Match Preview: Sharks v Peel Thunder

Match Preview

The Sharks face a must win clash this weekend as they fight to overcome a 6 game losing streak against the 4^th placed Peel Thunder. The Sharks will make the road trip down south to Bendigo Bank Stadium but should be rejuvenated and fresh after a bye last week. In their only other encounter this year the Sharks went down by to Peel by 55 points at Bendigo Bank Stadium. Prior to this loss, the Sharks won the last 8 matches against the Thunder, 4 of which were in Mandurah.

The Sharks now sit in 8^th position on the ladder and are 2 wins out of a top 5 spot, while a good looking Peel outfit are sitting 4^th and look primed for a long awaited finals berth. With just 7 games left in the home and away season including tomorrow’s game, it is now the time for the Sharks to find some form and make a race for the finals.

Outs this week for the Sharks are Mark McGough who has retired and Brandon Ellis. Coming into the squad are James Bristow, Jacob Green for his debut, Ryan Lester-Smith for his 50^th game, Jayden Schofield, and Andrew Stokes. Peel Thunder usually host a team full of Fremantle Dockers listed players but will be without stars Tendai Mzungu and Jonathan Griffin due to Fremantle selection and also Dockers listed player Max Duffy. Included in the Peel Thunder squad is Dylan Winton, Mitchell Gill, Kieran May, Ed Langdon, Scott Ugle and Jamahl Muholland. Jack Hannath, the backup Dockers ruckman, could be an area of concern for the Sharks, as could the in-form Hayden Crozier who is pushing for his spot back in the Dockers side.

Bendigo Bank Family Day

The teams will compete for the Bendigo Bank Cup tomorrow and Peel are celebrating Bendigo Bank Family Day, which will include Mascot races, face painting, Football Giveaways and Bouncy Castles. Saturday's game will not be broadcast on TV or Radio so the only way to catch the action will be to head out to Bendigo Bank Stadium for the game. Updates will be posted on the facebook  page at (www.facebook.com/eastfremantlefc) and twitter @effc. You can also keep up with all the action on the WAFL app available for free to download on the app store or via www.WAFL.com.au/live.

Schedule

9am: Country Championships Colts  3rd v 4th

10:15am: Country Championships Colts Grand Final

11:30am: Development League

2pm: NAIDOC Ceremony

2:15pm: League Match

~5pm: Colts

NAIDOC Week

The NAIDOC week celebrations will kick off at 2pm. All WAFL clubs playing in the Round will wear uniforms specially designed to represent the heritage of the clubs and their Aboriginal players. 

This year a special NAIDOC football will also be used for NAIDOC Round games. WAFC General Manager of Pathways and Competitions Steve Hargrave said NAIDOC Week represented a terrific opportunity for the WAFL and WA Football in general to recognise and acknowledge the magnificent contribution of aboriginal players at all levels of participation from community through to elite level.

Ryan Lester Smith 

Ryan Lester-Smith will play his 50^th game this weekend when East Fremantle travel down to Peel to take on the 4^th placed Thunder. Son of Neil (three-time leading goal kicker at EFFC and 1989 Bernie Naylor Medallist), Ryan made his debut in Round 3, 2012 against Claremont at East Fremantle Oval, resulting in a 34 point win for the Sharks and handing the reigning premiers their first defeat of the new season. To date, Lester-Smith has kicked 74 goals during his 49 games at the Sharks.

Ryan came in to the Sharks senior list in 2011, playing season in Reserves before getting his chance at league level at the commencement of the 2012 season. 2013 was a breakout season for Lester-Smith, where he managed 45 goals in 18 games (16 WAFL, 2 FOXTEL Cup) and in the process claimed the club’s leading goal kicker, before a knee injury ended his season early. Ryan was back for the start the 2014 campaign and compiled 19 games, including two finals matches, where he finished with 21 goals, 2 of which came in the narrow preliminary final defeat to eventual premiers Subiaco.

Jacob Green

Jacob Green will make his debut on Saturday; Jacob has been at the Sharks since 2011 after originating from Booragoon JFC.  Jacob played in the Colts in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons where he won the best and fairest in 2013. Jacob has played in the Development League side for the 2014 season and the first half of this year.

Schedule

Development League

The Sharks Development League are coming off a strong performance against Claremont 2 weeks ago where they were the only East Fremantle side who recorded a win on the day. This week is a chance for the Sharks to win back-to-back games as the come against the only side with less wins than them this season. The Sharks are only sitting 2 wins out of the top 5 and are still a chance to make a late dash for the finals. Good luck to the Development League, bounce down is at 11:30am at Bendigo Bank Stadium.

Colts

The Sharks Colts side sit in 3^rd place on the ladder and despite a disappointing loss to ladder leaders Claremont last game they will look to bounce back against the 6^th placed Thunder. The Sharks had won 3 straight games prior to the loss to Claremont, and after a bye will be looking to regain their previous form. One impressive performer for the Colts has been Luke Strnadica who is equal leading the Colts goal kicking with 25 goals from just his 7 games. Good luck to the Colts who kick off at 9am at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Saturday.