• The premiership song. Photo by Lizzie Edwards.
Premierships are hard to win but somehow East Fremantle’s 2023 WAFL triumph seemed almost inevitable. In fact talk of the Sharks being 2023 premiership favourites started not long after the end of the 2022 season when they made the preliminary final.
While they’d be without Sandover Medal winner Blaine Boekhorst for 2023, the feeling was that East Fremantle’s list would be enhanced. Hugh Dixon was returning after a short stint at West Coast, former colt Tom Joyce was back after time on the Brisbane and West Coast lists and there was hope the team would see more of 2021’s big signing Josh Schoenfeld. As the 2023 season went on it was clear lesser known recruits Fraser Turner (South Adelaide), Lennon Marlin (Perth and West Coast WAFL) and Ben McGuire (East Perth) would be important.
It was obvious, even to the casual observer, that things weren’t right at the WAFL’s most successful club prior to the arrival of Bill Monaghan as coach in 2019. The Sharks won three games in 2017, two in 2018 and had last made the finals in 2014. Some of the on-field communication among players sounded like abuse and there was a feeling some of the team’s best players weren’t making the team better. There was, as modern sporting organisations like to say, a cultural problem.
Monaghan needed to make changes. There were signs of improvement in 2021, with a focus on leadership a significant factor. Finals came in 2022 and 2023 arrived full of expectations.
There was an issue to tick off before the finals – East Fremantle hadn’t won a Fremantle Derby since 2016 – and struggling South Fremantle extended their winning streak to 15 on a wild WA Day at the WACA when play was called off for half an hour due to lightning. The Sharks broke the derby duck at Fremantle Oval in round 16.
And just before their finals campaign began it was revealed – by John Townsend one Saturday morning on Sport FM – that East Fremantle Football Club had a salary cap issue to address.
The Sharks finished on top of the ladder, Peel should have beaten East Fremantle in the second semi final – the Fremantle affiliate scored 3.5 to 1.1 in the last quarter and hit the post twice. But destiny was with the Sharks and they made it through to the decider – another meeting with Peel as it turned out – without key forwards Jono Marsh and Dillon O’Reilly.
This time the pace and pressure of the Sharks proved too much for Peel. East Fremantle made the perfect start kicking the first three goals but even more significant were tackles inside forward-50 by Tom Joyce and Alex Montauban that caught Peel playmakers Corey Wagner and Carl Worner holding the ball. Joyce kicked a goal, Montauban missed.
• Captain Matthew Jupp & Simpson Medal winner Milan Murdock. Photo by Lizzie Edwards.
It was was tight enough at half time but the Sharks always looked in control. Milan Murdock, playing more in attack than usual, was awarded the Simpson Medal as best-on-ground, Joyce was just as effective, Captain Matthew Jupp snuffed out the potentially dangerous Josh Corbett, Cam Eardley was typically dashing and courageous in defence, athletic duo Rueben McGuire and Hugh Dixon caused headaches in the ruck and in the forward line, Harry Marsh was a big factor in the strong start, Fraser Turner had more of the ball than anyone while Tom Bennett, Luke English and Jarrad Jansen provided much of the run that wore down the Thunder.
Liam Reidy in the ruck and on-baller Will Brodie were arguably Peel’s best players in the finals, Corey Wagner enhanced his reputation and Nathan Wilson was enterprising in defence. Young forwards Jack Sears and Ben Middleton were revelations during the finals while defenders Michael Sellwood and Jacob Blight also caught the eye.
East Fremantle 12.13 (85) Peel 6.10 (46). Crowd: 27,104
The others…
Subiaco: The Lions made it to the preliminary final and there were times they looked like they could go all the way. Zac Clarke won the fairest and best award and was the best ruck in the competition, Ben Sokol kicked 53 goals and Taj Schofield looked classy.
Claremont: The Tigers had a strange season. Scoring was a bit on an issue and losing Jack Buller into an abyss via the AFL mid-season draft didn’t help matters. Teia Miles was a nice addition to the backline.
East Perth: The Royals were the big improvers in 2023. The midfield including Sandover Medal winner Hamish Brayshaw, fairest and best winner Mitch Crowden and State game Simpson Medal winner Angus Schumacher meant they were always in games. Losing Scott Jones left a gap in the ruck and the talls in attack and defence seemed to be constant shuffle – for example Tom Graham played his only game for the year in the first semi final and kicked four goals.
West Perth: The Falcons, after their premiership in 2022, finished up as one of the form teams of the competition but couldn’t make up the ground they lost earlier in the season. Darren Harris will be replaced as coach by 2013 premiership captain Jason Salecic. Tyler Keitel kicked 57 goals.
Swan Districts: Early losses hurt Swans – round one (one point); round two (four points); round three (seven points); round six (two points) and round seven (four points). Jesse Turner won the Swan Medal.
South Fremantle: The Bulldogs lost eight premiership points for 2023 due to a salary cap issue. They also lost of stack of good players including Haiden Schloithe. It was a year of struggle and the introduction of young players.
Perth: The Demons won two games under new coach Peter German and salvaged a draw against he hapless Eagles with a behind after the siren. The colts should have won the grand final so that’s promising.
West Coast: The Eagles didn’t get a win but the draw with Perth meant they did earn two premiership points. They also lost a game after the final siren to Swans. Anyway, it’s all good.
•Kick to kick on Perth Stadium after the WAFL grand final. Photo by Les Everett
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