Sharks win premiership to end 25-year droughtSunday, September 24, 2023 - 6:24 PM - by Chris Pike

IT was a year for breaking droughts at East Fremantle in 2023 and that was completed on Sunday at Optus Stadium as the Sharks beat Peel Thunder to win the WAFL Grand Final by 39 points.

Despite not having a home ground for the past two seasons, not having a consistent training venue and having had plenty thrown in their way, East Fremantle was knocking on the door of ending some droughts in 2022, and now have completed that throughout 2023.

The first thing to tick off was a long-awaited derby win and East Fremantle broke a 15-game losing run against South Fremantle in Round 16.

Next was to reach a first Grand Final since 2012 and the Sharks did that by beating Peel in the second semi-final on the back of finishing two games and percentage clear on top of the ladder.

Then the challenge was to end the longest premiership drought in the rich history of East Fremantle that stretched back to 1998.

East Fremantle completed the job on Sunday in front of 27,104 fans at Optus Stadium on the back of kicking three goals in the first six minutes of the Grand Final against Peel.

From there, the Sharks never trailed and went on to win 12.13 (85) to 6.10 (46) to win the club's 30th premiership and first since 1998 to end a 25-year drought.

East Fremantle completes the premiership triumph with an 11-game winning streak, their biggest since that last premiership year of 1998, having not lost since going down by 38 points to East Perth back in Round 9 this season.

There are terrific stories everywhere in the triumph for East Fremantle including coaching Bill Monaghan now going into rare air as a flag winner at two clubs while captain Matthew Jupp lofted the cup with him as reward for his commitment over 182 games.

East Fremantle on-baller Milan Murdock, who played more at half-forward in the Grand Final, claimed the Simpson Medal after being voted best afield for 27 possessions, seven inside 50s six tackles and a goal.

There was plenty of standout performers for the Sharks including wingman Fraser Turner who amassed 37 possessions while Tom Joyce gathered 30 disposals, Harry Marsh 21, Luke English 19, vice-captain Jarrad Jansen 18 and Tom Bennett 17.

Ben McGuire and Josh Schoenfeld kicked two goals apiece on a day where 10 East Fremantle players all kicked at least one goal.

The back-line was rock solid again for East Fremantle with Jupp keeping Josh Corbett goalless while Cam Eardley racked up 25 possessions, Jack Cleaver 16 and Lennon Marlin 14 while all doing great defensive jobs.

It was a tough Grand Final day for Peel but a tremendous effort to make it to the club's third premiership decider, and first since 2017.

Travis Colyer was their lone multiple goal scorer with two to go with 14 possessions while Corey Wagner spent the afternoon playing on the ball for Peel and racked up 31 possessions to go with 15 tackles and eight inside-50 entries.

Nathan Wilson also ended up with 26 disposals, Will Brodie 25, captain Ben Hancock 18 and Karl Worner 16 while Hugh Davies did well holding Cody Leggett goalless with Jacob Blight limiting Hugh Dixon to the one goal.

East Fremantle made the perfect start to the Grand Final when it took just 30 seconds for Harry Marsh to swoop on the ball near the boundary outside 50, and bomb it home.

Just over three minutes later and fellow on-baller Tom Joyce also kicked truly and then when usual midfielder Milan Murdock attacked the boundary throw-in contest expertly to rove and kick truly, the Sharks had three goals on the board in the first six minutes.

It had been a stunning start from the Sharks but the Thunder worked into the contest the rest of the quarter and two late goals from Ben Middleton and Brody Wemm had the margin back to 11 points at quarter-time.

The second quarter started in a similar fashion to the first with an early goal to Luke English, but this time the Thunder were able to respond with Travis Colyer crumbing brilliantly and then snapping truly.

However, the Sharks took control again after goals to Josh Schoenfeld and Ben McGuire to open up the biggest lead of the half with a 21-point edge.

Peel needed to at least get one goal back before half-time and that did come thanks to Colyer, but the Sharks were still on top by 14 points at the main break.

The trend continued of fast starts to the quarters for East Fremantle and this time it was Hugh Dixon with the quick goal in the third term.

That saw the Sharks lead back out to 20 points before the game turned into a real grind until Jack Sears kicked truly to keep the Thunder in touch.

East Fremantle, though, controlled much of the rest of the third quarter and that included goals to both Reuben and Ben McGuire with the lead out to a commanding 28 points by three quarter-time. 

Some crafty work from Dixon then set up a Montauban snap for the first goal of the last quarter to push the Sharks out to 35-point lead.

It would prove a match winning edge with East Fremantle ending its premiership drought in style with the eventual 39-point win.

WAFL GRAND FINAL 2023

EAST FREMANTLE        3.5    6.6    9.11    12.13    (85)
PEEL THUNDER            2.0    4.4    5.7    6.10    (46)

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: B McGuire, Schoenfeld 2; Montauban, Bennett, Dixon, English, Joyce, Marsh, R McGuire, Murdock.
Best: Murdock, Turner, Eardley, Jupp, Joyce, Marsh, R McGuire, Marlin, Bailey.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Colyer 2; Middleton, Wemm, Sears, Smith.
Best: Wagner, Davies, Blight, Wilson, Hamling, Brodie, Hancock.

SIMPSON MEDAL: Milan Murdock (East Fremantle)