Sharks Finish off Falcons for Season 2014

East Fremantle ended any hope West Perth had of defending their 2013 premiership and all but secured its finals spot for this year with a hard fought 17 point win at HBF Arena on Saturday.  In near perfect conditions the match was a battle of attrition throughout.

The match started in a finals-like tempo, with both sides surging but failing to hit the scoreboard, until Brett Peake snapped truly ten minutes in to open up the scoring.  West Perth were able to get on top in the middle part of the quarter and had the next four scoring shots, but could only manage 1.3 in that time and when Jayden Schofield kicked a classy goal, followed by Peake’s second of the term our boys had opened up a handy 9 point quarter time lead.

The Sharks dominated most of the second quarter, with the midfield gaining some ascendancy and the backs resolute whenever West Perth went inside 50. When Peake kicked his fourth goal of the match in time-on during the quarter East Fremantle had a very healthy 30 point lead.  However with the last goal of the quarter and the first two of the third the Falcons had fought back and the game was well and truly on.  East Fremantle seemed to control much of the remainder of the third quarter but just couldn’t hit the scoreboard and with a quarter to go the lead was only 13 points.

The last quarter saw our boys hold West Perth extremely well, again with our best team defensive effort of the year.  Had it not been for missing a couple of opportunities in front of goal in the final stanza, where we kicked 1.4, the end margin could have been far greater.  In any case all 22 that took to the field can hold their heads high with an impressive win, one where all contributed.

Brett Peake returned from a lean couple of weeks, kicking 5 goals and was ably assisted by small forward, Boston Williamson, returning to the League side, who kicked 2 goals.  Major ball winners were Jamie McNamara, returning from a 4 week layoff with a knee injury, who had 31 disposals, Mark McGough (28 and 12 clearances) and skipper Rory O’Brien (28 and 6 tackles).  Down back Steven Dodd kept the dangerous Anthony Tsalikis goalless and Tom Howlett also playing a ripper game. 

Special mention to Brock O’Brien who played his 100^th WAFL match and Mitch Boyle who played his 50^th East Fremantle League game on Saturday.  Well done gents.

West Perth                         7.6 = 48                 defeated by                       East Fremantle                  9.11 = 65

GOALS: 5 B.Peake, 2 B.Williamson, 1 T.Chalwell, J.Schofield

BEST: T.Howlett, B.Peake, M.Mcgough, S.Dodd, J.Mcnamara, R.O’Brien, R.Young

Reserves

The Reserves went in to the match looking firstly for an improved performance to the one played against West Perth last outing and secondly for a win that would almost have secured their finals spot, but that did not eventuate, with our boys comprehensively beaten by 46 points.

In a worrying trend in games that we have lost East Fremantle got smashed in the first quarter, being held scoreless while a rampaging Falcons outfit, hoping to take out second spot on the ladder, piled on 6 goals. 

When Brandon Ellis kicked the first goal early in the second we hoped that may have provided the spark for the boys to work their way back in to the contest, but West Perth held firm and slightly extended their lead at half time to 40 points.

The first 10 minutes of the third quarter went goal for goal, but by the 17 minute mark West Perth had extended the margin to ten goals and it looked possible that a very heavy defeat was on the cards.  However our boys hung there and fought it out to the end and managed to reduce the margin to the that final 46 points.

Major possession winners on the ground for the Sharks were Danny Chartres, who responded really well to being dropped, with 23 touches, Tommy Hooker, also responding well with 22 and Jake Schleicher 22, while Brandon Ellis worked really hard up forward kicking 3 goals.

West Perth                         17.11 = 113                          defeated by                       East Fremantle                  10.7 = 67

GOALS: 3 B.Ellis, 2 J.Lindsay, D.Anthony, 1 J.Schleicher, J.Depane, R.Bourne

BEST: J.Fletcher, D.Chartres, B.Ellis, N.Morton-Smith, J.Schleicher

Colts

The Colts boys went in to the game against West Perth on the back of two very heavy defeats and they were looking to restore a bit of pride with a strong showing.  That is exactly what they delivered against a team that still has hopes of making in to the finals in 2014.

The first quarter was a real arm wrestle with both sides trading early scores.  West Perth got on top late in the term to skip to a 9 point lead at the first change.

Our boys came out firing early in the second, kkcing the first three goals, two of which came from the boot of Sam Davies and all of a sudden East Fremantle had a 9 point lead themselves.  However in a massive momentum swing West Perth kicked in to another gear and with our boys losing some of their structure West Perth had the next 7 scoring shots and by half time opened the lead up to 23 points.

By the ten minute mark of the third West Perth had extended that lead to five goals but some inspired play by key position players in Jacob Gittos, Mitch Kleppe (playing arguably his best game for the year) and Sam Davies saw that margin reduced to just 2 points at the final change.

The final quarter was much like the first with both sides trading blows and having opportunities to win the game.  With just over two minutes to go our boys could have taken an opportunity to have a shot on goal trailing by only 5 points, but West Perth were able to win the ball and transfer it coast to coast for a goal, then kick another from the next centre bounce to finally put the result beyond doubt and probably do injustice to our boys’ effort.

West Perth                         13.11 = 89                            defeated by                       East Fremantle                  11.6 = 72

GOALS: 3 S.Davies, M.Kleppe, J.Gittos, 1 L.Pearton, A.Tomich

BEST: M.Kleppe, F.Perry, C.Green, J.Gittos, O.Parish