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Bill Monaghan’s side solidified their place in the WAFL’s top five with a 41-point win over reigning premiers West Perth at Pentanet Stadium on Sunday, putting them three games clear of the sixth-placed Falcons.
East Fremantle star Cam Eardley is confident this is the year the Sharks can break through for their first premiership win since 1998.
Eardley, a 159-game veteran across ten years of league football with the Sharks, told Sports Breakfast the unavailability of their home at East Fremantle Oval was galvanising the group.
“We’ve battled through some difficult years and we’re finally reaping the reward,” Eardley said.
“We’re playing some really good football and I think we’ve definitely got the team to match the rest of the competition.
“Claremont, East Perth, Subiaco, whoever it is, it’s going to be tight at the end of the year, really tight.”
East Fremantle are ahead of Subiaco on percentage and trail this weekend’s opponent Peel Thunder and East Perth by one win and ladder-leaders Claremont by two victories.
Eardley said the goal was to finish in the top three to receive a double chance in September.
“The advantage of finishing first, second, or third is massive,” he said.
“It’s tight, it’s one or two games, so these games are gold.
“We’ve just got to try and not get overwhelmed and think too far ahead. It’s super cliche, but treat this game like any other game and then move on to next week.”
The Sharks will take on the Thunder in Geraldton, the heart of their country zone, having already headed to Broome to take on Claremont this season.
Eardley said some players had headed up early to run junior clinics and community engagement but the majority of the team would fly in and fly out on Sunday.
“It’s been a big year, not to mention our training schedule has been a bit all over the shop as well,” he said.
“I think the team has done a fantastic job taking it in their stride and I think our record on the road, Broome and Northampton, has been pretty good.
“We’ll look to keep everything the same ahead of Sunday’s game.”
The clash between East Fremantle and Peel Thunder gets underway at 2:10 pm and is being broadcast live on 91.3 SportFM.
IMAGE: East Fremantle FC