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Round 23 – Swan Districts v East Fremantle Match ReportMonday, August 28, 2017 - 1:41 PM - by Chris Pike
EAST Fremantle produced its best performance of the season to avoid the wooden spoon and beat the finals bound Swan Districts by 61 points at Steel Blue Oval to farewell club great Andrew Stephen on Saturday.
There was potentially plenty at stake for both teams coming into the final round contest at Steel Blue Oval with Swans facing the prospect of possibly missing the finals with a loss while the Sharks would finish last and claim the wooden spoon with anything but a victory.
In the end it was a disappointing performance from the black-and-whites against a lowly opponent but to East Fremantle's credit, they played some exciting and attacking football which is something that hasn’t always been the case throughout the season.
It was an impressive showing from the Sharks as they were on top virtually from the outset to end up winning 20.10 (130) to 10.9 (69).
East Fremantle finished the game with 71 more possessions than Swan Districts, 53 more marks, 25 extra entries inside the forward 50 and 30 scoring shots to 19 on the way to the 61-point victory.
It was the third win for the season for the Sharks and first against a side other than Perth. The result is they leap above the Demons on the ladder to avoid the wooden spoon for 2017.
Undoubtedly the loss was disappointing for Swan Districts but it didn’t prove fatal or end up seeing them move from fourth position in the finish.
Despite losing their last four matches now heading into the finals, Swans still get to host a home elimination final this Sunday at Steel Blue Oval against West Perth.
It was a day to provide a couple of farewells but also hope for the future at East Fremantle and Andrew Stephen retired after his 164th appearance with the Sharks after kicking the last goal of the game to go with 17 possessions and five marks.
Jesse Crichton also announced his retirement too having returned for the past two seasons with the Sharks having previously been with Fremantle in the AFL and playing in the SANFL. He ended up with 14 disposals in his last WAFL appearance.
Some of East Fremantle's key, experienced stood up impressively too including Jack Perham who finished with 28 possessions, 11 marks and a goal. Matthew Watson finished with 21 touches, eight marks and three goals as well.
Sean Henson returned to the team and racked up 32 possessions while taking 11 marks on the wing with Cameron Eardley finishing with 31 disposals, Jayden Schofield 25, Jonathon Marsh 24, Dion Anthony 23, James Harrold 22 and Tom Bennett 20.
Ambrose Ryan also booted three goals for the Sharks, Carl Green two, Dillon O'Reilly two, Joel Kalajzic two and big man Cameron Symonds two.
One great shining light on a tough day for Swan Districts was the performance of teenage defender Sam Taylor in just his fifth league appearance. He had totalled 33 disposals in his opening four games, but had 27 possessions on Saturday against East Fremantle to go with eight marks.
Matt Riggio never stopped battling in the midfield for Swans finishing with 32 possessions and five inside-50 entries and Adam Faulkner picked up another 26 touches while kicking a goal.
Ricky Cary kicked three goals from eight kicks for Swans with Brayden Noble also booting two majors.
Corey Gault had another strong performance in the ruck for the black-and-whites with 21 possessions, 34 hit outs and a goal while Jesse Turner collected 21 disposals and Tony Notte 18 to go with 10 marks in his 199th appearance for Swan Districts.
East Fremantle made the perfect start in its quest to finish the season on a winning note and get off the bottom of the ladder with a goal after just two minutes to Joel Kalajzic.
Swans did respond soon after thanks to Ricky Cary but the Sharks went into quarter-time seven points in front after Ambrose Ryan's first goal of the day.
East Fremantle started the second term with three goals in the first 15 minutes to Carl Green, Dillon O'Reilly and Cameron Symonds to pull away.
Swans did get a couple of steadiers before half-time from Taryce Stewart and Brayden Noble, but the Sharks ended up with seven goals to two for the term to lead by 38 points at the main break.
Swans were potentially slipping out of the finals with the loss depending on other results, but despite that knowledge they just couldn’t get another going against a determined East Fremantle outside.
After three goals apiece in the third term, things really opened in the last quarter and East Fremantle piled on eight goals to four from Swans to end up winning by 61 points and it was only fitting that it was the retiring Andrew Stephen who kicked the final goal of the contest.
SWAN DISTRICTS 1.3 3.3 6.5 10.9 (69)
EAST FREMANTLE 2.4 9.5 12.7 20.10 (130)
SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Cary 3; Noble 2; Ellard, Faulkner, Gault, Stewart, Turner.
Best: Gault, Taylor, Riggio, Faulkner, Notte, Cary, Turner.
EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Ryan, Watson 3; Green, O'Reilly, Kalajzic, Symonds 2; Eardley, McNamara, Perham, Marsh, Stephen, Anthony.
Best: Eardley, Perham, Schofield, Watson, Henson, Ryan, Kalajzic.
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