Away Derby Win Streak Continues in Derby 3

League

It was another case of 'almost' for the Sharks as they were competitive and in the game for most of the day, only to drop off in the last to fall short by 8 points in the last Derby of season 2015 and continue a remarkable record of away wins in the traditional port clashes.

The first eleven minutes was a tussle where both side had momentum at various stages, with neither side able to take advantage on the scoreboard kicking three behinds each, before skipper Rory O’Brien snapped truly.  Like last week, Brock O’Brien then took a hold of the first quarter where his strong leading and marking saw him have four shots on goal, but unfortunately kicked 1.3 in that period.  Boston Williamson was also playing very well and having an influence on the contest.  When Matthew Bannister, on debut, goaled late in the first the Sharks had a 13 point lead heading into the first break.

Although Souths were kicking with the breeze in the second, it was the Sharks who were still winning the contested football, but poor inside 50 entries and the ease at which South were able to rebound made it very difficult for our boys to score.  The Sharks managed to have eight inside 50’s for the quarter but were only able to score the solitary behind, with South taking a 7 point lead in to the main break.

The Sharks came out hard in the third and with the likes of Liam Anthony, Jamie McNamara and Rory O’Brien winning plenty of the ball inside, and with Eardley moving on to the dangerous Schloithe to nullify his influence, East Fremantle looked to take control of the game.  Brock O’Brien continued to look dangerous forward, kicking two for the quarter, whilst the backs, led by Stephen and Jupp were rebounding many of the South forward thrusts.  However a lapse in concentration gifted South a goal just before the siren to head in to the last with some confidence, trailing by 11 points and kicking with the strengthening breeze.

With the season potentially on the line and plenty to play for, East Fremantle controlled much of the early part of the quarter going inside 50 repeatedly, but again with poor options and disposal South were able to rebound easily.  When Pullman and Souths debutant Ah Chee kicked truly the game was all tied up half way through the quarter.  After being held all day, Dell-Ollio kicked truly with a good snap and when Ah Chee kicked his third at the 22 minute mark to lead by 14 points the game had slipped away.  A fourth goal to Brock O’Brien virtually on the siren reduced the final margin to 8 points.

East Fremantle                  9.10 = 64              def. by                  South Fremantle              10.12 = 72

Colts

After two consecutive losses the Colts boys were in desperate need of a win to not only hold onto a top five spot but to keep in touch with the top three.  After splitting the first two derbies one a-piece, this contest had even greater significance given it was 4^th v 5^th.

South Fremantle came out of the blocks hard, winning contested ball and scoring almost every time they went inside forward 50 in the first quarter.  Although the Sharks were winning the clearances it was Souths who were winning the contested ball and applying greater pressure.   At quarter time Souths, kicking with breeze, led by five goals to nil.

Some stern words from Mark Foster, around putting their head over the ball and lifting pressure, seemed to work as the Sharks came out far more aggressive around the ball.  Delaney was shifted into the midfield and along with Adamini and Baskerville were driving the ball forward where skipper Perry took a couple of contested marks, resulting in two goals.  With a five goal quarter the boys had worked their way back in and had it not been for letting two late goals to South our boys would have been a lot closer than the 19 points they trailed by.

Kicking into the breeze in the third and needing to at the very least hang on, knowing we had the breeze in the last, our young boys continued to apply the pressure and controlled the game.  The constant aggression at the contest and the man forced South into a series of undisciplined acts.  The Sharks took full toll and not only hung on, but outscored the Bulldogs five goals to two to head in to the final quarter just the 1 point down.  Luke Strnadica had a purple patch, leading hard at the foot, kicking three of those goals for the quarter.

The first ten minutes of the final quarter was a tight arm wrestle, with both sides having opportunities to score with repeat inside 50’s, but when Sam Lewis kicked truly to put our boys 4 points up you could sense our young colts were poised to perform a great come from behind victory.  With that continued hardness at the man and ball and with goals to Zurhaar, who had been fierce in his attack all day, and Holmes, whilst holding South goalless, the Sharks recorded a super win by 18 points.

The win sees East Fremantle head in to the bye sitting third on the ladder and a chance to freshen up before their next contest against Perth on August 1.

East Fremantle                  13.9 = 87              def.                        South Fremantle              10.9 = 69

Development League

The Development League boys faced a Souths team sitting top of the ladder and like the Colts, both teams were keen to take a 2-1 series win.  The Sharks boys came out with excellent pressure from the first bounce, tackling, chasing and harassing their opponents and with Schleicher, T.Bristow and D.Anthony winning plenty of the ball and sending it I50 our boys were able to hit the scoreboard and at quarter time led by 5 points.  Had the boys been more efficient forward of centre, where they scored only six times from 14 entries inside 50, we could have been further in front.

With Souths kicking with the increasing wind the challenge was there for the East Fremantle boys, but whilst they led in most of the key indicators, being contested ball, clearances and possessions, South were able to score at will almost every time they went inside F50, kicking 6.1 for the quarter.  Although our boys were still in the game, trailing by 10 points, they were going to need a big third quarter.

Unfortunately we got the exact opposite from the boys.  Even with the breeze South had 50 more possessions, 16 more contested than us, 14 more clearances and 23 more marks, which inevitably led to the Sharks being outscored 3.3 to just the solitary behind.

With East Fremantle becoming undisciplined and dropping off their pressure, South were able to run away in the last to record a very easy win.

East Fremantle                 7.7 = 49                 def. by                  South Fremantle              18.13 = 121