Swans Salute on Day of Celebration

Swan Districts produced one of their strongest performances of the season to beat East Perth by 41 points on Saturday in celebration of the historic 1961 premiership team.

Decked out in replica uniforms to celebrate the 60-year anniversary of their first ever premiership team in 1961, Swan Districts put together one of their best performances of the 2021 WAFL season on Saturday against an in-form Royals team.

East Perth might have been just short of staying in the finals race but had won five of their previous seven games coming into Saturday's trip to Steel Blue Oval.

That meant that Swans were always going to have to play well to overcome them at Bassendean on Saturday to get their 10th win of the season and to keep their hopes alive of still finishing higher up than fifth position heading into the finals.

It was a tremendous performance all over the field in the end from Swan Districts to record the 14.11 (95) to 8.6 (54) win and officially lock away a finals return with no mathematical possibility of now missing out in any way.

Aidan Clarke produced a standout performance for Swan Districts to continue his career breakout season by kicking four goals to go with 19 possessions and eight tackles.

Brayden Noble also kicked three goals to continue his purple patch of form while Nathan Ireland and Warrick Wilson added two goals apiece for the black-and-whites.

Jesse Turner was outstanding out on the wing and through the middle for Swan Districts throughout the day finishing with 28 possessions, 12 marks and six entries inside the forward 50.

It was the Swan Districts defenders who were the true stars of the day with them repelling the majority of the 33 entries inside-50 from East Perth.

Brandon Erceg took seven marks to go with 20 possessions, Tony Notte 19 touches and eight marks, Alex Howard 16 disposals and eight marks, and Chris Jones 16 possessions and 10 marks.

Josh Cipro also gathered 19 disposals for Swans, Frank Anderson 17 and Sam Fisher 16.

Ben McGuire made the most of his opportunities in attack for East Perth upon his recall to the league side by kicking three goals from three kicks for the afternoon. Stan Wright also returned for the Royals and kicked two goals from seven kicks.

East Perth's wingmen Rohan Kerr (32 possessions, 10 marks) and Angus Scott (32 touches) had impressive afternoons while Angus Schumacher collected 23 disposals, Nathan Blee 21, Aidan Lynch 21, Kye Willcocks 19 and Harley Sparks 19.

East Perth came into the clash on an impressive run of form including having upset the finals bound Claremont and South Fremantle in recent times, but it was Swan Districts who got off to a fast start on Saturday at Steel Blue Oval.

Aidan Clarke and Jesse Palmer both kicked goals inside the game's first five minutes for the black-and-whites before Brayden Noble kicked two goals in the space of three minutes just before time-on.

That saw Swans lead by 24 points already and that soon became 30 points with a goal to Nathan Ireland and 36 with a second major of the opening quarter to Clarke.

East Perth's lone goal of the opening quarter didn’t come until the 28-minute mark of the opening term thanks to Angus Schumacher.

The Royals then managed the first goal of the second term too through ruckman Scott Jones before Warrick Wilson kicked truly and put Swan Districts back on top to the tune of 31 points.

Swans were still in control by half-time leading the Royals by 33 points.

If East Perth had any hopes of a fightback, that was quickly snuffed out to start the second half when Noble kicked his third quarter. However, the Royals did kick the next couple of goals courtesy of Ben McGuire and Stan Wright.

Swans continued to have the answers, though, and Clarke kicked a third goal to keep them in control and still leading by 27 points at three quarter-time.

East Perth did put a scare into Swans midway through the fourth term after goals to McGuire and Shayne Hille to make it an 18-point ball game.

However, Swans continued to have the answers and kicked the final four goals of the contest including one just before the siren to Sam Fisher and secure the impressive 41-point victory.

The day began at Steel Blue Oval with an 11.9 (75) to 5.11 (41) colts victory for Swan Districts against East Perth.

Ben Hewett, Kaedyn McPartlan, Tyrell Metcalf, Darcy Jones and Riley Hardeman all kicked two goals each in the win for Swan Districts while Max Chipper racked up 35 possessions, Jones 25, Noah Hannan 24, Hewett 23 and Bryce Watson 16.

Then in the reserves, it was East Perth beating Swan Districts in a thriller 7.18 (60) to 7.14 (56).

Tom Edwards kicked two goals for Swans with Jacob Sideris collecting 31 possessions, Jack O'Sullivan 25, Nelson Waite 24, Callum Garcia 22, Jehb O'Donohue 22, Brenton Hilton 20 and Dylan Raph 19.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 19

SWAN DISTRICTS                              6.2          8.6          10.8        14.11 (95)

EAST PERTH                                       1.2          3.3          6.5          8.6 (54)

SWAN DISTRICTS: Goals – Clarke; Noble 3; Ireland, Wilson 2; Palmer, Fisher, Riggio.

Best – Turner, Erceg, Clarke, Notte, Noble, Howard, Jones.

EAST PERTH: Goals – McGuire 3; Wright 2; Schumacher, Hille, Jones.

Best – Kerr, Scott, Blee, Lynch, Schumacher, Willcocks, Sparks.