Match Report – Sharks stun league-leading LionsSunday, August 15, 2021 - 9:59 AM - by Matt Paddick

THE Subiaco dominance over East Fremantle has been remarkable and it appeared set to continue on Saturday but the Sharks turned things around in remarkable fashion to deliver their best performance of the season.

The contrasting form of both teams couldn’t have been more stark coming into Saturday's clash at Leederville Oval with Subiaco having come from behind to snatch the win over Claremont last week to make it five wins in-a-row to be a game and percentage clear in top position.

Meanwhile, East Fremantle lost to South Fremantle for a 12th straight time the week before to fall out of finals contention. Then coming up against a Subiaco team they have won against only six times in 45 attempts since mid-2002.

Subiaco could have all but locked away the minor premiership with a win and looked on track to do just that in comfortable fashion leading East Fremantle by 27 points during the second quarter.

However, the game underwent a remarkable turnaround from that point on with the Sharks kicking 12 unanswered goals, and kept Subiaco scoreless in the third, in an effort that will give the East Fremantle faithful a lot of hope for the future.

After being 27 points down, East Fremantle dominated to lead by as much as 47 points early in the fourth quarter. 

Subiaco might have kicked the last three goals but it mattered little with the Sharks snapping an eight-game losing run against the Lionso to win their sixth game of 2021 in some style, 16.12 (108) to 9.10 (64).

The Sharks talls were instrumental all day, with Jonathan Marsh (27 disposals) and Hugh Dixon (18 disposals) massive for the away side, kicking three goals each.

Kyle Baskerville also gathered 27 possessions, Michael Tassone 25 and Tom Bennett 22 to go with two goals.

Lachlan Delahunty (32 disposals) fought admirably for Subiaco, while Angus Dewar (23 disposals) was strong in an undersized Lions back-line missing Jordan Lockyer. 

Hayden Kennedy spent more time up the ground and had 26 possessions in the absence of suspended captain Leigh Kitchin and Liam Hickmott 23 for the Lions.

East Fremantle looked the better side for a majority of the opening quarter, but were unable to capitalise on their good play. 

Hugh Dixon played a big role as the Sharks’ key forward, with a strong presence around the ground while also kicking the first goal of the game while Subiaco struggled to find their targets by foot.

With Leigh Kitchin and Jordan Lockyer already out, Subiaco lost stand-in captain Greg Clark early with concerns of a hamstring injury.

Subiaco eventually got a goal on the board through Hayden Kennedy and the Lions then turned up the heat, kicking three majors in as many minutes to lead by 17 points at the first break.

Subiaco made it five goals in-a-row at the start of the second, when last week's hero Ben Sokol put through his first of the day.

The Sharks needed a response, and it came in the form of Jonathon Marsh, who kicked truly in front of goal to stop the run of Subiaco majors.

The ball remained with Subiaco for the middle part of the term, but it was again the well-organised backline of the Sharks that prevented the Lions from getting the game completely on their terms. 

The Sharks ended the quarter strongly, kicking two goals off the boots of Hugh Dixon and ruckman Luke Strnadica to get the margin down to 14 points at half-time.

Bill Monaghan’s men were an inspired side in the third quarter, kicking seven goals for the term to make it nine unanswered for the game. 

Subiaco had no answers, as the Sharks talls in Dixon, Strnadica, Marsh, and Dillon O’Reilly took advantage of their size against their opponents to get shots on goal.

In an impressive effort, the Sharks kept Subiaco scoreless in the third term, and helped themselves to a 29-point lead with one quarter to go.

The Sharks then kicked the opening three goals of the fourth quarter to make it 12 unanswered goals and to put any chances of a Subiaco fightback to bed.

MARSH SPARKS SHARKS IN MIDDLE
In a game where Subiaco’s midfield took a hit, Jonathon Marsh was able to take advantage. He picked up 27 disposals and spent more time on the ball for East Fremantle, often being the driving force to get the ball forward. He was equally dangerous up forward, where he kicked three goals and stood up as one of the Sharks to take the game on, getting East Fremantle the lead in the process. Whether forward or in the middle, he was influential in the Sharks' win.

DIXON SHOWS CAPABILITIES
Hugh Dixon had a wonderful return to East Fremantle’s league side where he was one of the Sharks’ best. In his first league game since Round 9, the big forward set the tone, kicking two goals before half-time while also taking strong marks around the ground. In the third, he had multiple contested marks and kicked a goal during the surge which saw East Fremantle take the lead. He finished with 18 disposals, nine marks, and three goals in a dominant forward display.

THIRD QUARTER DOMINANCE 
The third quarter was 32 minutes of brilliance from the Sharks. Having a 14-point deficit at half-time, the Sharks hunted the football and took the game on. Their use of the ball by foot was exceptional, with their inside 50 entries being to the advantage of the forwards on multiple occasions. Seven goals were kicked in the term by the Sharks, all while keeping Subiaco scoreless. It was part of a 12-goal run from East Fremantle, who had the game all but wrapped up at three quarter-time with a 29-point lead.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 19

SUBIACO            4.5    6.9    6.9    9.10 (64)
EAST FREMANTLE        1.6    4.7    11.8    16.12 (108)

SUBIACO: Goals – Mayo 2; Kennedy, Marsh, Sokol, Harris, Martin, Bailey Matera, Clinch.
Best – Delahunty, Kennedy, Walters, Dewar, Harris, L Hickmott.
EAST FREMANTLE: Goals – Marsh, Dixon 3; Bennett, Strnadica, Burton, O'Reilly 2; English, Holmes.
Best – Marsh, Baskerville, Tassone, Strnadica, Meade, Bennett, Dixon.