Swans Book In Finals Return

Swans book in finals return

SWAN Districts returned to Steel Blue Oval on Saturday and the 52-point victory against Peel Thunder was enough to secure a first finals appearance for the black-and-whites since 2017.

Swan Districts missed a chance the week before to lock in a finals spot and kept East Fremantle's hopes alive in the process, but another opportunity presented against a Peel team with just one Fremantle-listed player available at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

Peel was coming off a 116-point loss to South Fremantle so the chance was right there for Swan Districts to take advantage of, but to Peel's credit they fought hard until being overrun as the second half unfolded.

Swans kicked six goals to two in the final term to secure the 14.15 (99) to 7.5 (47) with the win locking away a first finals appearance for the black-and-whites since 2017, and the first under the coaching tenure of Adam Pickering.

Brayden Noble was terrific as a key target in attack for Swan Districts finishing the afternoon with three goals to go with nine kicks and eight marks. Warrick Wilson also chipped in with two goals as did midfielders Aidan Clarke and Frank Anderson.

Clarke also finished with 32 possessions, seven marks, seven inside 50s and three tackles with Anderson contributing another 30 touches, 11 tackles and five entries inside the forward 50.

Jesse Turner also racked up 29 possessions for Swan Districts, Sam Fisher 23, Jesse Palmer 20, Josh Cipro 20, Jak Watson 19 and Tony Notte 18 to go with eight marks.

Swan Districts got off to a good start and Brayden Noble was on fire in attack in the opening 10 minutes with Peel's defence quickly taken back to conceding 14 goals to South Fremantle's three tall forwards a week ago.

He took early marks and had three shots on goal in the opening 10 minutes and converted one of them into a goal. Peel did manage to reply through Brayden Lawler but Swans finished the opening quarter strongly with goals to Sam Fisher and Jak Watson.

Frank Anderson then kicked a goal early in the second quarter with Josh Cipro getting forward to do the same. Anderson added his second of the term to put Swans 34 points in front at the 14-minute mark before Peel did respond with a couple of goals through Ryan Bennell.

That saw Peel do well to at least remain competitive and to have cut the lead of Swan Districts to 24 points at half-time.

Peel threatened to even pull off what would have been a stunning upset to start the second half with goals to Jack Sears and Lachlan Cullen to put the pressure back on Swans who needed to respond knowing what was on the line for them.

Aidan Clarke and Jesse Palmer got a couple of goals back for Swans before three quarter-time to open up a 25-point advantage.

Noble kicked another goal early in the last term to extend that lead out to 30 points and by the time Jesse Turner added another by the final siren Swan Districts had opening up a 52-point winning margin.

The day began at Steel Blue Oval with Swan Districts' colts beating Peel Thunder 12.14 (86) to 7.6 (48).

Tyrell Metcalf kicked three goals for Swans, Ben Hewett two and Darcy Jones two while Max Chipper amassed 39 possessions, Noah Hannan 34, Ty Sears 24, Bryce Watson 23 and Brayden Jones 22.

Then in the reserves, Swan Districts hammered the undermanned Peel side 18.13 (121) to 2.4 (16).

Tom Edwards kicked five goals for Swans, Kade Wallrodt three, Jack Cox two, Greg Ottaviano two and Jaxon Saylor two.

Jack O'Sullivan finished with 28 possessions, Tarir Bayok 27, Mitch Bain 24 and Jehb O'Donohue 22.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 18

SWAN DISTRICTS                              3.4          6.8          8.11        14.15 (99)

PEEL THUNDER                                 1.1          3.2          5.4          7.5 (49)

SWAN DISTRICTS: Goals – Noble 3; Anderson, Clarke, Wilson 2; Palmer, Fisher, Cipro, Turner, Watson.

Best – Anderson, Clarke, Turner, Notte, Noble, Jones, Palmer, Fisher, Cipro.

PEEL THUNDER: Goals – Sears, Bennell 2; Lawler, Lake Cullen.

Best – Thorne, Randall, Bell, Sturrock, Lawler, Kitchingman, Bennell.