End of Year Report – Captain Dylan Main

THE 2018 season provided many ups and downs for the club and ultimately finished prematurely in the eyes of many, including ourselves.

There was a lot of emphasis placed on this past season for South Fremantle Football Club as we knew some excellent servants of the club were closing in towards the ends of their careers and yet still had plenty to offer. Mixed with some young, energetic players we believed the sky was the limit and we were all excited to see what the season could bring.

After losing our initial game to Subiaco by quite a chunky margin we managed to string together some promising wins in the next five fixtures providing a strong base platform for the rest of the season.

The depth was tested a bit this year with a few injuries to key players throughout, however everyone that came in played their role and should be commended for it. Noah Strom was presented with an opportunity in round two and never looked back. Alongside the younger Chad Pearson, the pair combined and nullified many key WAFL forwards and really solidified themselves as a couple of twin towers in the back-line.

Brandon Donaldson all but locked in his spot in the team after stringing together some incredibly consistent performances over a large part of the season. Shaun Bewick possibly had the best season of his career and was recognised by receiving the Player of the Finals award.

The engine room was in safe hands all year with the likes of Haiden Schloithe, Nick Suban, Jacob Dragovich, Shane Hockey and the Marlion Pickett highlight package running through there.

Mason Shaw patrolled the forward-line and finished the season with some huge bags of goals accompanied by the ever-reliable Ben Saunders and whilst pocket rockets Cory Dell’Olio and Ashton Hams roamed at their feet. Also, Matty Parker had a terrific year and was rewarded by getting drafted to St Kilda, so I wish him all the best and I am sure he will transition just fine.

At the other end of the field, a young back-line was well led by Blayne Wilson and Jason Maskos who continued to shut down some of the competitions best small forwards.

We had some commanding wins heading into yet another finals appearance, providing the team with lots of optimism about what could be. After a dominant display in our first final, downing West Perth by 98 points, we went in to the Subiaco game with a lot of belief that our style of footy could really take it to the best. After an early jump we were unable to maintain control and eventually came out behind on the scoreboard.

Then unfortunately for the third year in a row, we bowed out in the preliminary final to a more determined West Perth. Out of the last three years this one hurt the most because we had the talent, the experience and the game plan to take us all the way. However, it just wasn’t meant to be.
Although it is a terrific effort to reach a prelim final and now we turn a new page and enter a new era for the football club with some legends calling time on some well decorated careers.

Shane Hockey has been a massive barometer for the club after crossing the country three years ago and will leave a huge hole. Home grown talent Cory Dell’Olio will go down as one of the best forward pockets to ever don the mighty Red V along with his 2009 premiership.

Jarrod Parry has to be commended for his loyalty and dedication through a tough career, he is a much-loved character by all and will be sorely missed.

The clubs longest serving captain in Ryan Cook will move on after leaving a big footprint on the club and its entirety. The leadership and determination this man possesses is extraordinary and I hope I am half as good a captain as he was.

Lastly, the old fella Ashton Hams has called time on a terrific career, including two premierships, two Simpson medals and 205 games. He will be forever remembered as a favourite son of the South Fremantle Football Club. I hope to still see his short stature around the club along with the other retirees.

It will be a slightly differently looking South Fremantle outfit in 2019 although with some strong young talent coming through I believe it will be another strong year from the Red Vs and let’s hope we can go that little bit further!