The East Fremantle premiership winning 22Monday, September 25, 2023 - 9:25 AM - by Chris Pike

EVERY one of the 22 players who ended East Fremantle's premiership drought have taken a fascinating journey to win the Sharks' first flag since 1998 and all of them played a critical role in making it happen.

All the East Fremantle players who ran out onto Optus Stadium on Sunday and left with a premiership medal with the 39-point victory against Peel Thunder played in a flag with the Sharks for the first time.

That's an obvious statement considering the last premiership was in 1998 when a host of them weren’t even born yet, but all 22 made a strong contribution not only to the Sharks getting to a first Grand Final since 2012, but then securing that first premiership in 25 years.

Only Harry Marsh and Brayden Lawler had won a WAFL premiership previously at a different club while the stories vary from the long-time life member stalwarts like Matthew Jupp and Cam Eardley who have waited for the chance to the crucial more recent additions like Fraser Turner, Marsh, Lawler, Jackson McDonald, Cody Leggett and Lennon Marlin.

While coach Bill Monaghan now holds his own place in history as a premiership winning coach at two clubs and deserves his own special recognition, even he would want the players to be the focus.

That's not to downplay what Monaghan has done. Already, he coached West Perth for the most number of the games and to more wins than anybody including the 2013 premiership, but now having built East Fremantle back up since 2019 and winning a second flag, his legacy is secure.

However, he would want the players to take the credit and that also not only includes the 22 who played in the Grand Final on Sunday, but also those desperately unlucky not to be there.

Whether it's Jono Marsh and Chris Walker who got injured at the worst possible time or Dillon O'Reilly who ran out of time to force his way back in or Ryan Lester-Smith, Eddie Simpson, Matthew Burton, Austin Ball, Max Murphy, Lachlan Blakiston, Corey Holmes and Matt Williamson who couldn’t quite break in during the finals, they all played a big role in the senior group in 2023.

THE EAST FREMANTLE PREMIERSHIP 22

8. MATTHEW JUPP (Captain)
It's hard to imagine a more deserving premiership captain at least in recent memory. The Grand Final was the 182nd game of his career with East Fremantle that started back in 2013 but until last year, his lasting finals memory was that fateful 2014 preliminary final loss to Subiaco. He got the taste of finals in 2022 as captain, then built on that in 2023 and became the best leader in the competition while continuing to be the best key defender. As a result, he captained the WAFL State Team, made the WAFL Team of the Year for a third straight season and now is a premiership captain. He had a terrific Grand Final too holding the dangerous Josh Corbett to three kicks and one behind while having 13 possessions and seven marks himself in a brilliant captain's performance.

1. MILAN MURDOCK (Simpson Medallist)
He's a fiery character and just ask coach Bill Monaghan how much he doesn’t like not being able to come straight back into the league team off injury as was the case back in Round 20. But when he turns that ferocity onto the ball and opponent on game day, he could very well be the most influential player in the league. He could have given the Sandover Medal a real shake had he not missed six games this season through injury, but he was right back to his best on Grand Final day. He was playing a different role too spending most of the game in the forward-line, but with so many stoppages in the East Fremantle forward 50, it suited him perfectly. He kicked his goal in the first quarter at a stoppage with brilliant reading of the ruck contest, and his ability to win contested ball and set up his teammates was outstanding. It was no surprise he won the Simpson Medal on the back of his 27 possessions, seven inside 50s and six tackles to now be a premiership player from his 61-game career to go with a Lynn Medal and WAFL Team of the Year selection in 2023.

2. LUKE ENGLISH
The hard running and smooth moving half-forward and sometime wingman might have not quite had the same standout season in 2023 as he did in 2022, but he was still a crucial part of the East Fremantle premiership team. He did miss a couple of games in the back end of the season and only kicked the nine goals after 24 in 2023, but over the last three years he's become an important member of the Sharks team following his time in the AFL at Richmond having initially been drafted from Perth. He joined East Fremantle upon coming back to WA in 2021 and now is a premiership player 54 games into his WAFL career in the Sharks, and he had a good Grand Final with 19 possessions, four marks, three tackles and a goal.

3. TOM JOYCE
He has had a horror run and was one player deserving of that to turnaround and that's certainly now happened in 2023 as he became a key player in East Fremantle's premiership triumph. Was initially drafted out of the Sharks to the Brisbane Lions in 2018 but injuries denied him the chance to make his AFL debut. He then signed to return to East Fremantle in 2022 but West Coast picked him up on the eve of the season and then his year was over before it started with an ankle injury. He returned to the Sharks in 2023 and finally his body enabled him to stay on the field, and he went on to play 15 of the 20 matches, and was tremendous as an inside midfielder. Had a terrific Grand Final too to be one of the best on the ground with 30 possessions, four marks, four inside 50s, three tackles and the second goal of the game.

6. HARRY MARSH
He was one of just two players for East Fremantle in Sunday's Grand Final who had tasted WAFL premiership glory having played in the triumphs of 2019 and 2021 on the back of the 25 AFL matches he played at the Sydney Swans. However, coming into 2023 and he joined East Fremantle and a big part of that was to play with his brother Jono. They formed a great on-field partnership at times this season too but unfortunately Jono missed the Grand Final through injury. He finished the season in flying form as an inside midfielder winning plenty of the ball and being damaging going forward, and kicking goals. He continued that in the Grand Final with another 21 possessions, nine tackles, six inside-50 entries and a long bomb for the first goal of the contest on his way to becoming a triple premiership player in just 68 WAFL matches.

7. CAM EARDLEY
He's the only other player remaining in Sunday's Grand Final team who was part of that hard to stomach 2014 preliminary final loss to Subiaco and then had to endure the finals drought that didn’t end until last season. He returned to East Fremantle from Geelong back in 2014 and became one of the best and most consistent midfielders in the competition before switching to defence in early 2021 and thriving even further since. He has become one of the very best intercept marking defenders, most courageous drop off to help backmen and then an outstanding set up playmaker. He's remained committed and loyal to the Sharks too and before Sunday had already become a life member and fairest and best winner. Now he's a premiership player too and was brilliant once more in the Grand Final down back with 25 possessions, nine marks and four inside-50 entries in the 167th appearance of his career.

11. CODY LEGGETT
Another player who made a big decision to leave his original club a few years back but in hindsight will be thinking it was the best call of his life. Played the first 67 games of his career with Perth from 2014 up until the end of 2019, and it would be fair to say the Demons didn’t want him to go. But he wanted a fresh start with his football and eventually got to play at East Fremantle in 2020. By last year, he had found a role as a dangerous goalkicking option with 14 goals in his nine games, and then took that role up another level again in 2023 to kick 35 goals in the end from his 15 matches. That included equalling his career-best of seven goals in Round 19 against his former team and he was proving one of the toughest one-on-one match ups in the competition. Didn’t quite have the Grand Final he was hoping for with his kicking not quite on song, but he still attracted quality defender Hugh Davies, was dangerous all afternoon and is now a premiership player to go with winning a spot in the WAFL Team of the Year in 2023.

12. REUBEN MCGUIRE
East Fremantle had a ruck problem coming into the season and no clear solution. That wasn’t an issue for very long and even though there were times throughout 2023 where Hugh Dixon held down that spot effectively, he made the ruck spot his own even if he was often giving up plenty of size at just 196cm. He might have often lost the ruck taps, but at ground level he became more than handy and his overhead marking presence continued to improve the longer the season went. By Grand Final day, the 22-year-old was able to nullify what Peel's Liam Reidy and Riley Smith did in the ruck contests, and then was more than handy around the ground. He finished with 16 possessions, 14 hit outs and a goal to now become a premiership player 44 games into his WAFL career at East Fremantle.

13. KYLE BASKERVILLE
Started his career at East Fremantle as a creative half-back, then was a virtual swap with Cam Eardley to become a regular on-baller where he became one of the most consistent prolific ball winners in the competition. That saw him win a Lynn Medal in 2021 and make the WAFL Team of the Year in 2022, and it's where he started 2023 as well. But with the Sharks having plenty of inside midfielders including Tom Joyce, Milan Murdock, Harry Marsh and Jackson McDonald, he found himself back to his original role at half-back and he slotted right back in perfectly. Ended up East Fremantle's leading ball winner again this season, was named to the Team of the Year again and now is a premiership player 73 games into his WAFL career. His possession count might have been down a little in the Grand Final with just 11 disposals, but was still rock solid defensively including spending plenty of time on Tom Emmett and helping to keep the Dockers forward scoreless and to two kicks.

14. FINN GORRINGE
The 21-year-old has turned himself into a regular member of the East Fremantle back-line now over 48 games since making his debut in 2021 and he stood tall once more on the Grand Final stage. Coach Bill Monaghan isn’t afraid to give him some big defensive jobs and he always manages to deliver and he did well up against the dangerous Brody Wemm from Peel on Sunday. Limited him to just two kicks and one nice snap for a goal for the entire day, and ended up with 10 possessions and three marks himself with the role he played in the East Fremantle back-line set up crucial to the eventual premiership triumph.

15. TOM BENNETT
The hard running East Fremantle wingman celebrated his 100th game in the second semi-final triumph against Peel Thunder and then his 101st appearance will be one he'll cherish for the rest of his life as he became a premiership player. Has had an outstanding season for the Sharks largely playing on the wing where his hard running, ability to carry the ball and general driving it long and accurately has become one of the great strengths of the team. Had another significant impact on Grand Final day too with 17 touches, four inside-50 entries, three tackles and two marks with the 26-year-old now a premiership player but with plenty of football still ahead of him.

16. JOSH SCHOENFELD
It turned out to be a rollercoaster season for the usually prolific on-baller who played 15 AFL games at the Gold Coast Suns between 2016 and 2019. He returned to East Fremantle in 2021 and his best football had been as an inside midfielder, but in this Sharks team that was an area they were well covered in so he had to reinvent himself. That did include a five-week stint in the Reserves in the second half of the season, but he got back into the East Fremantle team in Round 19 and never looked back. He was playing a new role as a half-forward who could work well up the ground but also proved a more than handy goalkicker. He would end up kicking 10 goals in his last four games of the season after coming back into the League team including four in Round 20 against Subiaco, and then two in the Grand Final triumph to go with 17 possessions and four tackles.

19. JACK CLEAVER
He is another East Fremantle player who had a rollercoaster ride this season but it got to end on the ultimate high of being part of the drought breaking premiership. After being part of the East Fremantle run to the preliminary final last year, he was chasing his AFL dream and joined Essendon's VFL team to try and help that cause in the first part of the season. When that didn't quite pan out, he returned to East Fremantle and was able to consolidate his place as part of the Sharks back-line set up once more. Showed himself a strong part of that defence too and put together another strong defensive performance in the Grand Final with 16 possessions and four tackles in a showing that will only help his cause of getting an AFL opportunity in the future.

20. FRASER TURNER
He could very well be the best signing of the WAFL season with East Fremantle having recruited him from South Adelaide in the SANFL. The wider spaces of the WAFL grounds have clearly suited him perfectly and he slotted in on a wing for the Sharks and never looked back. He went on to average 22.8 possessions a game throughout the home and away season, but he saved his best for the finals. The 22-year-old had 29 possessions and eight marks in the second semi-final win against Peel Thunder, and then in the Grand Final had a performance that deserved to have him right in the mix to win the Simpson Medal. Again enjoying the space on the wing at Optus Stadium, he thrived to end up with a game-high 37 possessions along with seven marks to cap off the perfect first season in the WAFL with East Fremantle.

22. JACKSON MCDONALD
Another player who has proven to be an astute signing and tremendous recruit from East Fremantle in the last two years to make a significant impact on the Sharks winning a premiership. Having played in the VFL with Coburg and then winning a premiership at Port Douglas in 2021, he arrived at East Fremantle in 2022 and wasted no time settling in. For a lot of last season he played on a wing to use his running ability, but in 2023 he settled as an inside midfielder and his ability to win the contested ball, be a strong physical presence, lay hard tackles and set up the team made him an important piece for the Sharks. The 25-year-old ended up with another 13 possessions, five tackles and two inside-50 entries in Sunday's Grand Final triumph.

23. LACHLAN BAILEY
It has been a bit of a journey for the 25-year-old to find his best position and hold down a regular spot in the East Fremantle team, but his last two seasons now as a key defender has seen him find where he's perhaps best suited. He did miss five games through injury in the first half of the season, but was back by Round 10 and continued to get better and better every week from there. Shared the biggest defensive jobs on opposition key forwards with captain Matthew Jupp and he is an ever-reliable part of the Sharks back-line and very rarely is he ever beaten in a one-on-one contest. Was again given the job on Peel's Ben Middleton in the Grand Final who had kicked three goals in the preliminary final, but he limited him to just the one goal and five kicks for the day while having six kicks and five marks himself to have a significant impact on the premiership triumph.

24. JARRAD JANSEN
While he missed the second semi-final win against Peel largely through precaution with a tight hamstring, he was always going to return for the Grand Final and the decision for who he would replace became easy when Jono Marsh was ruled out through injury. That meant there wasn’t a desperately unlucky player who had to make room for him and he more than showed he deserved his spot in the Grand Final. His versatility is his great strength and he legitimately can play every single position on the ground, and has proven himself in every spot. But he was used as an inside midfielder in the Grand Final on Sunday and played an important role against the big bodies from Peel to finish with 18 possessions, five marks and four tackles. He's now a premiership player 95 games into his career with the Sharks since returning from time on Geelong's list in 2018.

27. ALEX MONTAUBAN
A significant aspect of East Fremantle's premiership success this year is their buzzing small forwards who apply great defensive pressure, put on strong tackles and then earn opportunities on goal through their sheer work rate and energy. He is at the forefront of that and his speed both when applying pressure and when on attack is mighty hard to stop. He doesn't always finish his good work and that was evident in the Grand Final as he ended up with just one goal from a host of good opportunities, but the fact he created those chances and his presence in attack was a huge part of the Sharks' triumph. The scary part for opposition teams is that if he can sort out his at times awkward and wayward kicking, he could become an unstoppable presence in attack for the Sharks and that's taking nothing away from the impact he's already able to have.

28. BRAYDEN LAWLER
One of just two players in East Fremantle's team who had tasted a WAFL premiership previously having been there for both of Peel Thunder's triumphs in 2016 and 2017. All up, he played 121 games at the Thunder before stepping away from the WAFL in 2022 and thinking his career might be over. However, the Sharks put in the call about his interest in coming on board in 2023 and it proved an insightful call both for player and team. He became one of the best pressure forwards in the competition and also someone remarkably efficient by not needing to win much of the ball to have a significant impact. He went on to kick a career-best 29 goals in his 18 games this season and then again without needing a lot of the ball, had a big impact against his old team in the Grand Final. Didn't manage a goal but he did have 13 possessions and nine tackles to now become a triple premiership winner. 

29. HUGH DIXON
Talk about quite the up and down ride since he was initially drafted by Fremantle back in the 2017 AFL Draft out of Tasmania. Played just one game in 2019 at the Dockers before being delisted at the end of 2020 and then signing at East Fremantle where he had a solid impact when healthy in 2021 with 19 goals from nine games. He was set to return to the Sharks in 2022 before being snapped up by West Coast and going on to play 10 AFL games and seven in the WAFL for the Eagles. He was delisted by the end of the season and returned to East Fremantle and was superb all season long splitting his time between being a key forward and in the ruck. Spent most of the Grand Final in the forward-line in the absence of Dillon O'Reilly and Jono Marsh, and fought hard for 17 touches, five marks, 15 hit outs and a goal but his influence all season long in the dual roles was significant in the Sharks even being there.

32. BEN MCGUIRE
Started his career at East Perth where he followed his family's legacy that included uncle John playing 85 of his 112 WAFL games including the famous 1978 premiership. But after just 16 games and 18 goals over the past four years, he was after a fresh start and East Fremantle was the ideal option given the presence of Reuben already in the team. It proved to be the best move he ever made and he had a strong back end of the season cementing a spot with his defensive pressure up forward, creativity around goal and his pace to break things up. Then was able to have a spectacular impact on the Grand Final kicking two crucial goals, celebrating like only he can with the Sharks faithful he has quickly endeared himself too and now can call himself a premiership player.

34. LENNON MARLIN
He is another East Fremantle player who has had a fascinating journey to becoming a premiership player. He began his WAFL career back in 2016 at Perth but over the next five years could never quite cement a spot at the Demons playing just 29 games up to the end of 2020. He joined the West Coast Eagles to play 16 games in 2021 but then had a year out of the WAFL in 2022 before deciding to give it one more crack at East Fremantle. He couldn’t break into the league side until Round 6, but once he did he looked right at home down back and being able to play on a variety of opponents. The 27-year-old held his spot for the finals, played well in the second semi-final and then had a strong Grand Final with 14 touches and four marks while doing well whichever lively Peel forward he spent time on. To now be a premiership player 59 games into a career that began eight seasons ago is a terrific reward for perseverance.