- Source: East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks and colloquially referred to as East Freo, 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 is the most successful club in WAFL history, winning 30 premierships since their entry into the competition in 1898. East Fremantle's last premiership was in 2023, when they defeated Peel Thunder.
History
The increasing professionalism of teams in the Goldfields Football League attracted players away from Perth, which saw the Imperials Football Club collapse in 1897. Tom Wilson and David 'Dolly' Christy from the Imperials, along with businessman Sam Thomson, were instrumental in the foundation of the East Fremantle Football Club and its admission into the West Australian Football Association. The club adopted the Imperials' blue and white colours and many Imperials players would become part of the East Fremantle team in 1898. Other sources claim that the origin of the club's colours were from the North Melbourne Football Club at the suggeston of the club's first captain Tom Wilson had played for North in the Victorian Football Association. Wilson as captain and Christy as vice captain would play in East Fremantle's first game at the WACA on 11 May 1898.
Tragedy would strike the club in just its sixth year, with the death of prominent player James Gullan from accidental poisoning the day after their game against South Fremantle. During Gullan's time at East Fremantle he became regarded as one of the best players to ever play the game.
East Fremantle became known affectionately as 'Old East' or 'Old Easts' after the admission of East Perth to the competition in 1906. The nickname continued to be used until 1983, when the nickname of 'the Sharks' was adopted.
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 2021) have won 14 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 of 32 players included six 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, though since then the club substantially recovered. The club endured a 25-year premiership drought before winning a thirtieth premiership in 2023. 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.
= Team of the Century
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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.
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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 Fremantle and South Fremantle that had played at least 100 WAFL games for either club.
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The East Fremantle team song is sung to the tune of "Notre Dame Victory March", which was adapted when the club changed its nickname from Old Easts to the Sharks in 1983.
Cheer, Cheer the Blue and the White
Honour the Sharks by day and by night
Lift that loyal banner high
Shake down the thunder from the sky
Whether the odds be great or be small
We will go in and win over all
While our players keep on fighting
Onwards to victory!
Historical statistics
= Club honours
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= Club Records
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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 1,111
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, once between 18 May 1968 (Round 7) and 17 August 1968 (Round 19) and again between 11 April 1970 (Round 2) and 11 July 1970 (Round 14)
Players
There continue to be players from East Fremantle who move onto AFL/VFL, and AFLW playing careers, see List of East Fremantle footballers who have played in the VFL/AFL.
= Individual honours
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Sandover Medal: (13 total) – Lin Richards (1931), Jim Conway (1950), Jack Clarke (1957), Ray Sorrell (1961, 1963), David Hollins (1971), Graham Melrose (1974), Brian Peake (1977), Murray Wrensted (1985), Craig Treleven (1995), Adrian Bromage (1998), Rory O'Brien (2013), Blaine Boekhorst (2022)
Simpson Medal (in Grand Final): (11 total) – Alan Ebbs (1945), Frank Conway (1957), Ray Sorrell (1962), Norm Rogers (1964), Dave Imrie (1965), Gary Gibellini (1974), Kevin Taylor (1979), Clinton Browning (1992), Mark Amaranti (1994), Adrian Bromage (1998), Milan Murdock (2023)
Simpson Medal (in State Game): (5 total) – Ray Sorrell (1962), Kevin Taylor (1982), Paul Harding (1991), Craig Treleven (1995), Rod Tregenza (1999)
Bernie Naylor Medal: (20 total) – Ernest Kelly (1904, 38 goals), Henry Sharpe (1905, 50 goals), Henry Sharpe (1907, 48 goals), Charles Doig (1908, 26 goals), Charles Doig (1909, 38 goals), Arthur Rawlinson (1917, 46 goals), Joseph Lawn (1919, 55 goals), Dinney Coffey (1923, 36 goals), George Doig (1933, 106 goals), George Doig (1934, 152 goals), George Doig (1935, 113 goals), George Doig (1936, 109 goals), George Doig (1937, 144 goals), George Doig (1941, 141 goals), George Prince (1949, 82 goals), Bob Johnson (1966, 92 goals), Kevin Taylor (1979, 102 goals), Neil Lester-Smith (1989, 90 goals), Rod Tregenza (1999, 86 goals), Rod Tregenza (2000, 86 goals)
Prendergast Medal: (10 total) – Bill Taggart (1954), Joe Angel (1977), Kevin Taylor (1978), Jon Stagg (1994), Leigh Willison (2002), Morgan Cooper (2007), Conor Davidson (2008), James Murray (2010), Timothy Viney (2011), Benjamin Harding (2017)
Jack Clarke Medal: (6 total) – Mark Amaranti (1985), Graham Ralph (1989), Matthew Cremin (2000), Andrew Green (2001), Jacob Green (2013), Joshua Browne (2021)
Chesson Medallists: (2 total) – Greg Brown (1972), Doug Winning (1973)
All-Australian team: Jack Clarke (1953, 1956, 1958, 1961), Alan Preen (1958), Norm Rogers (1958), Ray Sorrell (1958, 1961), Brian Peake (1979 (c), 1980, 1986 (c)), Tony Buhagiar (1979), Kevin Taylor (1983), Peter Wilson (1986)
Tassie Medal: Brian Peake (1979)
= 2022 squad
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= Premiership teams
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= Australian Football Hall of Fame
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The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996.
Ten former East Fremantle players have been inducted: Simon Black (2020), David Christy (1996), Jack Clarke (1999), George Doig (2002), Bob Johnson (2012), Steve Marsh (2006), Brian Peake (2013), Jack Sheedy (2001), Ray Sorrell (2016) and William "Nipper" Truscott (1996). East Fremantle's 1974 premiership coach, John Todd, was inducted in 2003.
= West Australian Football Hall of Fame
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The West Australian Football Hall of Fame was created in 2002 and the first induction took place in 2004.
Twenty-two former East Fremantle players and coaches have been inducted: Ron Alexander (2004), Simon Black (2017), David Christy (2004), Jack Clarke (2004), Charles Doig (2017), George Doig (2004), Jerry Dolan (2004), Doug Green (2006), Paul Hasleby (2015), Percy Johnson (2010), Chris Mainwaring (2005), Steve Malaxos (2005), Steve Marsh (2004), Gerard Neesham (2005), Brian Peake (2004), Con Regan (2015), Norm Rogers (2004), Jack Sheedy (2004), Ray Sorrell (2004), John Todd (2004), William "Nipper" Truscott (2004) and Shane Woewodin (2022).
Five have been elevated to Legend status: George Doig (2004), Steve Marsh (2005), Jack Sheedy (2005), John Todd (2004) and William "Nipper" Truscott (2004).
= EFFC Hall of Fame
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On Saturday 2 June 2012, 52 individuals were inducted into the inaugural East Fremantle Football Club Hall of Fame. Nine 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.
Roll of honour
At the outbreak of World War I many players from Western Australia enlisted in the armed services, 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
Board and staff
President: Mark Stewart (outgoing)
CEO: Adrian Bromage
General Manager of Football Operations: Shane Woewodin
As of November 2024
See also
Wikipedia listing of East Fremantle Football Club players
References and notes
External links
Official website
Club Profile at Australian Football
WAFL site for East Fremantle Football Club
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