Results: Round 3

It was almost a case of déjà vu on Saturday as East Perth’s league side started slowly against East Fremantle.

The Sharks kicked the first three goals of the game before the home side steadied to produce a convincing 43-point, 15.9 (99) to 8.8 (56), victory.

The Royals kicked 11 goals to four in the second and third terms to open up an insurmountable buffer on their opponents.

Nick Robertson, used mainly in attack in his Royals debut, booted three goals after missing the Royals’ season opener due to suspension, while Matthew Young also kicked three majors.

Ruckman Scott Jones and Ajang Ajang combined for 40 hitouts. Jones capped off his impressive performance with two goals for a second consecutive week.

The Royals won the clearance battle 34-22 and contested possessions 124-99 to get first use of the ball.

Angus Scott had 31 disposals, Rohan Kerr gathered 29, while acting captain Jackson Ramsay collected 28, as did midfielder Aidan Lynch, to go with a goal.

"It’s an area we thought we really needed to improve on from last year, getting some more depth in the midfield," Jeremy Barnard told The West Australian post match.

"Adding Scott Jones in there as the ruckman, helping out AJ (Ajang Ajang) really helped us.

"Schumacher and Lynch as well, it takes the pressure off Jackson Ramsay and we’ve got more of a balance.

"We used ‘Robbo’ up forward in the second half because he’s so strong overhead and mobile, same with guys like Mitchell Dobson and Matthew Young, so we exposed other people to the midfield."

In the Reserves, East Perth continued its unbeaten start to the season, securing a 60-point, 15.4 (94) to 5.4 (34), win. While in the Colts, a strong second half from East Fremantle saw the visitors prevail by 11-points, 8.10 (58) to 7.5 (47), in a tight tussle at Leederville Oval on Saturday morning.

Round 3 Results via WAFL.com.au:

LEAGUE
EAST PERTH 3.1 8.3 14.7 15.9 (99)
defeat
EAST FREMANTLE 3.2 4.3 7.5 8.8 (56)

GOALS
EAST PERTH: Robertson, M Young 3; Jones, Simpson 2; Hille, Lynch, Dobson, Magro, Kuek 1
EAST FREMANTLE: Strnadica 3; Snadden, Griffin, Bailey, Bockman, Monaghan 1

BEST
EAST PERTH: Scott, M Young, Cahill, Ramsay
EAST FREMANTLE: Griffin, Leggett, Boekhurst, Snadden

CROWD
1800 at Leederville Oval

RESERVES:
EAST PERTH 3.1 6.3 11.4 15.4  (94)
defeat
EAST FREMANTLE 1.0 3.1 3.3 5.4  (34)

GOALS
EAST PERTH: Allsop 4; Ameduri, Gupanis 2; McGuire, Cox, Dean, H. Sparks, Underwood, Row, Ladhams 1
EAST FREMANTLE: Bonomelli 2; Burton, Wallis, Watson 1

BEST
EAST PERTH: H Sparks, Abbott, Ameduri, Gupanis
EAST FREMANTLE: Tucker, Burton, Watson, Wallis

COLTS
EAST PERTH 3.0 4.1 4.3 7.5  (47)
defeated by
EAST FREMANTLE 1.2 2.5 6.7 8.10  (58)

GOALS
EAST PERTH: Pizzolante 2; Barton, Soka, Amiss, Sherwood, Hindle
EAST FREMANTLE: McGrath 2; Curley, Browne, Gorringe, Walker, Hodge, Hughes

BEST
EAST PERTH: Hindle, Hubbard, Lombardi, Thompson, May
EAST FREMANTLE: Haddow, Paholski, Walker, Hagan, Curley, McGrath