Mixed Results for Sharks

Saturday’s fixture against the Swans was a mixed bag for the Sharks, with a resounding win in the Reserves but big losses in the Colts and League.

Colts

It looked from the first contest that it was going to be a tough day at the office for the young Colts.  With a huge leap, spectacular mark and accurate finish by the Swans full forward you sensed that they turned up to the Super Round ready to perform.  The Swans side were far bigger physically and were hard around the ball.  Their pressure was outstanding, often forcing our boys in to errors where they were then able to hurt us on the rebound.

Although the result wasn’t what coach Mark Foster was hoping for he was still pleased with a number of players who tried hard all day against the odds.  Fraser Perry continues to play well, with plenty of energy and determination.  Tom Bennett picked up 23 possessions and the diminutive Ollie Parish defied his size to work both in and outside the contest racking up 19 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles and 5 inside 50’s.  Nathan Morton-Smith also battled hard in defence against a quality opponent who had the ball delivered inside 50 on 52 occasions.

Swan Districts                    16.17 (113)

East Fremantle                  4.3 (27)

GOALS: 1 C.Ellis, R.Murdock, M.Kleppe, O.Parish

BEST: Morton-Smith, Parish, Bennett, Perry, Snadden

Reserves

After a tight first half in slippery conditions, the Reserves boys ran out easy winners by 43 points at Steel Blue Oval.  With the likes of Aidan Tropiano and Mitch Boyle coming back from the League side and into an already performing midfield, a forward line that was up and about with plenty of energy and a resolute defensive unit that rebounded Swans entries at will, our boys would have been a little disappointed that the game wasn’t iced by half time.  However after the main break we started to take those opportunities and eventually controlled the game for the win that sees our Reserves sitting second on the ladder.

Boyle responded well with 26 possessions, 11 clearances and 7 I50.  He combined well with Jake Schleicher (26 – 5 – 7) and Tropiano (19 – 6 – 4) and all fed off some excellent ruck work form James Bristow and Jake Solomon.  The forwards were lively all day.  Jacob Green played his best of senior football, kicking 3 goals from 17 disposals, and also setting up a number of his team mates.  Boston Williamson showed he could be a chance to return to the League side and Louis Cronan also played his best game of the year.

East Fremantle                  12.11 (83)

Swan Districts                      5.7 (37)

GOALS: 3 L.Cronan, J.Green, 2 J.Solomon, B.Williamson, 1 T.Bristow, T.Hooker

BEST: M.Boyle, L.Cronan, J.Green, B.Williamson, J.Schleicher

League

The League result is one best to move on quickly from and plan to turn our season around against Perth this week. 

The first quarter saw Swans get the jump as they ran hard forward, capitalizing on our poor disposal and turn overs.  We fought back hard in the second half the quarter, but we could not put any scoreboard pressure on, at one point kicking 6 behinds in succession, before finally kicking a  major late in the quarter. 

The second quarter was an arm wrestle until the time on period where Swans were able to kick 4 goals in that period to open up an handy 42 point at the main break. 

With Stephen Malaxos imploring the group to come out hard in the second half, thinking about what we did in that final quarter last week against East Perth, the Sharks just couldn't hit targets and again the Swans took full advantage kicking another 6 goals to 3 to head in to the final stanza with a ten goal lead. 

The final quarter saw the two sides go goal for goal and in the end a young, enthusiastic Swan Districts team held on to that 10 goal lead.

Swan Districts             20.15 (135)

East Fremantle           10.15 (75)

GOALS: 2 B.Dalziell, B.Peake, 1 M.Mcgough, C.Eardley, R.Young, R.Lester-Smith, B.Ellis, R.O'Brien

BEST: D.Chartres, S.Dodd, M.Jupp, R.O'Brien