Round 1 Men’s Preview v West Perth

Swan Districts put themselves one home win away from a grand final breakthrough in 2024 and now the quest to build on that begins in 2025 at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday against West Perth.

Not only did Swans return to WAFL finals action last year, but beat eventual premiers Peel in a qualifying final in Mandurah before then having a second chance to get to the grand final by taking on the Thunder again after a second semi-final loss to East Perth.

Swans played host to Peel in that preliminary final at Steel Blue Oval, but it wasn’t to be and now the black-and-whites begin the new season back on their home deck on Saturday afternoon against the Falcons with the game beginning at 2:30pm.

It will also be an emotional occasion at Steel Blue Oval with the life of a player of both clubs, Andrew Krakouer, honoured after his untimely passing over the weekend.

Krakouer became a Swan Districts hero for life in 2010 when he had one of the most dominant WAFL seasons in memory on the way to winning the Sandover Medal, and capping it off with a remarkable Simpson Medal winning performance in what remains the club’s last premiership triumph.

He would have a brief stint with West Perth in 2014 after he spent three years completing his AFL career with Collingwood following that 2010 season. It’s only fitting that his two former WAFL clubs now meet in the first game to be held since his passing.

Swan Districts were without Jesse Turner and Aidan Clarke through injury and suspension respectively in that preliminary final with Turner right to go on Saturday in his first game as official sole captain while Clarke does still remain sidelined.

There are some new faces in the Swans side as well including the returning Connor Blakely following his time in the AFL at both Fremantle and Gold Coast, and then spending last year playing cricket in England.

Troy Yukich is also returning to the club he began his career with and his first game back with Swan Districts just happens to be against the same West Perth side he played in a premiership with in 2022.

Evan Smith, Kristian Caporn, Luke Cotellessa, Brodyn Fitzgerald, Luke Taylor, Luke Kelly and Ethyn Kane are among the young players in contention to be picked to start the season in the league team as well.

There’s still a strong core of experienced players in the side as well headed up by games record holder Tony Notte along with Brad Lynch, Jarvis Pina, Jiah Reidy, Jye Chalcraft, Alex Howard, Bryce Watson, Leigh Kohlmann, Jackson McLachlan, Josh Cipro, Jehb O’Donohue, Tony Stephens and Nathan Blakely.

However, Zane Trew, Jake Pasini, Will Collins and Brandon Erceg are among the players who also won’t take on the Falcons in Round 1 on Saturday.

Andrew Pruyn is coming into his third season coaching Swan Districts and sees no reason why his team can’t pick up right where they left off last year.

“We’ve brought in Zane Trew, Connor Blakely, Troy Yukich and there’s a whole lot of boys who have returned to the footy club and we’re just trying to find the right balance to start the season,” Pruyn said.

“It’s a long season so what we do at this time of year isn’t always as important as what needs to be happening as you get towards the business end, but it is a chance to put things in place that should help you be successful by that time.”

Meanwhile, the colts fixture will begin the day’s proceedings at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday with Swan Districts taking on West Perth from 9:15am.

The Reserves contest will then follow getting underway at the Bassendean venue from 11:45am.

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