Round 1 WAFL Men’s Match Report

Swan Districts took the challenge up to the reigning WAFL Men’s premiers South Fremantle on Good Friday at Steel Blue Oval and despite the end result, there was plenty to like to open the 2026 season.

It was a significant challenge for the Swans to start the new season hosting the reigning premiers at Steel Blue Oval on Good Friday especially with the decidedly new-look and youthful team they are bringing into 2026.

It was just a six-point margin midway through the third quarter but South Fremantle ended up finishing better for Swan Districts to end up losing the season-opening match up 16.12 (108) to 9.9 (63) despite the encouraging signs.

Jiah Reidy worked hard as a pressure forward on the day for Swan Districts to lay eight tackles and to end up kicking two goals from his 11 possessions.

Jackson McLachlan also kicked two goals for the black-and-whites to go with 22 disposals, five marks, five inside-50 entries and four tackles.

Captain Jesse Turner started the season in typically brilliant fashion racking up 38 possessions with seven tackles and a goal with Max Chipper gathering 24 disposals, Josh Cipro 24, Zane Trew 22, Jarvis Pina 20 and Brad Lynch 18.

Of the new faces, Clint Hinchliffe made his long-awaited WAFL debut and was impressive with 22 possessions and five marks while Caleb Ernst had 16 touches and 12 hit outs, Jez Rigoni 14 disposals and three tackles, Kade Chalcraft 10 possessions and a goal, and Zach Provest eight disposals and four marks.

It took just over five minutes for Trey Ruscoe to start the season for South Fremantle like he finished 2025 with a goal but Swan Districts quickly responded thanks to captain Jesse Turner.

Ed Graham then kicked truly to put South Fremantle back on top and Jordan Boullineau kicked a couple in quick succession to push the reigning premiers out to a 20-point lead before Kade Chalcraft opened his Swan Districts career with a goal.

The Bulldogs were leading by 12 points at quarter-time before Roan O’Hehir and Jackson McLachlan kicked a goal for their respective teams to open the second stanza.

Consecutive Swans goals from Jehb O’Donohue and Max Chipper had the home team back within seven points, and by half-time it was a tight contest with South Fremantle only holding the five-point advantage.

It took more than 10 minutes for a first goal of the second half which went the way of South Fremantle thanks to Ruscoe before Boullineau added another, but Swans hit right back with two quick goals from Jiah Reidy and Josh Cipro to get back within six points.

The Bulldogs again hit back leading into three quarter-time with goals to Ruscoe and Mitch Geier to hold the 19-point lead.

The game was back on to start the final quarter with a goal to McLachlan to make it a 13-point margin again, but the Bulldogs took control from there with five of the last six goals of the contest for the eventual season-opening 45-point victory.

The massive day at Good Friday got underway in the morning with the reserves match up and it was a winning start for Swan Districts with the 9.12 (66) to 5.15 (45) win against South Fremantle.

South Fremantle kicked the only two goals of the first quarter with nine scoring shots to just two, but Swan Districts hit back in the second term with the only three goals and that saw scores all level by the half-time break.

It was then two goals apiece in the third quarter with Swans leading by just one-point by three quarter-time, and then it was Swan Districts who took control in the final term with four goals to one on the way to the eventual 21-point victory.

Seb Bright kicked three goals from 15 possessions, six tackles, five marks and three entries inside the forward 50 for Swan Districts with Chayse Martinson also kicking two majors from 17 disposals and eight marks.

Luke Cotellessa racked up 36 possessions also for Swans, Tyrone Virgo 24, Ethyn Kane 23, Chase Loftus 22, Lewis Tester 22, Ayden Cartwright 21, Darcy Miller 21, Otis Harvey 20 and Blake Kelly 20.

Good Friday at Steel Blue Oval wrapped up in the evening with the colts match up and it wasn’t to be with Swan Districts with South Fremantle ending up scoring the 14.11 (95) to 10.6 (66) victory.

It was a high-scoring start to the contest with seven goals between the two teams and at quarter-time it was the Bulldogs leading the Swans by seven points.

It was another three goals to two in the second term from South Fremantle and that saw them stretch the lead over Swan Districts by 16 points.

There was another seven goals between the sides in the third quarter and it was four more from the Bulldogs to three from Swans, and that saw South Fremantle’s lead out to 26 points at three quarter-time.

South Fremantle went on to complete the job with three goals to two in the final term to end up prevailing by 29 points.

Lorenze Cole and Kishorn Stack kicked two goals each for Swan Districts with Leo Steed racking up 31 possessions, Jai Debono 18, Xavier Daniel 17, Charlie Crotty 16, Sheldon Pickett 15, Ryan Hall 15, Jake Mills 15 and Hayden Young.

Kalum Smith also finished with 11 possessions, 12 hit outs and three tackles in the ruck.