2013 Season Preview: Part 2

Part 2

Out with the old,

It is a bit harsh to call these two club champions ‘old’ but they did see it fit to retire after last year’s Grand Final.

Geraldton product Leith Teakle called it quits after 166 games in the Blue and White and capped of a marvelous career by winning two finals and appearing in a WAFL Grand Final.

Luke Weller brought an end to a stellar 112 game career at Moss Street which included winning the 2010 Lynn Medal.

The Sharks also lose the services of Tim Viney has also retired after 11 games over four years.

Ruckman Russell Gabriel has departed the club after just one season to return to Victoria where he’ll play with Frankston and Justin Monaco has also left Moss Street to pursue his WAFL career with South Fremantle.

Marco Paparone and Harrison Marsh depart the club but in the best way possible with the two taken in the 2012 AFL National Draft.

Paparone joins former Shark Simon Black at Brisbane after the 193cm key-forward was taken at pick 23.

Sydney drafted midfielder-come-defender Marsh with their second pick in the National Draft.

Lewis Fasolo has moved on to play his football in the country, unfortunately leaving him stranded on 49 WAFL matches.

Koby Stevens also departs the club after he was traded by West Coast to the Western Bulldogs.

Off-Field wise former skipper Damien Gaspar has left his position as Football Operation Manager, the club wishes Damien all the best at his new job as C.E.O of the Swan Yacht Club.

In with the new.

East Fremantle weren’t overly active in acquiring new players during the off-season, but they did manage to bring a couple of familiar faces back to the club. Brett Peake has returned after three seasons in Melbourne with St. Kilda and Rhys Cooyou has made his way back to Moss Street after two years on Greater Western Sydney’s list.

Former Premiership player, Paul Harding, has also made his way back to Shark Park and will take on an off-field role as Ruck Coach.

The AFL and WAFL Premiership ruckman will be kept busy as Cameron Symonds and Mack Byron-Pendergast battle for the vacant league ruck spot.

The club has brought in just one player from the Eastern-States in 23-year-old Coburg defender James Saville.

The Sharks are also a happy to welcome Darryn Fry as the new Football Operations Manager and Kate Argent as Business Development Executive.

Milestones

League Coach Steve Malaxos will bring up his 50^th game as head coach in Round 7 against South Fremantle. Should Malaxos coach the Sharks all the way to Round 22 without interruption, it will mark his 200th Match as a Player/Coach at East Fremantle Oval.

Barring injury, playing reserves or AFL selection the following players are on track to reach these milestones:

150 WAFL Games

Rory O’Brien

135 WAFL Matches

43 EFFC Games

100 WAFL Games

Brock O’Brien

81 WAFL Games

40 EFFC Games

Steven Dodd

86 EFFC & WAFL Games

50 WAFL Games

Brad Sheppard*

39 EFFC & WAFL Games

Richard Hadley

30 EFFC & WAFL Games

Bradd Dalziell*

43 EFFC & WAFL Games

Jarred Brennan*

44 EFFC & WAFL Games

James Bayliss

35 EFFC & WAFL Games

*Denotes AFL Listed players.

For Part one of the 2013 Season Preview, click here.

By Ryan Miller – follow him on Twitter @Ryan_DMiller