East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) and WAFL Women's (WAFLW). The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval. East Fremantle are the most successful club in WAFL history, winning 29 premierships since their entry into the competition in 1898.[1]
| East Fremantle | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Names | ||
| Full name | East Fremantle Football Club | |
| Nickname(s) | Sharks, Old Easts | |
| 2019 season | ||
| After finals | 8th (WAFL) Premiers (WAFLW) | |
| Club details | ||
| Founded | 1898 | |
| Colours | Blue, White | |
| Competition | West Australian Football League (men) WAFL Women's (women) | |
| Coach | Bill Monaghan (WAFL) | |
| Captain(s) | Jonathon Griffin (WAFL) | |
| Premierships | List
| |
| Ground(s) | East Fremantle Oval (capacity: 20,000) | |
| Uniforms | ||
| ||
| Other information | ||
| Official website | effc.com.au | |
History
The East Fremantle Football Club was formed in 1898 and has won 29 league premierships in the West Australian Football League, making the club the second most successful in Australia, after Port Adelaide in the SANFL.[2]
East Fremantle has a fierce rivalry with its Port cousin, South Fremantle, and the Foundation Day Derby between the two sides is a much anticipated highlight of the local football calendar. East Fremantle's success has thus far eclipsed that of South Fremantle, who (as of 2017) have won just 13 WAFL premierships.
Up until 1987, Western Australia was immersed in WAFL culture and East Fremantle enjoyed a strong following. In 1987, a Perth-based club – the West Coast Eagles – joined an expanded Victorian Football League. West Coast's initial squad included many East Fremantle players and they were coached by former East Fremantle premiership player and coach, Ron Alexander. Interest in the semi-national competition saw attendances at WAFL games start to fall, with severe consequences for the club's support base and finances. By the middle 2000s, East Fremantle was in severe trouble on and off the field, winning only nineteen of eighty matches between 2003 and 2006 and suffering severe financial difficulties,[3] though since then the clubs has substantially recovered without winning a thirtieth premiership. The Sharks once pulled on average 10,000 people to a home game. Now 1,500 people to a home game is considered a strong attendance.
East Fremantle was a foundation member of the WAFL Women's competition in 2019. They were the inaugural premiers of the competition, defeating Swan Districts in the grand final.[4]
Club Song
The East Fremantle Football Club team song is sung to the tune of "Notre Dame Victory March".
- Cheer, Cheer the Blue and the White
- Honour the Sharks by day and by night
- Lift that loyal banner high
- Shake out the thunder from the sky
- Whether the odds be great or be small
- We'll go out and win over all
- While our players keep on fighting
- Onwards to victory
Honours
Club honours
| Premierships | |||
| Competition | Level | Wins | Years won |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAFL | Seniors | 29 | 1900, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1937, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1957, 1965, 1974, 1979, 1985, 1992, 1994, 1998 |
| WAFL Women's | Seniors | 1 | 2019 |
| WAFL Reserves | Reserves | 13 | 1926, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1962, 1970, 1989, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2008 |
| WAFL Colts | Colts (U19) | 11 | 1962, 1966, 1969, 1973, 1981, 1987, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2010, 2017 |
| WAFL Fourths (1965–1974) | Fourths | 2 | 1972, 1974 |
| Other titles and honours | |||
| Rodriguez Shield | Multiple | 6 | 1957, 1977, 1985, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
| State Premiership (1902–1924) | Seniors | 5 | 1902, 1904, 1906, 1909, 1910 |
Individual honours
Sandover Medallists: (12 total) 1931: Lin Richards, 1950: Jim Conway, 1957: Jack Clarke, 1961 & 1963: Ray Sorrell, 1971: David Hollins, 1974: Graham Melrose, 1977: Brian Peake, 1985: Murray Wrensted, 1995: Craig Treleven, 1998: Adrian Bromage, 2013: Rory O'Brien
Simpson Medallists (in Grand Final): (10 total) 1945: Alan Ebbs, 1957: Frank Conway, 1962: Ray Sorrell, 1964: Norm Rogers, 1965: Dave Imrie, 1947: Gary Gibellini 1979: Kevin Taylor, 1992: Clinton Browning, 1994: Mark Amaranti, 1998: Adrian Bromage
Simpson Medallists (in State Game): (5 total) 1962: Ray Sorrell, 1982: Kevin Taylor, 1991: Paul Harding, 1995: Craig Treleven, 1999: Rod Tregenza
Bernie Naylor Medallists: (20 total) 1904: Ernest Kelly (38), 1905: Henry Sharpe (50), 1907: Henry Sharpe (48), 1908: Charles Doig (26), 1909: Charles Doig (38), 1917: Arthur Rawlinson (46), 1919:Joseph Lawn (55), 1923: Dinney Coffey (36), 1933: George Doig (106), 1934: George Doig (152), 1935: George Doig (113), 1936: George Doig (109), 1937: George Doig (144), 1941: George Doig (141), 1949: George Prince (82), 1966: Bob Johnson (92), 1979: Kevin Taylor (102), 1989: Neil Lester-Smith (90), 1999: Rod Tregenza (86), 2000: Rod Tregenza (86)
Prendergast Medallists: (9 total) 1954: Bill Taggart, 1977: Joe Angel, 1978: Kevin Taylor, 1994: Jon Stagg, 2002: Leigh Willison, 2007: Morgan Cooper, 2008: Conor Davidson, 2010: James Murray, 2011: Timothy Viney, 2017: Benjamin Harding
Jack Clarke Medallists: (5 total) 1985: Mark Amaranti, 1989: Graham Ralph, 2000: Matthew Cremin, 2001: Andrew Green, 2013: Jacob Green
Chesson Medallists: (2 total) 1972: Greg Brown, 1973: Doug Winning
All Australians: 1953, 1956, 1958 & 1961: Jack Clarke, 1958: Alan Preen, 1958: Norm Rogers, 1958 & 1961: Ray Sorrell, 1979, 1980 & 1986: Brian Peake, 1979: Tony Buhagiar, 1983: Kevin Taylor, 1986: Peter Wilson
Tassie Medallists: (1 total) 1979: Brian Peake
Records
Highest Score: Round 17, 1944 – 33.23 (221) vs. South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval
Lowest Score: Round 13, 1898 – 1.2 (8) vs. West Perth at The WACA
Greatest Winning Margin: Round 17, 1944 – 201 points vs. South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval
Greatest Losing Margin: Round 10, 1981 – 178 points vs. West Perth at Leederville Oval
Most games: Brian Peake 304 (1972–1981 & 1985–1989)
Most goals: George Doig 1111
Record Home Attendance: Round 3, 1979 – 21,317 vs. South Fremantle
Record Finals Attendance: 1979 Grand Final – 52,781 vs. South Fremantle at Subiaco Oval
Most consecutive victories: 35, between 28 July 1945 (Round 13) and 17 May 1947 (Round 3), including the 1945 and 1946 premierships
Most consecutive losses: 13 1 between 18 May 1968 (Round 7) and 17 August 1968 (Round 19) 2 between 11 April 1970 (Round 2) and 11 July 1970 (Round 14)
Current squad
| Senior list | Coaching staff | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Head coach Assistant coaches
Updated: July 2020 | |||||||
Hall of Fame
On Saturday 2 June 2012 the East Fremantle Football Club inducted 52 individuals into the inaugural East Fremantle Football Club Hall of Fame. 9 inductees were also given 'Legend' status. Only Players, Officials and Volunteers that served the club between 1898 and 1986 were deemed worthy to be inducted. See: East Fremantle Football Club Hall of fame
Team of the Century
In 1997 the East Fremantle Football Club named its Team of the Century, to coincide with the club centenary celebrations. The team includes many names that have become synonymous with East Fremantle.
| B: | George Mavor | Con Regan | Michael Brennan |
| HB: | Doug Green | Carlisle 'Bub' Jarvis | Norm Rogers |
| C: | Ray Sorrell | William 'Nipper' Truscott | Chris Mainwaring |
| HF: | Jack Sheedy – Captain | George Prince | Alan Preen |
| F: | Vic French | George Doig | Alan Ebbs |
| Foll: | Jack Clarke | Brian Peake – Vice Captain | Jim Conway |
| Int: | Graham Melrose | Lin Richards | David Hollins |
| Coach: | Jerry Dolan | ||
Fremantle Team of Legends
In 2007 the East Fremantle and South Fremantle Football Clubs came together to select the Fremantle Team of Legends. The Team consisted of players from East and South Fremantle that had played at least 100 WAFL games for either Fremantle club.
| B: | Brad Hardie (South Fremantle) | Con Regan (East Fremantle) | Jack Clarke (East Fremantle) |
| HB: | Norm Rogers (East Fremantle) | Frank Jenkins (South Fremantle) | Carlisle 'Bub' Jarvis (East Fremantle) |
| C: | John Todd (South Fremantle) | Ray Sorrell (East Fremantle) | William 'Nipper' Truscott (East Fremantle) |
| HF: | Len Crabbe (South Fremantle) | John Gerovich (South Fremantle) | Maurice Rioli (South Fremantle) |
| F: | Jack Sheedy (East Fremantle) – co-captain | Bernie Naylor (South Fremantle) | George Doig (East Fremantle) |
| Foll: | Stephen Michael (South Fremantle) | Brian Peake (East Fremantle) | Steve Marsh (East Fremantle) – co-captain |
| Int: | Doug Green (East Fremantle) | Tom Grljusich (South Fremantle) | Graham Melrose (East Fremantle) |
| Dave Woods (East Fremantle) | |||
| Coach: | Jerry Dolan (East Fremantle) | ||
AFL/VFL players (including Rookies)
There is a list of past and present East Fremantle players who have played at AFL/VFL:
|
|
|
Roll of honour
Former East Fremantle Football Club players killed in action include:
- Corporal Percy Sutherland MOFFLIN (10th Light Horse), KIA, Gallipoli, 16 June 1915
- Private Roy James 'Nugget' WRIGHTSON (11th Battn), KIA, Armentières, 30 May 1916
- Private John Alexander Robertson 'Hooky' DOIG (44th Battn), KIA, Messines, 31 July 1917
- Gunner John 'Jack' McCARTHY (36th Heavy Artillery), KIA, Ypres, 4 October 1917
- Private Arthur Henry 'Cock' WRIGHTSON (48th Battn), KIA, Passchendaele, 12 October 1917
See also
- Wikipedia listing of East Fremantle Football Club players
References and notes
- East Fremantle – Part One: 1898 to 1947 – FullPointsFooty. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- Cunningham, Antonia, ed. (2002). Guinness World Records 2002. Enfield, England: Guinness World Records, Limited. pp. 288. ISBN 9781892051066.
- Lewis, Ross; ‘Sharks Rule Dunbar Safe: disappointed East Fremantle Fans Smell Coach's Blood But Not Club Bosses’; The Game, p. 15, from The West Australian, 24 April 2006
- "East Fremantle claim Optus WAFLW crown". WA Football. 14 September 2019.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to East Fremantle Football Club. |