Swans WAFL Continue Strong Form in Mandurah

SWAN Districts battled hard to overcome Peel Thunder and win by eight points on Saturday in Mandurah to consolidate fourth position on the WAFL ladder ahead of the upcoming bye.

Little separated Swan Districts and Peel Thunder in Mandurah on Saturday, but Swans did enough to get over the line by eight points at David Grays Arena to further solidify themselves in a finals position.

It always shaped as a potentially season-defining game for both clubs in Mandurah on Saturday and now following the 10.7 (67) to 7.17 (59) victory, finals are now looking a reality for the first time with Adam Pickering as coach for Swan Districts.

The eight-point win improves Swans to a 5-3 record on the season and to remain in fourth position on the ladder. It has put Swans clear in the top five with a two-game gap now back to a Peel team who sits on a 3-5 record in sixth position.

Swans had the better of the start to the game in Mandurah on Saturday with eight scoring shots to four in the first term, and that saw the visitors take a 14-point advantage into the quarter-time break.

Peel was able to turn it around in the second quarter at least in terms of dominating possession and scoring opportunities.

Swans managed just one goal from their lone score in the quarter while the Thunder had nine scoring shots but only two of those were goals with Swan Districts still leading by a point by half-time.

Peel was able to kick straighter in the third quarter with four majors to three from Swan Districts and that meant the Thunder went into three quarter-time leading by five points on home turf.

Swan Districts were rewarded for their accuracy in the final term as they kicked three goals and the Thunder managed five behinds while Swans went on to score the eight-point wins to make it consecutive victories.

Lachlan Riley and Warrick Wilson kicked two goals apiece for Swan Districts while Jesse Palmer only kicked the one goal but still worked hard for nine kicks and six marks.

Frank Anderson continued his tremendous form in the midfield for Swan Districts with another 24 possessions and 11 tackles.

Jesse Turner also had 24 disposals for the black-and-whites, Sam Fisher 23 touches and eight tackles, Brandon Erceg 17 touches and four marks, Aidan Clarke 16 possessions and five marks, and Josh Cipro 16 disposals, eight tackles and six inside-50 entries.

Meanwhile down back for Swans, Nelson Waite finished with another 22 possessions and seven marks and Chris Jones finished with 16 disposals and nine marks while Corey Gault delivered another 15 touches, 36 hit outs and five marks.

It took more than 21 minutes for the first goal of the game to come and in that time both teams had managed three behinds, but that drought breaker came courtesy of Brayden Lawler for Peel.

Warrick Wilson almost immediately responded for Swan Districts and then a couple of more Swans goals from Matt Riggio and Jiah Reidy saw them lead by 14 points by quarter-time.

A pair of Stefan Giro goals for Peel to open the second quarter put the home team back within two points but Jackson Beck got a steadier for Swans to help them hold on to a one-point advantage at the major break.

Wilson kicked a quick goal less than a minute into the third term but then Lloyd Meek kicked a couple for the Thunder and the home team was up by six goals. Swan Districts immediately hit back, though, with goals to Lachlan Riley and Sam Fisher to be back up by five.

Peel would have the last say of the quarter, though, with goals to Jackson Merrett and 100-gamer Ben Howlett to be up by five points at the three quarter-time break.

Jesse Palmer's lone goal of the game then came to start the final quarter to put Swans back in front before Thomas Edwards and Riley stretched the lead further before ending up recording the eight-point victory despite the seven fewer scoring shots.

The action got underway in Mandurah on Saturday with the Reserves clash with Swan Districts prevailing over Peel Thunder 9.10 (64) to 8.8 (56).

Tim Oosterhoff kicked four goals for Swans while Brenton Hilton finished with 24 possessions, Mitchell Bain 21, Jak Watson 20, Dylan Ralph 20 and Kade Wallrodt 19 while Matthew Germs had 66 hit outs in the ruck.

The colts then played on Saturday evening after the league clash with Swan Districts beating Peel Thunder 15.6 (96) to 4.9 (33).

Tyrell Metcalf kicked five goals for Swans, Braydon Fawcett three and Luke Taylor two.

Max Chipper racked up another 35 possessions, Ayden Cartwright 27, Ben Hewett 22, Bryce Watson 21, Noah Hannan 20, Alec Clark 16, Brayden Jones 16, Taylor 16 and Lawson Humphries 16.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 9

SWAN DISTRICTS                              3.5          4.5          7.7          10.7 (67)

PEEL THUNDER                                 1.3          3.10        7.12        7.17 (59)

SWAN DISTRICTS: Goals – Riley, Wilson 2; Palmer, Fisher, Reidy, Edwards, Riggio, Beck.

Best – Anderson, Fisher, Waite, Turner, Erceg, Gault, Cipro, Jones.

PEEL THUNDER: Goals – Meek, Giro 2; Howlett, Merrett, Lawler.

Best – Merrett, Bewley, Meek, Randall, O'Driscoll, Hancock, T Bennell.