top four.  Our boys, playing their 3^rd game in 12 days, knew that a win would provide the perfect platform to give themselves some breathing space in the top four.

The Falcons came out hard from the onset, trying to impose themselves physically and after a tight opening quarter there was only a point the difference.  West Perth started the second quarter all over our boys and kicked the first three goals of the term to open up a 19-point advantage.  The remainder of the half was an arm wrestle, but West Perth went in at half time holding a 13 point advantage.

When Steven Browne snapped truly early in the third quarter to take the lead out to 20 points, and with two more shots on goal from West Perth that missed the mark, it looked as though it was going to be a tough second half for East Fremantle.  But one thing we know about our boys over the past month is that they have a resolve very strong and after kicking five of the next six goals we were able to level the scores at the final break to set up an enthralling last quarter.

West Perth hit the scoreboard first in the final term through Anthony Tsalikis, but the Sharks snatched the lead with goals to Jayden Schofield, Sean Henson and Jack Perham.  West Perth tried to put the foot on the gas and the game lifted to another level of intensity.  A goal with a couple of minutes to go gave the Falcons a sniff but as they did the previous week against Peel, the Sharks boys controlled the tempo of the game to hold on to a nine point win.

East Fremantle                                  14.5 = 89                              def                         West Perth                         12.8 = 80

GOALS: 3 J.Perham, J.Schofield, 2 B.Peake, R.Young, 1 T.Bristow, S.Henson, B.Dalziell, D.Chartres

BEST: B.O'Brien, D.Chartres, S.Henson, A.Stephen, R.O'Brien, J.Schofield, J.Perham