Round 20 Men’s Preview v Peel Thunder

Swan Districts’ WAFL Men’s season will once again finish against Peel Thunder and this Saturday they will be look to end the 2025 campaign on a winning note in the 100th game of Aidan Clarke.

Swan Districts and Peel met last year twice during the finals and scored a win each on the opponent’s home ground before the Thunder ended up winning the premiership.

The 2025 season hasn’t gone to plan for either team and with both out of finals contention, their final round match up this Saturday will close the door on the season when they meet at Mandurah’s Lane Group Stadium at 2:30pm.

The winner of Saturday’s game will likely end the season in sixth position as well with Swans currently sitting eighth at 6-10 with the Thunder in sixth position at 6-10 with a draw.

Unless West Perth causes an upset against East Fremantle also on Saturday, then whoever wins out of Swan Districts and Peel will claim that sixth spot to at least be the best team not to make finals in 2025.

There’s also another milestone to celebrate for Swan Districts on Saturday with the explosive and powerful Aidan Clarke to reach his 100th game on the back of Jiah Reidy reaching the same mark a week ago in the thrilling win against West Coast on Saturday night.

Emerging Swan Districts midfielder Max Chipper is hoping for a good finish to the WAFL Men’s season but he’s also excited for the WAFL Women’s grand final on Sunday as the manager of the women’s program with Swans.

“It has been a hectic week but I wouldn’t have it any other way really,” Chipper told 91.3 SportFM.

“Obviously the men’s team would like to be playing finals but unfortunately it’s our last game on the weekend.

“But then we look to Sunday in the women’s space and we’re in a grand final and I couldn’t be more excited for the group.”

Coming into the last game of the home and away season in Mandurah on Saturday, Swan Districts have named Connor Blakely, Seb Bright, Jacob Coniglio, Brandon Erceg, Ben Hewett, Chase Loftus, Brad Lynch and Troy Yukich as additions to the squad.

Going out for the Swans are Luke Taylor, Josh Cipro, Bryce Watson and Jye Chalcraft.

Peel welcomes back Will Brodie, Sean Hunter, Matthew Johnson, Josh Mathey, Darcy Petersen and Zach Trevena.

Going out for the Thunder are Brandon Walker and Oscar McDonald.

The colts contest will get the day’s action underway on Saturday morning at Lane Group Stadium starting at 9:15 with Swan Districts still a chance to play finals depending on other results.

It’s a remarkably tight colts competition and entering the last round, Claremont, West Perth, Perth and Swan Districts are all on identical 8-7 records.

To make the finals what Swan Districts needs is to not only beat the winless Peel Thunder, but to then hope that one of the Tigers, Falcons or Demons also lose.

Alternatively, there is also a chance even if both the Swans and Perth win that Swan Districts make it if they are able to make up the percentage difference.

That leads into the reserves clash between Swan Districts and Peel that gets underway at 11:45am with the black-and-whites already guaranteed of playing finals.

The Swans are currently sitting in third position in the reserves with an 8-7 record and they are locked into playing finals even before Saturday’s game against the out of contention Thunder.

However, Swan Districts does need to win to make sure of third position and to earn a finals double chance to set up a qualifying final match up against South Fremantle to open the finals.