A first, a last and a 200th

This Saturday the 29^th August will be the last game of the 2015 WAFL season for the Sharks as they look for a long awaited win against Perth. The Sharks will finish off their season at home at ATOM Stadium and while both sides will not be playing finals this season the Sharks will be celebrating Rory O’Brien’s 200^th WAFL game and also the career of Rob Young who will retire following Saturday’s game. 

Sharks' skipper Rory O’Brien will join a list of distinguished West Australian footballers when he steps out on to ATOM Stadium this Saturday to play his 200^th WAFL game. It all began back in 2005 for O’Brien when he made his league debut for the Peel Thunder Football Club, where he eventually played 92 games from 2005-2010, winning two best and fairest awards along the way. The Sharks were fortunate enough to recruit Rory, along with his brother Brock, at the start of the 2011 season and he made an immediate impact.  Known for his exceptional training ethic and preparation, O’Brien played in all fixtures of that year, averaging 25 disposals per game. In the process he played his first state game for WA and won the coveted Lynn Medal, an outstanding achievement in his first year at the Club. That preparation O’Brien is noted for has certainly paid dividends as his durability over his five years at East Fremantle has seen him not miss a game due to injury and as a result will run out for his 108^th consecutive match against Perth this weekend. In his 107 games for the Sharks to this point, O’Brien has amassed 2915 disposals at an average of over 27 per game, along with 55 goals, 508 marks and 421 tackles and in doing so has been rewarded with 3 Lynn Medals in his first four years at the Club.  O’Brien has also represented the WA State Team twice during his time at the Sharks and won the Sandover Medal in 2013. Congratulations Rory on your achievement and your recent induction in to the WAFL 200 Club and we hope that the boys get up on the weekend to help you celebrate your milestone.

Passionate, resilient and Shark for Life are three words or phrases that sum up Robert Young and this Saturday we hope that all Sharks fans get down to ATOM Stadium to see off the veteran who will play his 170^th and final game for East Fremantle.

“Youngy” arrived at the Sharks for the start of the 2007 season, recruited from Coburg in the VFL and since his arrival has not only pulled on the Blue and White jumper and performed well, but has made this great club a massive part of his life.

Known for getting the boys up when needed, through voice and by his own performance, Young, whilst not rewarded with personal achievements (did finish runner-up Lynn Medal in 2009) in his time at East Fremantle, has made a significant contribution and had huge impact during his 9 years at the Club.  He has played everywhere from full back, to full forward and in the ruck, with the 2012 Grand Final, 2014 First Semi-Final and his first game (where we beat the arch enemy after 16 consecutive Derby defeats) being the three games that we and Young will remember most.

Despite playing with a number of injuries, particularly over the past three season, Young has shown that resilience and determination to push through the pain all in the name of the jumper and his name will sit very proudly alongside the names including A. Riconi and Percy Johnson on locker 23.

Youngy, with his family; wife Karen, newborn son Harvey, plus parents Steve and Margo, have embraced the East Fremantle Club as part of their family, with Young not only playing his 170 games but also operating his personal training business, Young 4 Life, from the Club.

Youngy, your contribution and passion for the Sharks will be missed, but never forgotten and we can only but wish that you leave with a “W”  this weekend.

The Sharks lost to the bottom placed Demons in Round 19 but won the last time they played at ATOM Stadium back in Round 8. The Sharks were disappointing losing by 77 points to top side Subiaco last weekend while the Demons went down to Peel Thunder by 13 points.

Matt Baseden will be the 18th debutant for the Sharks in 2015. Matt came from Winnacott JFC program and the Sharks Colts in 2012 and after returning to the seniors in 2014 after study commitments, Matt fell severely ill during the season which prevented him from playing. However Matt was able to return for the 2015 pre-season, Matt's season has been building well aside from a couple of injury setbacks, and has put together a number of strong performances. Joining Matt in the squad will be Dion Anthony, Jack Perham, Aaron Holmes, and Andrew Stokes. Making way for them will be Jayden Schofield (suspended) and Joshua Cuneo. 

The Sharks Colts side will be the only side playing finals in 2015 after a big win last week over Subiaco. The Sharks sit in 4^th place on the ladder with a win this week giving them a chance to finish 3^rd on the ladder. The Sharks Colts have beaten the Demons the past 2 times they have met this season, the most recent by just one point in Round 19.

The Development League side will not be featuring in the 2015 finals after a frustrating season that will see them finishing 8^th. This week they take on the 7^th placed Demons, also out of the finals race, but a 3 point win in round 19 over Perth will give the Sharks some confidence heading into their final game of the season.

9am Colts

11:30am Development League

2:15pm League