Swans Finish Strongly To Beat Thunder

SWAN Districts closed in on third position in the WAFL with a tremendous last quarter and-a-half to come from behind and beat Peel Thunder by 16 points at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

It was never going to be a high-scoring affair considering the two teams are the lowest two scoring clubs in the competition aside from the bottom two out of contention teams with the wet conditions on Saturday only serving to highlight that.

What that meant was that a 19-point lead for Peel during the third quarter threatened to be a match-winning advantage.

But Swan Districts responded strongly and impressively to take control either side of three quarter-time to turn the contest around and set up the eventual 11.6 (72) to 8.8 (56) victory over last year's premiers.

It was a vastly more efficient Swan Districts team than Peel on the day and without doubt the game style of the home team was better suited to the wet conditions.

Peel ended up having 77 more possessions, 22 more marks and 15 more hit outs, but that didn’t translate into attacks forward. Swans had 12 more inside-50 entries than the Thunder and ultimately one more scoring shot and won by 16 points.

It is an important win in the context of the season for Swan Districts as well. It improves the black-and-whites to a 10-6 record to only be percentage behind the 10-7 Peel but Swans have a game in hand.

That heats up the battle over third spot and a finals doubles chance. Swans' season finishes against Subiaco, East Perth, Claremont and East Perth. Peel finishes with a bye this week and then games with Perth, East Fremantle and South Fremantle.

Swan Districts' small forwards again played a big role in the eventual victory with Jamie Bennell finishing with two goals from 14 possessions, Todd Banfield two goals from 12 disposals and seven tackles, and Taryce Stewart two goals.

Ricky Cary also did well to kick two goals from 14 disposals and nine marks despite the wet weather. Warrick Wilson was lively across half-forward and the wing for 18 possessions, five marks and a goal.

Matt Riggio enjoyed the day out against his original WAFL club with a team-high 29 possessions, six marks and five inside-50 entries. Adam Faulkner also had 20 disposals, Jesse Turner 20, Ryan Crowley 17 and Jackson Slater 16 to go with four inside 50s and a goal.

Corey Gault battled hard in the ruck against Jonathon Griffin while down back Swans' back-line was tremendous led by Alex Howard, Kirk Ugle, Tony Notte, Laurence Grescos and Mitch Mackenzie.

Swans had the opening two scoring shots of the game with the second being a major to Banfield before Peel responded through Fremantle defender Zac Dawson.

Blair Bell soon added another as the Thunder took the lead, but Swans regained the advantage by a point at quarter-time thanks to a goal to Cary.

Bell booted his second to start the second term to put the Thunder back in front by five points but the black-and-whites soon regained the advantage when Brayden Noble kicked truly.

But the Thunder had the last laugh of the first half with a goal to Brayden Lawler and the reigning premiers were up by four points at the main break.

Peel then appeared on its way to building a match-winning lead to start the third quarter with goals to Danyle Pearce and Josh Deluca as they opened a game-high lead of 19 points before Swans got a steadying goal through Slater.

Stewart and Cary then kicked important goals for Swans as well as did Bennell following Bell's third for Peel and that was enough to bring the black-and-whites to within just two points at the last change.

By 12 minutes into the last quarter, goals to Wilson, Banfield and Stewart had seen Swans build a match-winning lead of 17 points by the 17-minute mark.

Peel got one goal back through Dawson but it was Swans who kicked the last of the game through Jamie Bennell as the home side went on to win by 16 points to close in on the Thunder's third position.

Swan Districts started the day at Steel Blue Oval with a thrilling 8.6 (54) to 7.9 (51) victory over Peel Thunder despite a goalless last quarter.

Jarred Cameron kicked two goals for Swans while Lochie Huntley gathered 26 possessions, Greg Humphries 19, Callum Garcia 16, Jack O'Sullivan 15 and Denholm Melrose 15.

Oskar Matthews also finished with 12 possessions, four marks and 32 hit outs in the ruck.

Swan Districts reserves also scored a win over Peel Thunder at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday, prevailing 8.13 (61) to 5.1 (31).

Jesse Manton responded to his demotion from the league side with 29 possessions and two goals for Swans while Ethan Maguire picked up 32 disposals, seven tackles and a goal.

Freddie Clutterbuck returned from injury with 21 possessions and a goal with Troy Yukich dominating in the ruck with 58 hit outs.

Swans now have the task of trying to end Subiaco's 16-game winning streak at Leederville Oval on Saturday with the reward to be moving into third position on the ladder with Peel having the bye in Round 20.

SWAN DISTRICTS  2.2 3.3 7.4 11.6 (72)
PEEL THUNDER   2.1 4.1 7.6 8.8 (56)

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Cary, Stewart, Banfield, Bennell 2; Slater, Noble, Wilson.
Best: Riggio, Wilson, Banfield, Cary, Turner, Faulkner, Bennell, Stewart.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Bell 3; Dawson 2; Lawler, Pearce, Deluca.
Best: O'Brien, Griffin, Walsh, Naughton, Collins, Ugle, Matthews.

By Chris Pike.