AFTER missing out on finals last season, 2020 West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s premiers East Fremantle will be looking to find a way back into the top four. The Sharks had the five wins from 15 games last season, finishing well clear of the winless South Fremantle, but also a comfortable three games adrift of the top four, and one of the only two sides – with the Bulldogs – boasting a percentage less than 100. But 2022 is a new chapter in the club’s illustrious history, that includes a three-peat of premierships – if you include the 2018-19 WAWFL and then 2020 WAFLW flags – in the not so distant past.

Fast forward from that successful era, East Fremantle fell back last season and was overrun by the youth of Swan Districts and Peel Thunder, and the greater consistency of Claremont and Subiaco. The Sharks are fairly lucky to have continuity in their side, with Gabby O’Sullivan, Evie Gooch and Roxanne Roux the three main AFL Women’s listed players who come back and run out in the blue and white. To further emphasise the continuity, the Sharks had 13 players run out in 10 or more games, and four players take to the field in all 15 matches.

Sharon Wong had a remarkable year for the Sharks, consistently finding the ball and putting in regular four-quarter performances to finish second in the Dhara Kerr Medal (league best and fairest). Also having consistent years were the likes of Ashleigh Gomes, Larissa Versaci and Madeline Ross, while Alex Williams‘ departure from Fremantle will mean a full season out of the defender. Then there is the abundance of youth to watch out for.

The Sharks have quite a few young talents to remember, with top-age talents Mylee Leitch and Alli Nokes, and bottom-age eye-catcher Anjelique Raison already experienced at League level. Add in one of Western Australia’s most promising Under 16s talent in 2006-born Zippy Fish, and there is plenty to get excited about at the Sharks. East Fremantle has 32 players born this turn of the century. Among the over-age and mature-age talent still 21 or under are Rosie Walsh, Chloe Reilly, Gabby Radojkovich and Mia Schleicher (younger sister of Collingwood’s Ruby).

With East Fremantle having to wait an extra week to kick-start its 2022 season, one can be sure the Sharks will be extra prepared for a first-up home clash with Swan Districts coming off a Round 1 bye.

2022 EAST FREMANTLE FIXTURES:

Round 1: Bye
Round 2: vs. Swan Districts
Round 3: @ Claremont
Round 4: @ Peel Thunder
Round 5: vs. West Perth
Round 6: vs. South Fremantle
Round 7: @ Subiaco
Round 8: @ Peel Thunder
Round 9: Bye
Round 10: @ Swan Districts
Round 11: vs. Claremont
Round 12: vs. Peel Thunder
Round 13: vs. West Perth
Round 14: Bye
Round 15: vs. Subiaco
Round 16: @ West Perth
Round 17: @ South Fremantle