Reserves Preliminary Final Match Report

Unfortunately it’s heartbreaking nail-biting losses that has become the story of the finals in 2025 for Swan Districts with the Reserves losing Sunday’s preliminary final to East Perth by just two points.

The Reserves from Swan Districts finished the home and away season in third position before beating South Fremantle in the qualifying final and then losing to minor premiers Claremont in the second semi-final.

They still had a second opportunity to qualify for the grand final at Optus Stadium by taking on East Perth on Sunday in the preliminary final at Leederville’s Sullivan Logistics Stadium.

The wet and windy conditions meant it was always going to be a challenging game and taking your chances was going to be critical with a place in the grand final against Claremont on offer.

It took almost 12 minutes for the first goal of the game and that went the way of Swan Districts thanks to Henrick Alforque before Nathan Ireland and Luke Cotellessa also added goals in quick succession.

The Swans kicked three goals in less than four minutes to all of a sudden be leading by 16 points but that was back to just four points at quarter-time after the Royals answered back with two late goals.

Swan Districts again kicked the first goal of the second quarter thanks to Blake Kelly and Colby McDonald, Cody Ryan and Kristian Caporn also kicked truly in the term.

That saw the Swans head into the half-time break leading by 10 points and then it was a perfect start to the second half with a goal to Otis Harvey to make it a 16-point advantage.

However, East Perth hit back with the next four goals and suddenly it was the Royals leading by eight points at three quarter-time.

The weather was at its worst in the fourth quarter making life difficult and Swans did manage an early goal thanks to Tom Smith to make it a two-point ball game once more.

However, that would prove the only goal of the term and East Perth held on for the 9.10 (64) to 9.8 (62) victory to lock in their place in the Reserves grand final for 2025 against Claremont.

All nine goals for Swan Districts in the preliminary final were kicked by nine individual players while Luke Kelly finished with 22 possessions and four tackles.

Brodyn Fitzgerald also ended up with 21 disposals and five tackles with Jacob Coniglio collecting 21 touches, Connor Blakely 19, Luke Cotellessa 19, Henrick Alforque 17, Blake Kelly 17 and Chase Loftus 12.

Ruckman Troy Yukich also finished with 12 possessions and 37 hit outs for the game.