Round 3 Men’s Match Report v South Fremantle

Swan Districts stormed home to get back within under a goal late against South Fremantle but it wasn’t quite to be on Easter Saturday on the road to the Bulldogs.

Swans headed to Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday looking for a first win of the season against the undefeated South Fremantle, and the black-and-whites almost pulled off a stirring fightback.

South Fremantle did lead by 34 points in the third quarter but Swans stormed back and were within five points in the dying minutes, but couldn’t quite get that game changing goal with the Bulldogs winning 11.3 (69) to 8.10 (58).

Ben Hewett and Evan Smith kicked two goals each on the day for Swan Districts with both of them kicking their pair of goals in quick bursts at crucial times.

Jye Chalcraft put in a power of work once more in the midfield for Swans finishing with 29 possessions and seven tackles with Josh Cipro picking up 24 disposals to go with eight inside 50s and a goal.

Captain Jesse Turner gathered another 23 possessions, Brad Lynch 22, Jackson McLachlan 18, Bryce Watson 17 and Lewis Tester 17.

It took over seven minutes for the first score of the game and that was a goal the way of Swan Districts thanks to prime on-baller Josh Cipro.

Swans then had the first two goals of the contest when spearhead Leigh Kohlmann kicked truly, then South Fremantle responded with two goals in less than two minutes to Trey Ruscoe.

Matthew Parker and Chase Bourne then got in on the act for the Bulldogs before Ruscoe added a third in the space of 14 minutes for the home team, heading into the quarter-time break leading by 19 points.

It took more than 14 minutes again for a goal to come to either side in the second quarter but it went the way of South Fremantle from Isiah Winder, with the lead getting out to 25 points for the home side.

Swans had to respond and did kick the only other goal of the quarter thanks to captain Jesse Turner to cut the South Fremantle lead at half-time to 17 points.

South Fremantle made a flying start to the second half starting with an early goal to Aaron Drage before Ruscoe kicked his fourth of the afternoon and then Solomon James made his mark to push the lead out to 34 points.

Swan Districts responded thanks to the returning Aidan Clarke, keeping Swan in touch to be down by 23 points at three quarter-time.

Swans got right back into the contest with the first two goals of the last term as well courtesy of Ben Hewett, before Ruscoe steadied South Fremantle with his fifth major of the afternoon.

Swans weren’t going away, though, and two quick goals from emerging big man Evan Smith was his biggest impact so far at league level and suddenly it was a six-point ball game.

Swan Districts kept on attacking and games record holder Tony Notte had a shot from 50m that sailed wide. Eventually the Bulldogs sealed the 11-point win with a mark deep in attack from James and he kicked his second.

First up on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval was the Colts contest where South Fremantle did beat Swan Districts 17.7 (109) to 3.8 (26).

Leon Kickett kicked two of the three goals in the game for Swans to go with 14 possessions, five tackles, four marks and three inside-50 entries.

Blake Kelly finished with 23 possessions for the black-and-whites, Soren Feast, Tom Oliver 17, Leo Steed 17, Cooper Rullo 16 and Liam Hrabar 15 while McCartney Murdoch 10 to go with 28 hit outs and five tackles.

Next up was the Reserves match up and that turned out to be a win for Swan Districts as they beat South Fremantle 10.13 (73) to 9.10 (64).

Swans dominated the first half with three goals to two in the first quarter and then four to nil in the second term to head into the half-time break leading by 29 points.

However, the Bulldogs kicked the only five goals of the third quarter but Swans hit back once more with three goals to two in the last stanza on the way to the nine-point victory.

Kristian Caporn kicked three goals in the win for the Swan Districts reserves with Lewis Zolnier-Owens also kicking two as did Otis Harvey to go with 27 possessions, 10 tackles and six inside-50 entries.

Ayden Cartwright racked up 32 possessions, Brenton Hilton 28, Brodyn Fitzgerald 27, Luke Cotellessa 27, Ethyn Kane 19, Lucas Andrews 19, Jett O’Rourke, Cody Ryan 15 and ruckman Tom Smith 15 along with 55 hit outs and a goal.