OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WAFL ROUND 2 APRIL 7, 2018 $3.00 » Sharks standing taller in season 2018 » Full team lists CONTENTS Every Week 7 Tipping 8 AFL Teams 18-19 WAFC 20 Club Notes 21 Stats 22 Scoreboards and ladders 23 Fixtures Features 4-5 Sharks standing taller in season 2018 6 Collectables Game time 9 Game previews 10-11 East Fremantle v Perth 12-13 East Perth v West Perth 16-17 Swan Districts v Peel Thunder 18-19 South Fremantle v Subiaco 3 Circling Sharks rise up to offer more WAFL bite Publisher This publication is proudly produced for the WA Football Commission by Media Tonic. Phone 9388 7844 Fax 9388 7866 Sales: [email protected] Editor Ross Lewis [email protected] Photography Andrew Ritchie, Duncan Watkinson, Showcase photgraphix Design/Typesetting Jacqueline Holland Direction Design and Print Printing Data Documents www.datadocuments.com.au Cover Jonathon Marsh is a key to lifting East Fremantle’s 2018 fortunes. The Football Budget is printed on Gloss 90gsm paper, which is sourced from a sustainably managed forest and uses manufacturing processes of the highest environmental standards. Bouncedown is printed by an Environmental Accredited printer. The magazine is 100% recyclable. WAFL admission prices $15 – Adult* $12 – Concession* Free – Children 15 and under *Includes a copy of Football Budget Find us on Copyright © No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in the Football Budget are not necessarily those of the WAFC. The WAFC or affiliated clubs believe that the material produced in this publication is accurate, but gives no warranty in relation thereto and disclaims all liability for claims against the WAFC or affiliated clubs, Media Tonic, its employees, agents, or any other person, which may rise from any person acting on the materials contained herein. » Jonathon Griffin during his » James Bristow in action in 2016. previous stint with Sharks in 2012. Registered by Australia Post - PP642521/00112 4 Circling Sharks rise up to offer more WAFL biteBy Ross Lewis Much of 2017 was a season to forget for brigade was the priority for the East Fremantle some keenly-sought signatures, Demons East Fremantle. brains trust. coach Earl Spalding believes there is a factor Indeed, for the first 16 rounds it looked And there were plenty of successes, with at Lathlain Park that he hasn’t witnessed in as though the wooden spoon was headed to many of the signings looming as key threats his four seasons at the helm. Shark Park, not something the WAFL’s most to Perth in Round 2. “We went hard at recruiting as well but successful club wanted amongst its illustrious Indeed, it will be a tall order for the where Robbie (Wiley) came first we came trophies. Demons to overcome the Sharks. second a few times, which is frustrating, But the final three weekends of action helped “We were over the moon to get someone but I suppose states where we are as a club,” Rob Wiley’s men avoid the dubious honour. And like Jono Griffin back. He’s a passionate East Spalding said. “We’re a hard sell and until we it provided much-needed motivation for a solid Fremantle player, too,”Wiley said of the former can turn it around we will be a hard sell. 2018 pre-season at Moss St. Adelaide and Fremantle ruckman. “I’m really confident about where our Sure, the opening to the new season “The last game he played for East Fremantle club demographic is at the moment – it is brought some more disappointment with was the losing 2012 grand final. He just brings exciting. We have a young group who had a a loss to Peel. Yet, the Sharks dominated the knowledge and experience and passion and a taste of it last year and some played good dual-defending premier for much of the want for East Fremantle to be successful. footy. match only to be overrun by the AFL-talent “Cam Loersch, at 203cm (and a former “They’re a year older and have a laden Thunder in the final term. Gold Coast player), has had a bit of an injury real appetite for success, which Wiley knew those situations would arise setback but once he is back he’ll add another we haven’t had in my years after rebuilding the East Fremantle list last dimension to our team. at the club. We’re nearly year. There were plenty of new additions who “We lost Matthew Watson which was really at tipping point and would take time to learn the WAFL caper. So it disappointing from our point of view. He was confidence is going was a priority for him and his recruiting team terrific for the club. But he wanted to go home to play a big part in to lure some older, wiser heads to the team (to Victoria) and you can’t fight that. how we’re going to go.” over the summer. “We also have Jimmy Bristow returning – “The 2017 season was a challenging year he’s six-four, six-five – and in 2016 he had a and when you play 20 debutants you are very good year for East Fremantle. He wanted going to be challenged,” Wiley said. to travel last year, and I think that is the nature “But I always look at the positive side and of the WAFL, players come and go a bit. To get it gave a lot of our young guys the chance him back adds to our big men strength. to experience the intensity of league level “Alex Howson is also a big man who was and going into the pre-season they certainly on the Dockers list. He had health issues gained a lot. but seems to be working his way “We knew we needed some experience through that.” and we were fortunate to have a good go at East Fremantle’s Round 2 some of the ex-AFL players, a few returning opponent, Perth, had an eye on players and couple of players from the some of those Sharks during amateurs. That was just to give our younger pre-season. players that experience (around them). And while he “That doesn’t guarantee success. I’ve been missed out on in the game long enough and I know there are lot of other things that have got to come together. “The foundations are there and now it is being able to gel that together but there have been some really positive signs.” There was one negative indicator in Round 1 with former Carlton midfielder Blaine Boekhorst lasting just a few minutes before going down with a knee injury. His absence greatly hurt the Sharks’ quest to avoid the late Peel surge. However, boosting the big man department and » East Fremantle coach Rob Wiley strengthening the on-ball 5 by Sean Cowan Collectables During 2018, the Football Budget will again feature a section on WAFL memorabilia and invites you to write or email if you want more information about the football collectables you have tucked away at home. It’s not often you get a chance to get your hands on a really old signed footy. Balls from this century and the 1990s turn up all the time, especially those signed by the almost unbeatable Eagles teams of the early 90s. On average, I’m offered about one a week (usually with a silly asking price) and, to be honest, they’re not at all popular with And the other items that attracted heated collectors. bidding was a grouping of late 1960s WAFL But in the early weeks of this year, I was decals/transfers, by Artcolour. given a ball signed by the WA team that took They had featured in this column out the national carnival in Brisbane in 1961. previously, but I had not seen any sold on the My thanks to Peter for passing this over. open market and the seller cleverly eked out What was really noticeable about this ball multiple versions of each transfer and over the was the difference in shape when compared course of a few weeks. to today’s footballs. At the start, two different South Fremantle I spent some time deciphering all the transfers from the same set, along with a rare signatures and even found the indentations 1970s sticker, sold for $209. After a few of each from signatures for which the ink had worn to meet the opening bid price of $600 in mid- club had hit the market and been sold, the away over the years. March. There were no other bidders. final price on the transfers and stickers fell to In the end, I was able to identify the A handful of other sought-after items were about $25 each. autographs of all but four of the players who listed for sale at high prices, but eventually Other items worthy of mention included a went to Brisbane, including that of South found just one buyer willing to meet the 1980 South Fremantle premiership keyring that Fremantle’s John Colgan (who was picked in asking price. sold for $55, and a set of four East Fremantle the squad but was unable to take his place The first was one of the 1980 posters that Kristaware drinking cups for $142.50. through injury and travelled as the runner). featured paintings by renowned Australian But perhaps my favourite item from the The ball also included the signatures of artist Joe Greenberg. summer leads me on to a new discovery I most of the 16 WANFL delegates from 1961.