Match Report – Sharks with too much bite for DemonsSunday, June 20, 2021 - 9:52 AM - by Alex Ventouras

JONATHON Marsh could very well be the answer to East Fremantle's long search for a reliable goalkicking target after a match-winning performance with five goals from the powerhouse in Saturday's 26-point win against Perth.

The former Collingwood and St Kilda versatile star led the Sharks to the gritty 12.9 (81) to 8.7 (55) win over the Demons with five goals, 24 disposals and nine marks at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park on Saturday afternoon. 

The Demons were bolstered with the return of seven big name players including co-captain Fraser McInnes to go with Chris Masten, Haydn Busher, Brady Grey, Matthew Rogers, Michael Sinclair and Doulton Langlands.

However, it was the opposite story for the Sharks losing key big men Hugh Dixon (ankle) and Dillon O’Reilly (finger) as well as defender Cody Leggett (hamstring, missing against his old team) from the team that fought valiantly back in the WA Day Foundation Derby against South Fremantle. 

This didn’t seem to hamper the Sharks too much as they came out of the blocks with the opening three goals of the game, their fast ball movement through the corridor was able to cut through the Demons defence with ease.

Blaine Boekhorst’s run and carry was instrumental, revelling in the open space through the middle, gathering eight disposals and a kicking a superb running goal from outside 50 in the quarter.

The Demons were able to wrestle back momentum late in the first term and took this into the second quarter with Kristian Cary slotting the opening goal from a tough angle on the back of some clever work to get free from the boundary throw-in.

The two sides traded goals for the remainder of the quarter, including two from Demons forward Sam Stubbs, both coming from strong marks, as the Sharks took a 14-point lead into the main break.

The goal for goal trend continued in an entertaining third quarter highlighted by the opposing big men up forward with Jonathon Marsh and Kristian Cary kicking three goals and two goals for the quarter respectively. 

As the lights came on, the crowd found their voice and the stage was set for a thrilling last quarter despite the Sharks holding a 16-point buffer at the final break.

You could feel Perth had another gear to go to.

The Demons drew first blood in the final term through a superb set shot from a tight angle by second gamer Jack Steel to bring the margin to 10 points.

However, the Sharks managed to stem the flow of momentum that was all with the Demons and managed to slot a couple of late goals including the sealer from first-gamer Cody Smith, as East Fremantle finished the game 26-point winners.

MAGNIFICENT MARSH UNSTOPPABLE
Former Collingwood and St Kilda forward Jonathon Marsh had one of the best all-round games of the season finishing with five goals and 26 disposals for the match. He put the Superman cape on in the third quarter kicking three of his five goals and making sure his presence was felt in every contest he was involved in, crashing packs and laying some bone-crunching tackles. The Demons defence had no answers for the dominant Marsh who was clearly the best player on the ground.

SOLID COMEBACKS FROM RETURNING STARS
Returning from a torn pectoral muscle he sustained in Round 1, co-captain Fraser McInnes (14 disposals, eight marks) was strong, looking dangerous on the lead and taking a handful of impressive, contested marks. Premiership Eagle, Chris Masten as usual found plenty of the footy, and worked hard all over the ground to finish with 24 disposals, however, he made some costly turnovers by both hand and foot in East Fremantle’s forward half that hurt his side. Defender Michael Sinclair was also strong on return finishing with 23 disposals and three tackles. Midfielders Doulton Langlands and Brady Grey struggled with just the eight and 10 disposals respectively, while Haydn Busher and Matthew Rogers were solid without having a massive impact.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 11

PERTH                1.1    4.3    7.4    8.7 (55)
EAST FREMANTLE        3.3    6.5    9.8    12.9 (81)

PERTH: Goals – Cary 3; Browne, Stubbs 2; Steel.
Best – Colledge, Sinclair, Byrne, Cary, Masten, Clarke, Nicholas.
EAST FREMANTLE: Goals – Marsh 5; Strnadica 2; Boekhorst, Burton, Jansen, Bockman, Smith.
Best – Marsh, Strnadica, Jansen, Baskerville, Jupp, Davies, Boekhorst, English.