Round 1 Men’s Match Report v West Perth

Swan Districts didn’t quite get the win it was after to open the WAFL season at home to West Perth on Saturday but it wasn’t without a 44-possession haul from Jesse Turner and four goals to Leigh Kohlmann.

There are great expectations on Swan Districts coming into the 2025 season on the back of reaching the preliminary final last year, but West Perth were also out to make a statement and came away with the 16.7 (103) to 8.7 (55) win at Steel Blue Oval.

While Swans did welcome Connor Blakely and debutant Brodyn Fitzgerald into the team, they were without Aidan Clarke, Zane Trew, Will Collins, Jake Pasini and Brandon Erceg.

Leigh Kohlmann kicked all four of the Swan Districts goals in the first half and all four of his kicks for the game ended in goals, while Ben Hewett was also lively in attack kicking two to go with 16 possessions and five tackles.

Captain Jesse Turner made a blistering start to the new season with 44 possessions, nine inside-50 entries and six marks while Josh Cipro had 27 disposals, Jye Chalcraft 23, Jehb O’Donohue 20, Tony Notte 20, Jarvis Pina 19, Connor Blakely 19 and Nathan Blakely 18 along with 18 hit outs.

Kicking into the breeze in the first quarter was always going to be a challenge for Swans and the Falcons did take advantage with the game’s first two goals before the home team got on the board courtesy of spearhead Leigh Kohlmann.

The Falcons went on to kick another four goals before quarter-time to be leading by 31 points and they also managed the first goal of the second term but then Swans worked back into the contest.

It started with two goals in two minutes to Kohlmann and then he added another just before half-time to give him all four of Swans’ goals and they had cut the West Perth lead to 16 points by the main break.

West Perth managed to take advantage of the breeze again in the third quarter by kicking six goals to just the one from Swans which came from Evan Smith.

The black-and-whites had plenty of work to do down 47 points at three quarter-time and despite two quick goals to open the last stanza from Bryce Watson and Ben Hewett, it wasn’t to be with West Perth kicking three of the last four goals of the game to win by 48 points.

Meanwhile, the day’s action got underway on Saturday at Steel Blue Oval with the Colts contest which saw Swan Districts prevail 11.5 (71) to 4.10 (34) against West Perth.

Swans had the advantage of the breeze in the first quarter and took full advantage with five goals to nil in the first quarter, and then held West Perth to just one goal in the second term to be leading by 22 points at half-time.

It was another six goals to three in the second half with Swan Districts prevailing by 37 points with Cooper Shord kicking four goals, Tylah Williams two and Cooper Dudfield two.

Blake Kelly was tremendous racking up 31 possessions for the black-and-whites with Soren Feast gathering 25 touches, Tom Oliver 25, Liam Hrabar 22 and Ezekiel Hewett 18.

Then in the reserves match up, it was Swan Districts also prevailing over West Perth with a remarkably similar scoreline 10.15 (75) to 4.10 (34).

Again Swans had the better of the start with the wind behind them to kick four goals to nil in the first quarter before still leading by 12 points at half-time, 30 at three quarter-time and ending up winning by 41.

Henrick Alforque kicked four goals in the win while Kristian Caporn added three and Lewis Zolnier-Owens two.

Ethyn Kane racked up 34 possessions, Lucas Andrews 31, Chayse Martinson 31, Otis Harvey 29, Victorian recruit Chase Loftus 26, Luke Cotellessa 23 and Mitch Roche 21 while Troy Yukich had 14 to go with 18 hit outs in the ruck.