East Fremantle demolish flag fancies East Perth in Season Opener

East Fremantle have kick started their 2015 campaign in sensational style with a comprehensive victory over East Perth.

The Sharks looked the better team from start to finish, leading at every change and running out 13.18 (96) to 5.11 (41) winners.

New recruit Liam Anthony had a dream start to his renewed career at the Sharks, kicking the first goal of the match and finishing with 28 disposals and two goals.

East Fremantle's midfield looked potent on Saturday night with Bradd Dalziell (31 possessions, 8 tackles and two goals) one of the standout performers.

With a shortage of key position forwards, the Sharks were effective in spreading the load of goals across the team, with ten players managing to kick majors.

After debutant Jake Schleicher opened the second quarter with a goal, Brock O'Brien got the crowd out of their seats soon after with a spectacular running goal from 50 meters out on the boundary.

The first half was very much one way traffic with the Sharks midfield working nicely as a unit and delivering the ball inside 50 with ease. At half time East Fremantle lead East Perth 7.10 (52) to 0.7 (7)

The Sharks were at their defensive best, managing to keep East Perth goalless until midway through the third quarter. Danny Chartres was very good off  half back, regularly intercepting the ball and setting up play.

Forward Jack Perham looked better as the game went on, presenting well and giving the midfield an option to kick to.

With the absence of Ruckman James Bristow due to a hip injury, Andrew Stokes, on his debut, and Robert Young shared the duties and battled on manfully. Both looked lively and combined well as as a pair. Stokes showed his athleticism in the fourth quarter. The 197cm ruckman took a mark in the middle of the ground, played on and ran the ball inside 50 only to just miss the shot on the run.

East Perth Managed to kick the first of final fourth quarter and finish the game off with three additional late goals. This made the scoreboard look more respectable for the Royals, but the damage had already been done.

In what is sure to be a massive game for both clubs, East Fremantle's round two clash is against an in-form Subiaco on Saturday afternoon. The match is being played at ATOM Stadium at 2:15pm and will also be the Sharks' annual Harmony Day match, where they celebrate all cultures that call Australia home.

East Fremantle       2.3       7.10     11.15   13.18   (96) defeated

Perth                      0.4       0.7       1.7       5.11     (41)

GOALS: 2 S.Henson, L.Anthony, B.Dalziell, 1 B.Ellis, J.Schleicher, C.Eardley, R.O'brien, J.Perham, C.Regan, B.O'brien

BEST: B. O'Brien, B. Dalziell, C. Eardley, L. Anthony, S. Henson, D. Chartres

Colts

In earlier games the Colts kicked off their 2015 season with a comfortable 29 point win.  Apart from a brief period in the third quarter the Sharks boys were on top from start to finish.  With ten Colts debutants, led by midfielder Kyle Baskerville, the young Sharks controlled the play, surging the ball inside 50 on more than 50 occassions and had they been a little more effective inside that area could have won even more convincingly.

East Fremantle 11.8 (74) defeated East Perth to 6.9 (45).

GOALS: 2 N.Menegola, L.Strnadica, F.Perry, 1 T.Sorrell, O.Parish, S.Little, K.Baskerville, M.Burton

BEST: K.Baskerville, F.Perry, N.Menegola, J.Meade, T.Sorrell

Development League

The Development League team, a little underdone with a number of injuries, fought really hard against an East Perth side that included four West Coast listed players, going down by 20 points.

By half time the Royal led by 33 points and with our boys already two down on the bench and with Eats Perth about to kick with the breeze it looked as though the result could get nasty but in a strong showing of resilience our boys fought it right to the end.

East Fremantle 10.3 (63) lost to East Perth to 12.11 (83).

GOALS: 5 D.Anthony, 2 R.Jones, 1 J.Lindsay, M.Baseden, F.Perham

BEST: B.Barone, M.Franklin, D.Anthony, J.Cuneo, M.Baseden

16s Development

In the final game played at ATOM Stadium, the 16’s continued on their unbeaten run (3 games) in defeating the East Perth 16’s by 28 points.  After a tight first half the boys put their foot on the accelerator, eventually wearing their opponents down to record a 12.11 to 8.7 victory.

GOALS: 3 Blurton, 2 Newton, 1 Thornett, McGrath, Howard, Sorrell, Jenzen, Pollock and Bennett.

BEST: Included Peake, Rodgers, Niemann and Sorrell.