Swans back fourth with win over Sharks

SWAN Districts put together a tremendous performance to be on top all day against East Fremantle with the 44-point win returning them to fourth position on the WAFL ladder.

Swan Districts are back inside the WAFL's top five on the back of a dominant performance most of the afternoon to beat East Fremantle by 44 points at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

Swans were determined to bounce back from a couple of losses to West Perth and Subiaco despite still being competitive after a strong start to the season, and they were in control pretty much all the way against the Sharks on home turf on Saturday.

The eventual 16.9 (105) to 8.13 (61) victory was an impressive one for Swans to improve them to a 4-3 record on the season to sit in fourth position while the Sharks drop out of the top five at 3-4 ahead of hosting the reigning premiers South Fremantle in the WA Day Foundation Derby.

Jesse Palmer kicked another three goals for Swan Districts from seven kicks, four marks and three tackles while Aidan Clarke, Lachlan Riley, Thomas Edwards and Brayden Noble all kicked two goals apiece.

Frank Anderson continued his standout season in the middle for Swan Districts with 26 possessions, six marks, five tackles and a goal.

Josh Cipro gathered another 22 disposals for the black-and-whites, Jackson Beck 22, Nelson Waite 21, Jiah Reidy 20, Tony Notte 20, Jesse Turner 20 and ruckman Corey Gault 19 to go with 36 hit outs.

Anthony Stephens came into the Swans team too and he did a strong job running with former Swan Districts wingman Blaine Boekhorst, holding him to 14 possessions while having 14 himself.

East Fremantle was able to start well enough away from home with the game's first three scoring shots and the opening goal from Tim Bockman.

But Swan Districts soon steadied and kicked their own couple of goals before quarter-time through Thomas Edwards and Jesse Palmer to lead by the five points.

Brayden Noble then extended the lead for Swans to 11 points a minute into the second quarter with a goal before Sam Fisher and Jesse Palmer joined as well. When Palmer added a second, suddenly Swans were in control by 28 points but they weren’t done yet.

Goals to Edwards, Lachlan Riley, Warrick Wilson and Matt Riggio extended the lead for the black-and-whites to 45 points and it was 39 still by the half-time break.

East Fremantle tried to mount a fightback in the third quarter but every time they appeared to be building some momentum, Swan Districts had the answers and late goals before three quarter-time to Riley and Aidan Clarke ensured Swans were still in control by 33 points.

Another three goals to one in the last quarter from Swan Districts ensured they cruised to the 44-point win at home to return to the top five following a couple of tough losses.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 8

SWAN DISTRICTS        2.2    10.3    13.6    16.9 (105)

EAST FREMANTLE        1.3    3.6    7.9    8.13 (61)

SWAN DISTRICTS: Goals – Palmer 3; Clarke, Riley, Edwards, Noble 2; Anderson, Fisher, Reidy, Riggio, Wilson.

Best – Anderson, Gault, Cipro, Beck, Palmer, Notte, Clarke.

EAST FREMANTLE: Goals – Kommer 2; Bennett, Strnadica, Burton, Bockman, O'Reilly, English.

Best – Eardley, Strnadica, Snadden, Kommer, Marsh.