Round 20 WAFL Men’s Match Report

Swan Districts finished the WAFL Men’s season on a winning note with Caleb Ernst kicking five goals and captain Jesse Turner having 41 possessions in a 25-point win against East Fremantle.

Both teams were playing for pride in the last game of the home and away season at The Good Grocer Park on Saturday with the added bonus of finishing above the other as well with a win.

Swan Districts made a fast start and then remained in control of the contest the rest of the afternoon on the way to the 15.11 (101) to 11.10 (76) victory.

The win sees the Swans finish the season with a 6-12 record in eighth position on the ladder.

The signs were bright in the performance for the future at Swan Districts including Caleb Ernst kicking five goals from his seven kicks and five marks.

Otis Harvey also chimed in with three goals, Jiah Reidy two, Leigh Kohlmann two and Luke Kelly two along with 23 possessions and 11 marks.

Captain Jesse Turner racked up 41 possessions, Clint Hinchliffe 26, Jarvis Pina 25, Bryce Watson 21, Leo Steed 21, Ethyn Kane 19, Brandon Erceg 19 (14 marks) and Josh Cipro 18 while Lucas Impey had 43 hit outs in the ruck.

It was the last game of the season for both teams no matter the result and Swan Districts had the better of the start with an early goal to Caleb Ernst and then the second that was from Luke Kelly.

Swans then closed the first quarter with goals also to Otis Harvey, Jiah Reidy and a second to Ernst to be on top by 21 points at quarter-time.

Harvey added a second in the second term and Ernst a third before Ayden Cartwright also kicked truly to push the lead out to 30 points and it was still 23 by half-time.

Ernst continued his day out with a fourth goal to start the second half and added a fifth as well before Leigh Kohlmann got in on the act and Reidy added a second before three quarter-time with Swans going into that final change with the 31-point edge.

Kohlmann also kicked his second in the last term and Swan Districts finished the season on a positive note with the 25-point victory.

The Colts clash got things underway at The Good Grocer Park on Saturday morning and it wasn’t the finish to the season Swan Districts were hoping for with the 20.13 (133) to 2.3 (15) victory for East Fremantle.

The Sharks kept the Swans scoreless in the first quarter while kicking six goals themselves and then added another five goals to just one behind in the second term to go into the half-time break leading already by 73 points.

Swan Districts did manage a goal each in the third and fourth quarters, but East Fremantle still added another nine goals themselves for the 118-point victory with Swans finishing the season in sixth position with a 6-10 record.

Charlie Crotty finished with 23 possessions for the Swans, Kobi Lange 18, Lucas Barry 15, Ethan Wulf 14, Alon Berman 13, Bernard Edmondson 13 and Xavier Daniel 13.

That led into the Reserves match up where despite being inaccurate Swan Districts had a strong 10.21 (81) to 8.4 (52) victory against East Fremantle.

The Sharks were on home turf and came out of the blocks with a scorching start with five goals to two in the first quarter but the Swans did steady with two goals to one in the second term to close the deficit to four points by half-time.

Swan Districts took control from there with four goals to one in the third term and two to one in the last to end up winning by 29 points while having 31 scoring shots to 12, and 52 inside-50 entries to 27.

Swans had already guaranteed the minor premiership in the Reserves and finish the season at 14-2 two games clear and now have the first week of the finals off awaiting their second semi-final opponent.

Tyrone Virgo finished with 31 possessions, Henrick Alforque 26, Dylan Matson 25, Lucas Andrews 24, Cooper Rullo 24 and Kristian Caporn 22 to go with 20 hit outs.