Young hopes Sharks can keep momentum going in prelimWednesday, September 10, 2014 - 6:31 PM - by Chris Pike

ROB Young could have very well played in the most remarkable win of his 149-game career with East Fremantle in Sunday's first semi-final as he now desperately tries to help the Sharks beat Subiaco in this Sunday's preliminary final.

East Fremantle looked dead and buried five goals down to Swan Districts at home on Sunday in the cut-throat first semi-final, but the Sharks took advantage of the howling wind, a tired opponent and their own self belief to pile on nine goals to nil to end up winning by 23 points in stunning fashion.

That was just the third winning final that Young has played in since joining East Fremantle from VFL club Coburg in 2007 as he now prepares for his 150th game to become a life member at the Sharks in this Sunday's preliminary final at Medibank Stadium against Subiaco.

Young certainly enjoyed being part of the 53-point final quarter turnaround in which he was a key contributor spending the entire last term in the ruck.

The move of Andrew Stephen forward and the leadership of the likes of Mark McGough and Rory O'Brien in the midfield, and Steven Dodd in defence was also pivotal.

"It was definitely unique. No one outside the inner realm really expected us to get over the line but that belief of the boys and the resolve that we've got meant that we knew we were still a massive chance to get over the line," Young said.

"It was just the boys in the midfield who pulled together and the drive from them to get it forward was important, and then the forwards were obviously able to finish off.

"Stevo kicked a couple which was unusual and we will hear about it all week on the track, but James Bristow and Jack Perham kicked big goals in the last quarter as well. When we get it down to our forwards quickly we know it helps them out to give them a chance to get the job done."

Despite Swan Districts being on top of the game for the majority of the first three quarters and being five goals up at three quarter-time, Young and his experienced East Fremantle teammates never doubted they could still come back particularly with the emergence of the group of second tier players.

"Definitely the senior boys play a big part in that belief but really it's the second group of players who have played around 50 games who are coming through now," he said.

"When I first started, there was a big discrepancy between the young boys and the older boys, but now our list is kind of complete in terms of filling up between those zero to 100-game plus players.

"We have a good range of boys through there and even those guys who have played around 50 games, some have played about 50 games in the reserves and have been around the club a long time and we all are working towards the same goal."

While it was a remarkable win over Swans, it all counts for nothing when the ball bounces down against Subiaco on Sunday with a spot in the Sunday September 21 grand final at Patersons Stadium against East Perth up for grabs.

Subiaco was already in the middle of a period of dominance against East Fremantle when he arrived in 2007 and then he lost his first seven matches against the Lions up until the drought breaker in Round 21, 2010.

Subiaco then won the next five games again and In 11 attempts against Subiaco at Leederville in his career, Young has only taken part in three wins but is confident of getting the job done this Sunday.

"I remember at one stage we had lost 21 straight against Subiaco and I was there when we beat them that day at Leederville to bring an end to that," Young said.

"They definitely have had the wood on us now for the last 10 years, but this group and the resolve that we've got is a different feeling and we are just really excited to have the opportunity to play against these guys. You have to beat everyone to win the premiership so we are looking forward to giving it a crack."

Subiaco has an outstanding forward-line and East Fremantle's back-line is superb meaning that battle will be fascinating, but like most weeks Young sees the game being decided in the midfield.

And when that pits McGough, O'Brien, Cameron Eardley, Bradd Dalziell and possibly Jamie McNamara up against Kyal Horsley, Jason Bristow, Chris Phelan, Brett Mahoney and Shaun Hildebrandt, it will be a fascinating battle.

"We are just trying to carry on that momentum now next week but it will again come down to the battle of the midfields. Obviously their midfield is a key for them with guys like Horsley and Bristow who are good on the inside and outside," he said.

"They have some good ball carriers and ball winners, and that's a strength of theirs. They also have a couple of key forwards up there in Boland and Delahunty, and they are just a team generally tough around the contest with big bodies.

"We have to match it with them around the contest with our guys like McGough and Rory O'Brien really needing to stand up again along with some of the younger boys to string together a strong performance for four quarters."

While Young is proud to reach his 150th game milestone this Sunday, he is even happier for two teammates in McGough and Brett Peake to be bringing up their 100th appearances with the club. But it all pales into insignificance in comparison to trying to qualify for a grand final.

"I suppose it all kind of takes a backseat this week given it's a prelim and there's bigger fish to fry than to win for milestone games. The only thing that the three of us boys want is a crack at a premiership. It's something that none of us have been able to achieve in our careers to date and it's one thing that sits on all of our minds," Young said.

"He (McGOugh) has been extremely important. His leadership is second to none and the boys just have the utmost respect for him. He is a colourful character and he's good value on and off the field with plenty of entertainment, but you never die wondering with Goughy.

"He always has a crack and gives his all. He's not the quickest runner out there on the field and everyone probably has him covered, but he is an enjoyable bloke to play with. If you go into battle he is the one bloke you want alongside you and he's our go-to guy in the crunch time.

"He (Peake) has become a leader as opposed to coming back from the AFL system you can fall into the trap of thinking it will come easy, but Peakey has had his wake up calls and he's come into the club now as someone who the blokes are really starting to look up to.

"His work rate and efficiency with the ball is awesome. He has just played that different role for us this year and with his speed no one can keep up with him when he's running towards goal so he's been fantastic."