WAFL grand final 2023: Jono Marsh In Doubt As East Fremantle Bid To End 25-year Premiership Drought
East Fremantle is playing coy about whether or not injured star Jono Marsh will play against Peel Thunder. The WAFL final is this weekend, and ELIZA REILLY has the latest from both clubs.
After suffering a leg injury during training, East Fremantle star Jono Marsh's participation in the WAFL grand final on Sunday against Peel Thunder is still in question.
Marsh, who is 27 years old, has been one of the key contributors to the Sharks' bid for the title this season. He has scored 20 goals in just 12 games.
After getting hurt during the Sharks' final bye training session on Sunday, the crucial forward will have to wait anxiously to hear the results of his scans. When queried about the specific form of Marsh's ailment, East Fremantle coach Bill Monaghan responded with evasiveness, stating only that it was not a hamstring issue that caused the best player to miss time earlier in the season.
According to Monaghan, "It's a leg (issue), but it's not a hamstring," The problem is with the leg. "That's all we're going to say about it, so feel free to speculate.
"I would not recommend it. Although, in all likelihood, one week will not be sufficient, we are going to hold off taking action until we have the results of the scan. Since yesterday, he's been recovering in the hyperbaric chamber, and it looks like he'll be there for the rest of the week as well.
"He is going to make every effort in his power to stand back up. The timing of the injury makes it less likely than it is more likely that he will play given the current circumstances. When it comes to individuals like Jono, who have large, powerful legs, a niggle here and there can sometimes be hidden.
"He is really judgmental. He's got a lot of drive to get out there and play. We won't be able to see him again until perhaps Saturday morning."
As their home ground undergoes rebuilding, East Fremantle's Sharks are now preparing for the grand final at Fremantle's Cockburn headquarters. This makes the Sharks' preparations more difficult than they would otherwise be. The Dockers have allied themselves with their opponents in the grand final, the Peel Thunder.
Monaghan gave the impression that they would make an effort to conceal Marsh from nosy onlookers during the major training session on Wednesday night.
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In the event that Marsh is unable to play, key forward Dillon O'Reilly is a strong candidate to take his place; however, the 23-year-old has been sidelined by injury since round 18 of the season. Jarrad Jansen, who was forced to miss the Sharks' first final due to knee pain, is expected to make his return, which will provide the team with a significant boost.
Matthew Jupp, the captain of the East Fremantle Sharks, stated that the team is better prepared than they have ever been to break a premiership drought that has lasted for 25 years. After being a member of the club for more than a decade and experiencing both the club's successes and its failures, Jupp will make his first effort at winning the grand final on Sunday.
"This is something that we have been laboring over for a very long time. "For a very long time, we've been trying to get a foot in the door, and now we finally have the chance," Jupp said.
"I don't believe that it creates any more strain. When competing in a championship game, there is bound to be a great deal of pressure, and there will definitely be nerves. In the end, we are prepared for whatever comes our way. We've been at it for such a considerable amount of time now."
In 2019, Monaghan took over as coach of East Fremantle. During his tenure, the Sharks went through a list transition, during which they went 6-26. A chance at the championship was worth the difficult rebuilding process, he said.
We cut ties with several talented athletes. "The problem wasn't a lack of talent, but rather a need to alter some of the norms and practices already in place," he explained. "We got set back a little bit by the COVID year. Somewhat more time has passed than I would have preferred. A win on Sunday would be fantastic compensation for all of your hard work.
Peel Thunder coach Geoff Valentine insisted his team wasn't an underdog despite falling to East Fremantle in the semifinals and having to travel far to win the championship game against Subiaco.
Ten teams will begin the season hoping to make the championship game; "it's 50/50," he added, "and it doesn't matter how you get there, we're there."
"East Freo has as good a shot as we do."
According to Valentine, all 11 listed Dockers will play in Sunday's grand final. With the help of former Fremantle players, Valentine believes Peel can win its first championship since 2017.
"A lot of it is because of Ben (captain Ben Hancock) and the Peel lads treating each player on his own merits," he said. "It's been a big reason for our success."
"We are going to have to handle each one of them differently. The ways in which you manage and coach some of the older players, such as Joel Hamling, Trav Colyer, and Nathan Wilson, are considerably different from the ways in which you manage and mentor Hugh Davies and Ethan Stanley. I believe that we have managed to solve that problem successfully.
"It's not just one thing," the speaker said. It's about taking a more holistic approach, like... letting children run around and have fun with the footy.