WAFL: East Fremantle coach Bill Monaghan hopes the next generation can lead Sharks back up WAFL food chain

East Fremantle coach Bill Monaghan hopes the next generation of Sharks can lead the club back up the food chain following a gutsy first win of the season at the weekend. Despite tasting premiership glory just three years ago, the club was expected to slide into the bottom four after losing key players to injury, retirement and AFL opportunities in the off-season. That list included star midfielder Milan Murdock, who joined West Coast late in the pre-season, and forward Mitch Zadow, who was picked up by Port Adelaide. East Fremantle’s rotten luck continued with a season-ending ankle injury to reliable defender Jack Avery in a 13-point loss to Peel Thunder in round one. But a sensational four-goal performance in round two by recruit Liam Robinson led the Sharks to a thrilling 10.11 (71) to 9.14 (68) win over Subiaco at Good Grocer Park on Saturday. The South Australian product is one of a number of younger players Monaghan hopes can step up this season. “We’ve still got a really good top end of experienced guys who can help us, but we try not to rely on them all the time,” he said. “Those guys we’re trying to get them to step up so when the older guys do eventually come back in, those guys are 23 or 24 and in the prime of their careers.” East Fremantle will take on East Perth on Saturday night, with the Royals set to be without star midfielder Cooper Stephens, who copped a one-match ban for striking against Swan Districts.