Provest settling nicely into life at Swans

Zach Provest has had to be more of a focal point in attack than he might have thought to start his WAFL career at Swan Districts couldn’t be happier with how quickly he’s settled into a new home, a new club and a new competition.

Provest was among a string of young Victorian recruits for Swan Districts coming into the 2026 season that were signed to fill specific roles. For Provest, that meant providing that mid-size forward option alongside key targets Leigh Kohlmann and Tom Smith.

That bigger duo haven’t been out there yet much in 2026, leaving Swan Districts having to get creative with their forward-line which has left the 189cm Provest as one of the main targets.

He has handled that responsibility well to have now kicked seven goals across the opening four matches including a best of four back in Round 2 against East Perth.

The 22-year-old is enjoying the role he has been asked to play but is also looking forward to getting some more help in the forward-line in coming weeks.

“It has been a bit strange down forward and we have struggled with injuries, and I had a bit of an interrupted pre-season and wasn’t able to get there for the practice matches,” Provest said.

“We didn’t really know how the forward-line was going to look or when Leigh would be back and Jov had a bit of an interrupted pre-season, and Jehb did as well and unfortunately we have lost him now.

“It has been a bit of a different role than I expected to play but I’m still trying to play that hybrid role and be a difficult match up.

“I think we’re coming together nicely and we just need that extra big key because Tom Smith also went down in one of the pre-season games so we’re looking forward to getting him and Leigh back to free up some of us more hybrid type players in that forward-line.”

Adjusting to playing WAFL

Provest came to Swan Districts in 2026 on the back of playing with Williamstown in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) so he knew adjusting to playing the WAFL would always take some time.

Getting accustomed to the bigger grounds and then the different style is what has stood out to him so far, but he has been pleasantly surprised with how quickly he feels as though he has picked things up.

“It is very different and one major thing us Victorian guys have been focusing on trying to get used to is the size of the grounds and that WAFL brand,” Provest said.

“Every team knows how to play that so well and it’s just about getting used to those different game styles and it has come pretty quickly, and a bit more naturally to me than I thought.

“We’ve been trying to figure out a solid forward-line mould and we’re keen to get the likes of Leigh back because we’re still learning as a group to learn to play that different game style.

“And on an independent note, the biggest thing about adjusting to the WAFL is the bigger grounds and the different play styles, and coming from the amateurs playing against the bigger bodies and getting used to everything that comes with all that. But it has come better and quicker than I thought.”

Playing against AFL players

It’s not just the ground size and play style that Provest has had to adjust to, but he’s also had to go from playing amateur football to now playing against a whole host of AFL-listed footballers like on Sunday against the West Coast Eagles.

That was a new experience for him as well but he just felt as a team that Swans did hold up well and put themselves in a strong position to win despite the flying start that the Eagles made.

“It is much different and we knew they’d be very organised and skilful, and that we just couldn’t let them attack from the back-line because once they get up and going they’re very hard to stop,” Provest said.

“We obviously saw that in the first 15 minutes and that was a bit of an eye-opening start to the game, but we were confident with our game plan going in to not let them get on top.

“The second and third quarters felt like they were played in our hands and we just needed to hit the front, and it felt like one of those games where once you hit the front you’ll stay there.

“But they just snuck forward to pinch it from us and it’s a very tough way to go down, but there were a lot of positives to drag out of a game like that considering there was only really a 20-minute lapse that hurt us at the start.”

Not playing like a 1-4 team

Swan Districts might have won just one of five games over the opening five rounds of the season, but it has been a tough draw. Provest rightfully feels they are playing better football than that suggests.

Swans have already played the two grand final teams from last year and then lost by just a point to a vastly improved Eagles on Sunday while in between putting in a strong performance to beat West Perth.

Provest feels the energy around the club is still positive because they are doing plenty of things right and should they keep doing that, the wins are going to only naturally follow.

“The energy around the club certainly doesn’t feel like we’re 1-4 and the way we’re playing to our game plan and the KPI’s that we’re ticking doesn’t really correlate to being 1-4,” Provest said.

“That’s the message we’re sending around the club that there’s a difference between playing like you’re 1-4 or just realising some results haven’t gone your way.

“There’s a lot of confidence around the group with a few boys coming back and it looks like Jake Pasini might be back soon, hopefully Jye Chalcraft isn’t far away and things like that motivate your group.

“We know that we’re very close to turning that page to get on a good run of wins hopefully with how we’re playing.”

Settling in off the field

As well as Provest is now starting to feel right at home on the WAFL grounds and at Steel Blue Oval with Swan Districts, he and girlfriend Charlotte are adjusting to life nicely living in Perth now as well having been here for several months.

“We found a place in Scarborough and it’s a lovely place and we’re living with someone we know from back in Melbourne as well,” Provest said.

“Charlotte and I have both got into a routine now and even are just feeling a lot more comfortable at the footy and have built much stronger relationships there now.

“I guess playing footy helps with that but we’re loving Perth although the weather’s turned a little bit now. But the back end of summer was really nice and it’s good to see what the club looks like especially after a win and in-season it’s much different supporter wise.

“On and off the field has really clicked together nicely and we’re heading back to Melbourne in a couple of weeks which will be nice to get a little bit of a reset. But I’m loving it and no complaints at all.”

By Chris Pike