Sharks fit and raring for Swans

A fit and confident East Fremantle Sharks outfit are ready for their opening round clash this Saturday against Swan Districts according to head coach Rob Wiley.

Wiley is taking a lot of positives after the Sharks ran over East Perth last week with a six goal final quarter to win by a point.

While last week’s result counts for nothing come the 2:15pm bounce-down at ATOM Stadium, Wiley says that the final quarter ticked two crucial boxes from the pre-season.

“I know it was only a practice game, but the belief that the boys got from it to win by one point, it gives us a lot of confidence going into Saturday,” said Wiley.

“It shows that the fitness levels are good, Ash Cripps (Head of Sport Science) has certainly done a great job there -- but also our system as they stuck to their structures.

“Eventually like in any games, sometimes it takes four quarters -- and it may take four quarters against Swan Districts this week -- but we have to stick to what we’ve been practicing and as I said it’s come through.”

Wiley is making his debut at the helm of the Sharks and coaching his first WAFL game since the 1989 season with Perth. But the former Carlton assistant is just one of many new additions to the lineup this week, with three debutants as well as Josh Simpson and Brett Peake returning to the blue and white.

The biggest inclusion in a literal and figurative sense is through former Carlton youngster Matthew Watson bolstering the forward line, while ex-Docker Jessie Crichton is slotting in at half-back after two seasons at the Werribee Tigers, where he was vice-captain in 2015.

While Watson and ex-Dockers Simpson, Peake and Crichton all boast AFL experience, 19-year-old Jimmy Harrold is coming up fresh from one and a half seasons in the colt’s side.

Harrold was clearly excited after completing his final training session before making his debut, but he expects even more adrenaline to kick in come game day where he’ll start on the wing.

“Rob rang me yesterday to tell me I’m playing, just to give me a couple extra days get my mind sorted for the game -- it’s a dream come true, so I’m really excited,” said Harrold.

“I think once the game starts to get a bit closer I’ll start to get a bit pumped up, especially when the music comes on in the warm up – yeah I’ll be ready to go!”

The product from Bullcreek Leeming Football Club couldn’t speak more highly  of his team-mates, feeling a part of the group after just a few months in training.

“They’re great, they’re getting around me giving me new nicknames and stuff so I’m loving it here.”

“I feel I can ask anyone for feedback and they’ll give it to me, as a group they’re all inclusive and they’ll help me out with whatever I need, it’s been real good.”

Leading this group is another player experiencing a first this week, with Jamie McNamara making his maiden appearance as captain after 111 games for the club.

“It’s a huge honour -- the history of the club’s not lost on me”, said McNamara.

“Playing my first game for the club was something special, let alone to one day captain the club.”

McNamara gave the squad a glowing report for the pre-season and feels the anticipation building for Saturday.

“It’s been a really good pre-season, the boys haven’t taken any short cuts,” said McNamara

“I know as soon as the games come around there’s a bit more excitement in the air. Training’s been really good so we’re really confident going into the game against Swans.

“[Swan Districts] are always around the mark and they’re pretty well drilled. We know we’ve got a good challenge on our hands, the good thing for us is that it’s on our home ground so it’s a really good opportunity for us to set the scene early at Shark Park and really make it hard for teams to come here.”

The Development League will also go in to their clash on Saturday with great confidence after a solid win last week.  Coach Mark Pashby will be happy that he leads a team that has 14 players who have experienced League football, a much better position to that of the last couple of seasons.

The Colts start the day’s proceedings at 9am and although they had a small hiccup last week against East Perth, the boys can head in to this match with confidence against a side who made last year’s grand final.  In exciting times for the Colts group they will field 7 debutants this weekend.