Sharks Go Down Fighting Against League Leaders

East Fremantle’s game against East Perth was a game of the teams who were enjoying winning streaks (East Fremantle 6 and East Perth 8) and for three quarters the contest showcased exactly why the two teams had been in such winning form. 

The league-leading East Perth got the jump on the fourth-placed East Fremantle with the first five goals of the game and it looked as though the game was already getting away from the Sharks, but true to form our boys showed resilience to kick the final two goals of the quarter to gain some much needed momentum.  The second quarter was an arm wrestle, with the Sharks having control of the quarter, but failed to capitalise on opportunities with some easy set shots on goal missed.   However our boys outscored the Royals in the quarter and had closed the deficit to 16 points by half-time.  The two teams traded goals early in the third, but a seven minute burst saw our boys close the gap to three points and when Jack Perham, who had enjoyed a purple patch in the term, marked and kicked truly at the 26 minute mark of the quarter the Sharks had hit the front for the first time in the match.  A late goal to East Perth though saw them head in to the last by just the three points and an epic final stanza looked on the cards.

However, the Royals steadied and dominated the last quarter scoring 5.7 to just two late goals from the Sharks to end up winning by 28 points

Rob Young had a good day up forward for East Fremantle with five goals while Bradd Dalziell and Jack Perham booted two each.

Dalziell also finished with 34 possessions with Rory O'Brien collecting 29, Mark McGough 26, Andrew Stephen 24 and Cameron Eardley 22.

East Fremantle                        11.10 (76)                   def by              East Perth                    14.20 (104)

GOALS: 5 R.Young, 2 J.Perham, B.Dalziell, 1 T.Bristow, J.Schofield

BEST: R.Young, S.Dodd, B.Dalziell, M.Jupp, A.Stephen, R.O’Brien

The Development League boys got back in the winners’ circle after 3 consecutive losses that had their finals aspirations in jeopardy.  The Sharks got off to the perfect start when Tyler Chalwell goaled from long range, but from there the sides traded goals until East Perth kicked the final two goals of the term to take a 13 point lead in to the first break.

The second quarter was pretty much like the first early as the two sides continued to go goal for goal, but a with a couple of key East Perth midfielders having a big influence, the Royals kicked the final three goals of the term to take a handy 27 point lead in to the main break and our boys looking up against it once again.

The third quarter was a real contest with neither side able to gain any advantage on the scoreboard until two late goals from Dion Anthony and James Depane saw the Sharks reduce the deficit to 15 points heading in to the final term, but more importantly with the momentum.

It was all  East Fremantle in the final quarter, sparked by three goals from excitement machine Richie Bourne.  East Perth only manage 4 points for the quarter, while our boys piled on 5.6 to record a much required morale boosting victory, one that sees them move back to third position on the ladder.

Major ball winners for the Sharks were Jake Schleicher (28 possessions), Michael Edwards (26), Jimmy Depane and Tyler Chalwell (20 apiece), whilst Richie Bourne kicked 3 goals, Depane 2 and Dion Anthony 2.

East Fremantle                        12.12 (84)                   def                   East Perth                    9.13 (67)

GOALS: 3 R.Bourne, 2 J.Depane, D.Anthony, 1 A.Ricciardello, B.Ellis, M.Edwards, T.Chalwell, T.Bowey

BEST: C.Crisafio, R.Bourne, J.Schleicher, J.Fletcher, T.Chalwell, M.Edwards

The Colts started the day for East Fremantle against an East Perth side that was also still in finals contention and it was the Royals who came out early and hit the scoreboard, kicking the first three goals for the game, before a Michael Sewell major steadied the ship just before quarter time.  The second quarter was also a mirror of the first with East Perth kicking three goals to one to open up a handy half time lead of 26 points.

The third quarter was a far more competitive term with both sides going goal for goal, but the Royals had done enough during that quarter to hold on to a handy lead going in the last stanza. By the twelve minute mark of the final term East Perth had skipped away to a commanding 46 point lead and looked as though they would run all over the top and record a massive win, but our boys dug pretty deep to limit the damage for the remainder of the game and in the end were defeated by 40 points.

For East Fremantle Conor Regan had 21 possessions, with Jordan Snadden 18 and Tommy Marshall 17, to go with his 10 tackles.  Snadden also kicked two goals, while Jacob Gittos also kicked two.

East Fremantle                        7.4 (46)                       def by              East Perth                    13.8 (86)

GOALS: 2 J.Snadden, J.Gittos, 1 N.Bonomelli, M.Sewell, D.Patat

BEST: N.Morton-Smith, J.Harrold, J.Snadden, K.Colvin , T.Marshall