Sharks take the points with team effort

East Fremantle has won their 2016 WAFL season opener as they put Swan Districts to the sword with a 49 point win on Saturday at ATOM Stadium. It was a solid team effort as the Sharks had 12 individual goal-kickers with all three debutants getting in on the action in the first half.

The Sharks took the early ascendency, but struggled with the slippery conditions and failed to capitalise until debutant James Harrold opened the season account with a tap-in goal from inside the square. Victorian recruit Matthew Watson marked and goaled to join the score sheet as the Sharks raced out to a 21 point lead at quarter time.

The wind gushed to the Swans' favour to start the second quarter, and they were quick to bounce back to get within three points nearing half time. The Swans’ four second-quarter goals were split by a moment of brilliance from another debutant in Jesse Crichton, who nailed Tony Notte for holding the ball inside 50, then slotted his first goal for the club.

At the 30-minute mark, Crichton added another and right on the stroke of half-time George Hampson snapped and goaled to send the margin out to 14 points and boost the Sharks' confidence into the main break.

The Sharks came out firing again in the second half, kicking another four goals at the northern end, then booting five in the final term to put the result beyond doubt.

While goal-scorers were aplenty, the midfield were outstanding as Liam Anthony (34 touches), Cameron Eardley (33) and Sean Henson (31) fed the action up forward. Eardley even managed to sneak one home for himself late in the final term through another hard ball get and snap from the pack.

Despite seeing some areas to work on, coach Rob Wiley was delighted with how the entire squad contributed to the win.

“It was a really good team effort, they went out and played to the game plan we trained for,” said Wiley.

“Their attack on the footy and attack on the man really put the Swans under pressure and created a lot of turnovers. It was a just reward for a hard pre-season. We still need to improve in areas. We weren’t clean, but because we had the numbers and we went hard around the ball we were able to recover.”

Wiley highlighted Crichton’s efforts late in the second quarter as the Sharks fought back with the Swans lifted. “Jesse Crichton’s second quarter was just outstanding,” said Wiley.

“He kicked two goals and the tackle he laid on that Swans player [Notte] late in the second quarter gave us a boost again – but when you reflect on it, at times everyone did their part and that’s what you need in a team game.”

Returning from a year of amateur footy, Brett Peake showed he still had it as he led the charge in the second half.

“The last two practice games, our third quarters were [poor], and we really got off to bad starts,” said Peake.

“We really made an emphasis to come out in the third quarter, and once we got on top of them we knew we had to put the foot down and we’d be able to overrun them.”

“We believe in our fitness and playing for over two hours, you’ve got to back your fitness in,” said Peake.

For debutant Jimmy Harrold, it was a steep learning curve that he quickly adapted to in his 14 disposal game, goaling with his first kick in senior footy.

“It was a great feeling and all the boys got around me and it helped me feel settled for the rest of the game" said Harrold. 

“It was an awesome day – I found it quite quick at the start but I sort-of settled in and in the end it was just great to finish with a win. All this commotion in the change rooms is awesome, it’s such a good feeling”

Despite a pleasing first game in charge, the day wasn’t enjoyable for Rob Wiley until the four points were in the bag.

“At the final siren I enjoyed the game because we won!” joked Wiley.

“But I really liked how the players have gone about it, the coaches too; I’ve got new coaches and they’ve all been hard working and diligent and they worked with the players in trying to set up how we want to play so it’s been really pleasing.”

While the League side soared, the Colts and Development League fell despite showing many promising signs.Despite controlling the game for long periods, poor foot skills and inaccuracy in front of goals [6.13.49] cost the Colts dearly in their defeat by the Swans’, who scored 10.10.70. 17-year-old Cameron Zurhaar shone with two goals and 23 disposals while Jayden Quill had the most of the footy with 25 touches, with Corey Holmes 23.  

A third quarter fade-away condemned the Development League side to a 12 point loss, falling 12.13.85 to the Swans’ 14.13.97. The Sharks lead by four points at the main break but a seven goal third quarter gave the Swans the ascendency. A heartening six goal to two final quarter almost snatched the points as Matthew Bannister and Julian Locantro led the way with 23 touches.

The Sharks will head to Mandurah next week to take on a Peel side that fell to reigning premiers Subiaco, with bouncedown for the League side at 2:15pm at Bendigo Bank Stadium.