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Round 8 Match Report – East Fremantle v Peel ThunderMonday, May 28, 2018 - 8:50 AM - by Chris Pike
EAST Fremantle had to find some competitive heart and spirit against Peel Thunder at East Fremantle Oval on Saturday and the Sharks did so in spades to come away with a 24-point victory.
After a decent enough start to the 2018 WAFL season where East Fremantle had tight losses to Peel and Claremont, and a win over Perth, the Sharks fell into a deep funk with dismal losses to South Fremantle, Swan Districts, East Perth and West Perth.
Those four losses had come at an average of 76.3 points but it was worse than just that for the Sharks. They just hadn’t been competitive kicking just 30 goals from 80 inside-50 entries in those four matches while conceding 74 goals and 146 inside 50s against them.
So giving up 44 goals and 66 extra inside-50 entries across those four matches was an illustration of how big a job East Fremantle had ahead of them to turn things around on home turf on Saturday against the two-time reigning premiers.
However, Peel hadn’t exactly been setting the world alight either losing four of five matches since beating East Fremantle in Round 1 and coming off a 92-point loss to Subiaco in a Grand Final rematch last Saturday.
It turned out to be East Fremantle's day and what was most pleasing that in the challenging conditions, it was a turnaround from the Sharks that was based on nothing more than simple heart and determination, and only wanting it more than their opposition.
That is exactly what coach Rob Wiley would have been hoping to see and East Fremantle worked on top through the afternoon and finished the job with the only two goals of the last quarter to beat Peel 8.13 (61) to 4.13 (37).
George Hampson just had enough of East Fremantle losing and wasn’t going to take it anymore delivering a phenomenal performance in his 99th WAFL appearance made up of 38 possessions, 13 tackles, 10 inside-50 entries, six marks and a goal.
Nick Kommer returned for East Fremantle too for his first game since Round 3 and picked up right where he left off before the injury with 23 possessions, nine tackles, five inside 50s and three marks.
Jonathon Marsh also had a good impact for the Sharks with 24 touches and 10 marks while Ambrose Ryan finished with 23 possessions, Jarrad Jansen 19 (12 tackles), Jamie McNamara 17, Cameron Eardley 17, James Harrod 17 and Leon Pearton 15 to go with six marks.
Dylan Winton had a good performance against his former team in East Fremantle's back-line with 21 possessions and seven marks.
Ben Howlett continued to do all he could to try and inspire Peel to an important victory finishing with 35 possessions and six tackles.
Stefan Giro put in an impressive effort for the Thunder too that should put him in contention for a call up to Fremantle after he had 34 disposals, seven marks and four tackles.
Ethan Hughes worked hard down back as well with 25 touches and 10 marks while Taylin Duman was especially impressive with 25 possessions, 14 marks and five tackles.
Tom Sheridan also had 21 touches for the Thunder, Tom North 20, Blair Bell 19 and Shane Kersten 19 along with eight marks.
Harley Bennell only played just over half the game but looked good with 16 possessions and a goal while Michael Apeness was strong in the ruck up against Jonathon Griffin with 20 touches, seven marks, 32 hit outs and a goal.
East Fremantle knew it was now or never to make a stand this season on Saturday at home to Peel and the Sharks started strongly with the opening goal through captain Jonathon Griffin and then another before quarter-time through Cameron Eardley to be up by 10 points at the first change.
It took almost 17 minutes for the first goal in the second quarter and that was Peel's first major of the afternoon when Michael Apeness kicked truly.
But East Fremantle got the answering goal before half-time through Sean Fletcher and the Sharks were on top by eight points at the long break.
Peel did close to within two points with a goal to Harley Bennell seven minutes into the third quarter but East Fremantle soon replied courtesy of Jarrad Jansen.
There was then two more goals apiece leading into three quarter-time with East Fremantle still holding a 10-point advantage at the last change.
The first eight scoring shots between both teams of the last quarter were behinds before East Fremantle kicked the only two goals of the final term thanks to Cameron Loersch and George Hampson to run away with the 24-point victory.
Meanwhile in the reserves contest at East Fremantle Oval, Peel Thunder dominated with the only four goals of the first term but East Fremantle kicked eight goals to three from there to claim the 8.8 (56) to 7.7 (49) victory.
East Fremantle remains on the bottom of the reserves ladder despite the win but it did include two goals each from James Bristow, Zac McCarrey and Russell Wynne.
Dion Anthony racked up 28 possessions for the Sharks, Ben Harding 26, Zac Jackson 24, Aaron Holmes 20, Jordan Snadden 18 and Carl Green 17.
Brad McGowan and Robert Schindler-Taylor kicked two goals apiece for Peel.
James Kirby collected 21 disposals for the Thunder, Keegan Power 19, Oliver Walton 17 and Jakeb Shine 17. Lloyd Meek had 42 hit outs in the ruck.
East Fremantle will look to now build some momentum up against South Fremantle in the WA Day Foundation Derby on Monday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.
Peel needs to find a way bounce back on Saturday against Claremont at Claremont Oval to stay in touch with the WAFL's top five.
EAST FREMANTLE 2.3 3.5 6.8 8.13 (61)
PEEL THUNDER 0.5 1.9 4.10 4.13 (37)
EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Eardley, Hampson, Griffin, Ryan, Fletcher, Jansen, J Wynne, Loersch.
Best: Hampson, Kommer, Jansen, Marsh, Winton, McNamara, Lester-Smith, Pearton.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Lawler, H Bennell, North, Apeness.
Best: Howlett, Giro, Duman, Hughes, Apeness, Bell, Kersten.
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