Round 2 Match Report vs East Fremantle

IT might have only been Round 2 but the two bottom teams from 2017 had lost in Round 1 to open 2018 so plenty went on the line and little separated East Fremantle and Perth most of the way but the Sharks just prevailed by seven points at East Fremantle Oval.

 

East Fremantle and Perth both had 2017 seasons to forget only winning three matches apiece with the Demons ending up with the wooden spoon just by percentage.

 

Then to open 2018, East Fremantle lost to Peel Thunder and Perth went down to Swan Districts so trying to avoid a 0-2 start on the back of last year meant there was plenty on the line at Shark Park on Saturday.

 

And it was a tight affair all afternoon but East Fremantle just did enough in the finish to come away with the 13.9 (87) to 11.14 (80) victory.

Little separated the two teams throughout the afternoon as they battled for an important early season victory with East Fremantle having 46 more disposals but Perth actually had 52 inside-50 entries to 46 and 25 scoring shots to 22.

When Ambrose Ryan goaled at the five-minute of the last term for the Sharks, they were up by 20 points and looked to have the win in the bag. 

But the Demons refused to go away and goals to Kristian Cary, Cody Ninyette and Corey Yeo suddenly made it a two-point ball game before Sean Fletcher booted the sealer for East Fremantle at the 21-minute mark.

Ambrose Ryan grabbed his chance back in the East Fremantle team kicking three goals while Sean Fletcher booted another two in his second game with the Sharks since crossing from Swan Districts in the off-season. Alex Howson also kicked two important goals for East Fremantle.

Cameron Eardley delivered a dominant showing in the Sharks midfield too finishing the afternoon with 38 possessions, seven marks and six tackles.

He got plenty of help too with George Hampson ending the day with 34 disposals, six inside 50s and a goal while Sean Henson compiled 31 touches and seven marks, Jarrad Jansen 28 disposals and eight tackles, Nick Kommer 26 possessions, Jordan Snadden 21 and Dion Anthony 20.

Matthew Jupp was again strong down back for East Fremantle with 17 possessions, 10 marks and five tackles while helping hold Spencer White to one goal and four kicks.

Cody Ninyette was a standout in a tough 2017 for Perth as the Demons' leading goalscorer. And he was a shining light again on Saturday against East Fremantle kicking three goals to go with 17 possessions and four tackles.

Perth was strengthened by the returns of the past two fairest and best winners, Michael Sinclair and Clint Jones, as well. Sinclair finished the contest with 30 possessions and six marks while captain Jones delivered 29 disposals and four inside 50s.

Corey Yeo continued his strong start to his time with Perth with the ex-Tiger compiling 28 possessions to go with nine tackles, seven inside-50 entries and a goal.

Corey Byrne picked up 26 possessions as well for the Demons, Laine Wilkins 24, Cody Leggett 23, Matthew Taylor 21 and Christian Eyres 16 in the ruck to go with six marks, seven tackles and 28 hit outs in a terrific battle with Jonathon Griffin.

East Fremantle's reserves had to fight hard and come from behind to overcome Perth at East Fremantle Oval on Saturday, but ended up winning 11.8 (74) to 10.5 (65).

Perth led by seven points at quarter-time before East Fremantle turned it around to be up by eight at the half. The Demons were back on top by seven points at the last change before the Sharks kicked four goals to one in the last term to win by nine points.

Frazer Daly booted four goals for East Fremantle and Jesse Wynne two with Tom Omodei gathering 30 possessions, Chris Scott 24, Zachary Jackson 24, Matt Burton 21 (11 tackles), Lachlan Bailey 19 and James Harrold 18.

Shaun Smith, Lachlan Dennis and Michael Bennell kicked two goals each for Perth with Bennell compiling 22 disposals, Smith 17, Chris Leonard 17, Joseph Ugle 16 and Dennis 16.

East Fremantle will look to make it consecutive wins against the winless Claremont at Claremont Oval on Saturday.

 

Perth will hunt its first win of 2018 against reigning premiers Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Sunday.

 

 

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Ryan 3; Fletcher, Howson 2; Henson, Perham, Hampson, Griffin, D Anthony, Green.

Best: Eardley, Hampson, Jansen, Kommer, Ryan, Henson, Snadden, D Anthony.

PERTH – Goals: Ninyette 3; Wilkins, Byrne, Yeo, White, Cary, Dobson, Jones, Salomone.

Best: Yeo, Byrne, Sinclair, Jones, Ninyette, Leggett, Wilkins.