Round 19 Men’s Preview v Eagles

Swan Districts have never lost to the West Coast Eagles in the WAFL Men’s competition but also have never played them away from Steel Blue Oval which will happen on Saturday night.

Swan Districts will play the Eagles at Lathlain’s Mineral Resources Park with the game getting underway on Saturday evening at 5:30pm.

The Swans come into the game sitting in eighth position on the WAFL Men’s ladder with a 5-11 record but they are three games clear of the Eagles who are in last place at 2-14.

Saturday night’s game is the 12th meeting between the two teams since West Coast joined the competition in 2019 but it’s the first time that they have done battle anywhere but Steel Blue Oval.

Swan Districts have won all 11 of those previous meetings against the Eagles including by 27 points earlier this season when they locked horns at Steel Blue Oval in Round 8.

On that day, Leigh Kohlmann kicked three goals for the black-and-whites and Brad Lynch two with Jye Chalcraft also booting two goals while having 26 possessions with captain Jesse Turner amassing 36 disposals, Aidan Clarke 29, Jackson McLachlan 29 and Brenton Hilton 20.

Speaking of Turner, he is looking forward to a new experience of a night game at Lathlain against the Eagles on Saturday.

“I didn’t realise until a little while ago that we had actually played the Eagles every time at our ground and I also found out that we’re the only team that hasn’t lost to them,” Turner said.

“I think they must have got sick of giving us their home game so it will be different to play them there on Saturday night, but to be honest with the way our deck looks at the moment I’m actually quite happy we’re playing there.

“Then having Perth and Claremont playing beforehand will be a bit different but as long as it’s good weather, that will be a nice change and the boys are quite excited to play on Saturday night.”

Swan Districts will also be celebrating the 100th WAFL game of Jiah Reidy in the clash with the Eagles while there are several changes from the team that lost to Claremont last Saturday.

Seb Bright, Jacob Coniglio, Luke Cotellessa, Leon Kickett, Jackson McLachlan, Luke Taylor and Troy Yukich have all been added to the Swans squad.

Going out for Swan Districts are Brandon Erceg, Chase Loftus and Ben Hewett.

West Coast lost to East Fremantle by 17 points last Saturday with Mitch Anderson, Cooper Brown, Mitch Henderson, Connor Klemke, Shannon Lucassen, Darby McCarthy, Denholm Melrose, Andries Mercer, Max Mumme, Justin Prior and Luke Yeo added to the squad.

Going out for the Eagles are Noah Long, Bailey Williams, Jacob Newton, Malakai Champion, Tylah Williams, Jayden Hunt and Jack Williams.

Because of the Swan Districts league team taking on the Eagles, the reserves and colts both have the bye in Round 19 ahead of the final round match ups against Peel Thunder in Mandurah.

The reserves are already locked into at least fourth position and are guaranteed of playing finals in 2025 while the colts are still a chance to play finals should they beat Peel in that last game and depending on other results across the last two rounds.