RD 16 vs. Perth: Match Report

Important Swans win over Demons

SWAN Districts started well and were in control virtually the whole way to come away with a comfortable yet important win against Perth at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

Swans were looking to bounce back from a loss the previous week at home to South Fremantle and they were back on home turf at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday to host a struggling Perth team missing a host of players through injury and on a five-game losing streak.

Swan Districts set up the eventual win by kicking four goals to one in the first quarter and the black-and-whites maintained that advantage for the majority of the rest of the afternoon.

The Demons fought hard but never seriously threatened to close the gap and Swan Districts would go on to record the 13.13 (91) to 10.7 (67) victory.

Swans not only had 26 scoring shots to just 17 from the Demons for the day, but collected 61 more possessions during the game, had 20 more hit outs, 14 extra inside-50 entries and took 107 marks to 68.

Lachlan Riley kicked two goals quickly to open the game finished with three majors for the game for Swan Districts while Brayden Noble kicked two as did Sandover Medallist Sam Fisher to go with 37 possessions in a best on ground display.

Frank Anderson made a welcome return for Swan Districts and racked up 31 disposals as well with Josh Cipro finishing with 23 touches, Anthony Stephens 22 and Jesse Turner 19.

The Swans back-line was strong again led by 18 touches and nine marks from Brandon Erceg, and Nelson Waite's 22 possessions on return from the reserves.

Swan Districts coach Adam Pickering was happy for the most part with the performance after the game to get the important four points.

"The boys were pretty good most of the day. We started the game really well and I thought we played the way we wanted to play for most of the day," Pickering said.

"There was a few periods there where Perth got hold of us and to their credit they played a style of footy that caught us off guard, and was really efficient going forward.

"So they were in the game for most of it up until the last quarter when I thought our boys were really good and all our KPIs like inside 50s and contested possessions were all up. We also hit the scoreboard and put the game to bed.

"It's another step forward for us to extend our season and that's the goal at the moment. We have to keep surviving and advancing, and playing the type of footy we know we can and hopefully we're there when the whips are cracking."

Swan Districts needed to bounce back with a win to maintain their hold on fifth position and the black-and-whites made the perfect start with two quick goals to Lachlan Riley inside the opening five minutes.

Then Tom Edwards added another at the 11-minute mark and two minutes later Matt Riggio kicked truly too and suddenly Swans had opened up a commanding 24-point lead, which was still at 20 by quarter-time after Perth did managed one of their own thanks to Kristian Cary.

Perth was working its way back into the contest, though, and the opening two goals of the second term to Clayton Giblett and Cary saw them right back in the game just eight points behind.

Swan Districts was able to answer thanks to Chris Jones but Perth got right back within nine points thanks to Giblett again. Riley then managed his third goal of the first half to ensure Swans held a handy 15-point lead by the half-time break.

Jiah Reidy then extended the lead for Swans to 21 points with a goal to open the second half but Perth responded immediately courtesy of Cary with his third to keep the Demons with 15 points.

Jesse Palmer kicked his first for Swans of the midway through the third quarter and when Sam Fisher added another it was out to a game-high 30-point advantage before Perth kept in touch with the last two goals of the third term.

Swan Districts ensured there would be no Perth comeback with an early final quarter goal for Brayden Noble and from there it was three goals apiece the rest of the way with Swans going on to win by 24 points.

Earlier in the day at Steel Blue Oval, Swan Districts colts proved too good for Perth winning 15.14 (104) to 4.1 (25).

Ethyn Kane and Braydon Fawcett kicked three goals for Swans and Adam Brock two while Ben Hewett amassed 32 disposals, Noah Hannan 32, Darcy Jones 26, Mel Watson 24, Elijah Hewett 23 and Lawson Humphries 23.

And in the reserves, Swan Districts also had a good win beating Perth 7.15 (57) to 5.2 (32).

Jaxon Saylor, Jack O'Sullivan and Kade Wallrodt kicked two goals each with Jake Dugan finishing with 27 touches, Tarir Bayok 23, Callum Garcia 23, Jacob Sideris 22, Mitch Bain 21 and Jehb O'Donohue 20.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 16

SWAN DISTRICTS                              4.4          6.9          9.13        13.13 (91)

PERTH                                                   1.2          4.6          7.6          10.7 (67)

SWAN DISTRICTS: Goals – Riley 3; Fisher, Noble 2; Palmer, Ireland Reidy, Edwards, Riggio, Jones.

Best – Fisher, Anderson, Riley, Cipro, Stephens, Erceg, Turner.

PERTH: Goals – Cary 4; Giblett 3; Byrne 2; Davis.

Best – Byrne, Davis, Cary, Reid, Sinclair, Fisher.