Round 17 vs. East Fremantle

Swans just fall short at Shark Park

Swan Districts almost pulled off what would have been an impressive comeback victory on Saturday that would have guaranteed a finals appearance for 2021 but it wasn’t quite to be against East Fremantle.

Swan Districts went to East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park on Saturday with a chance to lock away a finals position for sure in 2021 and to put East Fremantle out of the hunt, but the Sharks would have none of it.

Traditionally East Fremantle Oval has always been the toughest ground to play at if the wind is playing up, and it was certainly a cold and windy winter's afternoon on Saturday and it was the Sharks who handled their home venue the better.

East Fremantle kicked the only two goals of the first quarter and the first five goals of the match to set up the victory. Swan Districts did fight back and scores were even tied during time-on of the fourth quarter.

At that point, Swans had the momentum and it did appear the black-and-whites were going to pull out the comeback victory, but it wasn’t to be.

Jonathon Marsh kicked the last goal of the game to ensure the 7.4 (46) to 5.9 (39) victory for East Fremantle that keeps the race for fifth position alive still.

The result means that Swan Districts is still relatively comfortable in fifth position at 8-6 with a percentage of 105.3, but not quite secure of a finals appearance with East Fremantle sixth at 5-9 with a percentage of 92.9.

Both teams have four games over the final five rounds remaining this season.

Swan Districts' goals came courtesy of Jesse Palmer, Sam Fisher, Brayden Noble, Jesse Turner and Warrick Wilson.

Sam Fisher continued his strong form in the midfield for Swan Districts with another 27 possessions and seven inside-50 entries while Jesse Turner had 26 disposals and Frank Anderson 25 touches to go with eight tackles.

Josh Cipro collected 18 possessions as well for the black-and-whites, Jak Watson 18, Lewis Jetta 15 and Aidan Clarke 15 to go with seven tackles, five marks and three inside 50s.

The job might have appeared ahead of East Fremantle coming into the game, but the Sharks quickly showed they would be able to handle the challenging conditions on their home ground the better.

They kicked the first goal of the game thanks to Michael Tassone even though it did take 14 minutes for them to do so. The Sharks added another just before quarter-time through Tim Bockman to be up 13 points at the first break.

Jonathon Marsh kicked East Fremantle further in front with a quick goal to start the second term. And then at the four-minute mark Luke English added another and then five minutes later Dillon O'Reilly did the same.

All of a sudden East Fremantle had five goals on the board and Swan Districts had managed just the one behind midway through the second term.

The black-and-whites eventually scored a goal through Sam Fisher but that would be their only one of the half with East Fremantle in control by 20 points by half-time.

Swan Districts gave themselves a real sniff in the third quarter though. Swans had the only scoring shots of the quarter and that included two goals to Jesse Palmer and Warrick Wilson.

By holding East Fremantle scoreless, Swans had got themselves back within seven points by three quarter-time.

East Fremantle big man Luke Strnadica returned the Sharks to a 13-point lead to start the second term but Swan Districts wasn’t done with yet. The visitors kicked the next two goals through Brayden Noble and Jesse Turner to make it a one-point game.

Wilson then kicked a behind to draw scores level and the thrilling finish was set up with six minutes eventually left to go.

It would be Marsh who became the hero for East Fremantle with his second goal of the game at the 28-minute mark and the Sharks held on to win 7.4 (46) to 5.9 (39) to keep whatever slim finals hopes they have just alive still.

The day started off with a win in the colts for Swan Districts, beating East Fremantle 12.6 (78) to 2.8 (20).

Ayden Cartwright was brilliant kicking three goals to go with 27 possessions with Tyrell Metcalf also kicking three goals. Noah Hannan also had 30 disposals, Ben Hewett 26, Lawson Humphries 22, Antonio Dadaliaris 19 and Darcy Jones 19.

And in the reserves against East Fremantle, Swan Districts also prevailed 8.12 (60) to 6.6 (42) with Kade Wallrodt, Greg Ottaviano and Callum Garcia all kicking two goals.

Tarir Bayok gathered 22 possessions, Callum Garcia 22, Jacob Sideris 21, Dylan Ralph 21, Jehb O'Donohue 19 and Patrick Italiano 18.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 17

SWAN DISTRICTS                              0.1          1.6          3.7          5.9 (39)

EAST FREMANTLE                            2.2          5.2          5.2          7.4 (46)

SWAN DISTRICTS: Goals – Palmer, Fisher, Noble, Turner, Wilson.

Best – Anderson, Turner, Fisher, Cipro, Clarke, Watson.

EAST FREMANTLE: Goals – Marsh 2; Strnadica, Bockman, O'Reilly, English, Tassone.

Best – English, Strnadica, Jupp, Tassone, Eardley, Baskerville, Bennett, Burton.