Round 8 Match Report

Swan Districts stuck to the task and came from behind to deliver an impressive victory at home to Peel Thunder on Saturday to return to the WAFL's top five as a result.

Peel was on top most of the afternoon at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval on Saturday and led by as much as 22 points, and still by 14 midway through the fourth term.
However, Swan Districts refused to be denied in front of their vocal home fans and with Chris Jones kicking the last two games of the contest to give him five for day, they snatched the 12.6 (78) to 11.8 (74).

The result means Swan Districts improves to 5-3 on the season to replace the now 4-4 Peel in fifth position in the WAFL ladder after Round 8.

The move of Chris Jones forward this season has been a masterstroke by Swan Districts coach Adam Pickering and he turned match winner on Saturday. Not only did he kick the last two goals of the game to win it for Swans, but had five for the afternoon from 10 kicks and seven marks.

Swan Districts' co-captain Jesse Turner continued his brilliant form this season by having 40 possessions for the first time in his 109-game career to go with eight tackles, four marks and four entries inside the forward 50.

Sam Fisher also finished with 27 disposals and two goals while Aidan Clarke gathered 27 touches, Josh Cipro 22, Tobe Watson 20, Ryan Kemp 19 and Lachlan Riley 17.

Peel started well away from home with the game's first goal courtesy of second-gamer Guy Barnes. Swan Districts hit back soon after through Lachlan Riley but the teams continued to trade goals.

Majors to Sam Fisher and Sebit Kuek saw Peel hold a narrow four-point lead heading into the quarter-time huddles.

Blair Bell then extended the Thunder lead with the first goal of the second quarter and just before time-on, Sam Sturt pushed the Peel advantage out to 20 points, but Swans got one crucial goal back just before half-time thanks to Chris Jones.

However, Peel's lead got to a game-high 21 points to start the second half with a goal to Ben Middleton. While Swans did get a goal back through Nathan Ireland, Peel remained on top and set a new biggest margin at 22 points with Barnes adding another for the visitors.

The onus was on the Swans to respond and they did so in impressive fashion with three quick goals to Ryan Kemp, Seb Bright and Jones, but the Thunder remained nine points to the good at the three quarter-time thanks to a third goal to Barnes just before the siren.

Peel was back out to a 14-point lead when Liam Henry kicked truly at the 10-minute mark of the final term as well, but Swan Districts weren’t about to lie down.

Palmer brought the deficit back to seven points and Fisher one point, but again Sturt provided a steadier for the Thunder.

However, Swans weren’t done and two goals to Jones in the space of less than two minutes to give him five for the afternoon put the home team in front and they went on to win 12.6 (78) to 11.8 (74).

Swan Districts started the day at Steel Blue Oval with the colts narrowly going down to Peel Thunder 9.7 (61) to 8.5 (53).

Liam Garcia, Braydon Fawcett and Tom Smith all kicked two goals each for Swan Districts with Jack Saunders gathering 21 touches, Angus Laurisson 21 and Smith 14 to go with 17 hit outs in the ruck.

The Swans reserves also went down to Peel in the end 10.9 (69) to 5.13 (43).

There were several players to impress, however, for the black-and-whites with Max Chipper gathering 26 touches, Hudson Babich 26, Noah Hannan 26, Brenton Hilton 25, Tarir Bayok 21 and Eric Bashemule 17.

Swan Districts now heads to Joondalup's Pentanet Stadium to take on West Perth this Saturday.