Sharks Hold Tough in the Wet

Good old fashioned wintery conditions returned to WAFL football on the weekend when the Sharks took on the Lions at Medibank Stadium.  In a game that that was built up as the match of the round, the two sides did not let down those supporters who braved the conditions, or those that stayed at home and watch the game on the ABC.  From the outset the game was a war of attrition and it remained that way right to the final siren.

The Lions seemed to have control of the first quarter constantly sending the ball inside 50 at will and having the game played in their third of the ground, however despite all of that it was our boys who made the most of their opportunities and although only going inside fifty 8 times to Subi’s 19, the Sharks led by 2 points at the first change.  The backline was holding up and rebounding the ball well, the midfield were on top at the stoppages and when our forwards were able to get the ball over the back, the likes of Peake, Perham and Lester-Smith were able to hit the scoreboard.

The second quarter was much like the first with the Lions winning the inside fifties 17-9, but the Sharks winning the battle of the scoreboard 2.0 to 0.5.  Unfortunately during this period Brock O’Brien strained a hamstring and was to take no further part in the game, which was a damaging blow with Brock not only playing well in the first 45 minutes of the game but is arguable in career best form for the Sharks.  However the backs, with the inclusion of Scott Hancock, continued to hold their nerve.  Read was terrorising the in-form Hampson, and Jupp was quelling the competition’s leading goal scorer in Boland.  The mids started to get on top in the clearances, led by notable mudlarks Mark McGough and Rory O’Brien. Brett Peake, leading all goal scorers for the Sharks in season 2014, kicked both goals of the term to take his tally to three for the first half of the game.

Our boys started the third all over the Lions and by mid-way through the quarter had skipped out to a 15 point lead, but key players in the Lion’s den lifted and when Boland had completed an 8 minute purple patch, kicking three goals, the Lions had hit the lead.  As we have come to expect our boys rose to the Lion’s challenge and when Bradd Dalziell snapped truly in the dying seconds of the quarter we turned in to the final stanza with a 4 point lead.

The last quarter, and the game for that matter, was always going to be a matter of which team could will themselves to each contest, each tackle and each chase.  With a strong recent history of performing in tough conditions, through the 2013 Foxtel Cup experience, our boys did exactly what was required and once Peake had kicked his fourth goal of the game our boys played almost the perfect last ten minutes to hold off the Subi boys to record a fifth straight win.

The victory has put the Sharks in an excellent position heading in to a much needed bye.   Sitting in fourth position, three games clear of West Perth, our boys have now drawn level with Subiaco on eight wins and still in touch with both Swan Districts and East Perth who are both two games clear.

East Fremantle                  11.5 (71)              def                         Subiaco                8.14 (62)

GOALS: 4 B.Peake, 1 R.Lester-smith, C.Eardley, J.McNamara, J.Schofield, J.Perham, R.Young, B.Dalziell

BEST: M.Mcgough, R.O'Brien, B.Peake, A.Stephen, S.Read, R.Young

Unfortunately the news wasn’t so good for both the Reserves and Colts in the earlier matches.  The Colts, in particular, blew a wonderful opportunity to leap frog Subiaco to take a top four spot and with a 32 point half time lead all was looking good.  But Subiaco came out snarling in the third, playing hard aggressive football and by the end of the next 50 minutes and an 86 point turnaround it was Subiaco who had recorded an impressive 56 point victory.

The Development League boys were never in the hunt from the first bounce.  After four quarters of football that can be best forgotten and only 1 goal scored during the entire match, our boys suffered their second consecutive heavy loss.  Our Development team must pick themselves up and dust off as they are in third position, still with an excellent chance to play finals football in season 2014.

Development League

East Fremantle                  1.6 (12)                  def by                  Subiaco                16.15  (111)

GOALS: 1 J.Depane

BEST: M.Boyle, T.Chalwell, C.Symonds

Colts

East Fremantle                  8.12  (60)                def by                 Subiaco                15.14  (104)

GOALS: 2 J.Cripps, J.Snadden, J.Gittos, 1 M.Sewell, C.Regan

BEST: J.Snadden, J.Gittos, F.Perry, C.Strnadica, C.Regan

Injury List

-  Jarryd Lindsay (foot) 3 weeks

-  Matthew Hill (ankle) 4 weeks

-  James Bayliss (shoulder) test

-  Steven Dodd (appendix)  test

-  Brock O’Brien (hamstring) 3-4 weeks