Sharks look for spark from new coach, captain, star recruitFriday, March 11, 2016 - 11:03 PM - by Chris Pike

EAST Fremantle has a new coach, a new captain and a star recruit that the Sharks will be hoping can all combine for a vastly improved 2016 WAFL season after a 2015 that started with such high expectations but couldn’t have been more disappointing.

The Sharks made the grand final in 2012 and appeared set to get back there in 2014, and would have done so had it not been for a horrible day in front of goal against Subiaco in the preliminary final.

East Fremantle then started 2015 encouragingly winning five of their opening seven games, but things then took a dismal turn for the Sharks as they lost their next 12 games before breaking that drought with a final round victory over Perth.

That game turned out to be the last at the club for two great servants, Rory O'Brien (returning to Peel) and Rob Young (retired), and East Fremantle began to plan on getting back on track to start 2016.

The first step in that was appointing a new coach and there was nobody better credentialed than Rob Wiley, who decided to return home to Perth after time in the AFL with Carlton and take up the role in charge of the Sharks.

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East Fremantle has also welcomed back another former AFL and WAFL star Brett Peake from retirement while former Fremantle midfielder Jesse Crichton marks his return to the WAFL by joining the Sharks as does another ex-Docker, Josh Simpson.

The star signing, though, is someone Wiley got to know well in his time at Carlton, Matthew Watson.

Watson played 23 AFL games with the Blues the past five years and while the majority of that was as a key defender, the 195cm, 91kg versatile long-kicking left-footer could very well provide the Sharks with the key forward target they have long been craving.

"Matthew is a big young developing forward and back who has enormous talent, a good contested mark and a thumping left foot," Wiley said.

"We think he is a great acquisition for the club."

With East Fremantle's past two captains Rory O'Brien and Mark McGough both moving on during 2015, the Sharks have appointed a new skipper for 2016.

Jamie McNamara reached his 100-game milestone with East Fremantle in 2015 in his first season back after two seasons in the VFL playing with Williamston.

The prolific ball winning and courageous midfielder will assume the captaincy at East Fremantle in 2016 and he couldn’t be more proud at the honour.

"It is an honour and privilege to be announced as captain. To have come through the development squads, to play senior football and now be captain is amazing," McNamara told eastfremantlefc.com.au.

"I really look forward to working with the other leaders in leading this playing group. I think we have made some real progress this pre-season and with the environment that Rob, the assistants and the club has been able to create, I'm really excited."

Another new arrival at East Fremantle for 2016 is Dylan Winton, who came to the Sharks as part of a deal that saw Rory O'Brien return to Peel Thunder after five seasons that saw him win three Lynn Medals, a Sandover Medal and captain the club.

Wiley previously coached Winton in the West Australian State 16s team and is looking forward to now helping him build on his 18-game WAFL career while also paying tribute to the departing O'Brien.

"I'm over the moon to get a young, developing tall defender, who will add value to our list," Wiley said.

"Having coached Dylan in the State 16s I know he is a natural defender, who can not only shut down but also win his own ball and create offensively, which will be very important moving forward.

"Everyone at the East Fremantle Football Club would like to take the opportunity to wish Rory and his family all the best and thank him for his contribution to the Sharks over his five years at the club."