Round 7 Match Report

Swan Districts had to dig deep but they produced an impressive second half to beat the West Coast Eagles by 20 points on Saturday in Round 7 of the 2022 WAFL season.

Swans were at home at Steel Blue Oval to host the winless Eagles over the WA Day long weekend, but they didn’t have it all their own way and by half-time found themselves 15 points behind.

However, the black-and-whites were able to turn things around impressively after the main break to kick seven goals to two in the second half to end up prevailing 11.11 (77) to 8.9 (57).

The win improves Swan Districts to a 4-3 record on the season to be just percentage outside of the top five at the end of Round 7.

Jesse Palmer played his best game of the season for Swan Districts kicking four goals from 11 kicks and nine marks. Tom Edwards and Chris Jones also kicked two goals apiece.

Jesse Turner continued his superb form for Swans this season racking up another 33 possessions and nine marks while the emerging Aidan Clarke added 26 disposals and seven tackles.

Sandover Medallist Sam Fisher also finished with 23 possessions, Josh Cipro 22, Tobe Watson 21, Jarvis Pina 20 and Mitch Bain 19 to go with six marks, six tackles and a goal.

Swan Districts started well enough with the first two scoring shots of the game going to Chris Jones and he converted one of those into a goal.

It took until the 21-minute mark for the game's next goal and that went the way of West Coast thanks to Hugh Dixon, but Swans still led by seven points at quarter-time when Jesse Palmer kicked truly shortly before the siren.

Swans were still up by seven points early in the second term after the two teams traded goals through Josh Burke and Palmer. They then traded goals again with Burke adding a second for the Eagles and Tom Edwards kicking truly for Swan Districts.

However, Jack Eastough brought West Coast back within a point and when Josh Browne and Jack Williams also goaled heading towards half-time the Eagles were leading by 15 points and their first win of 2022 was a distinct possibility.

Swan Districts had to respond coming out of half-time and the home team was able to kick two quick goals to start the third quarter through Greg Ottaviano and Palmer.

West Coast responded through Harry Creasey, but a second of the day for Swans from Edwards had them back within a point before Jones' second of the afternoon had the black-and-whites in front by five points.

Co-captain Brandon Erceg then got forward for a rare goal to extend that Swan Districts lead which soon grew to 19 points with another to Palmer. However, West Coast stayed within touch just before three quarter-time with a goal to Jayden Johnstone.

It took until almost 25 minutes into the fourth quarter for the lone goal to be kicked after the two teams combined for six behinds. The goal went the way of Mitch Bain and Swan Districts ran out 11.11 (77) to 8.9 (57) winners.

All three grades of Swan Districts will be back in action this coming Saturday against Peel Thunder at Steel Blue Oval.