Match Report: NAIDOC Round

Swan Districts had to dig deep in tough conditions at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday, but they did exactly that with a dominant second half to beat Perth by 17 points to consolidate their spot in the top five.

Swans played host to the Demons as part of NAIDOC Week in the WAFL and on a big day for the club including the unveiling of the Aboriginal mural at the entrance to Steel Blue Oval, the first half didn’t quite go to plan.

Perth was on a mission to snap their six-game losing streak and played well in the opening half to kick six goals to two in the first half and to lead by as much 27 points.

Swans had to take stock and come up with a way to hit back at half-time and it worked as they went on to kick seven goals to one in the second half to end up winning 9.11 (65) to 7.6 (48).

Swan Districts came into the game without Sandover Medallist Sam Fisher and leading goalkicker Chris Jones while usual key players Jesse Turner and Jesse Palmer were down with ruckman Matthew Germs picking up a leg injury.

However, Swans still found a way to dominate after half-time with Tom Edwards kicking four goals from 15 touches. Ryan Kemp was the other multiple goalscorer with two.

Aidan Clarke stepped up in the midfield for Swans with 30 possessions and eight tackles with Tobe Watson superb with 27 touches and 11 tackles. Josh Cipro also had 23 disposals, Jarvis Pina 22, Brenton Hilton 21, Tony Stephens 19 and Tarir Bayok 18.

It was former Swan Denzel More who gave Perth the perfect start to the game with a goal inside two minutes and even though the rain hadn't fully yet arrived, it took 23 more minutes for the next goal of the contest and that went to Swans courtesy of Tom Edwards.

However, Sam Stubbs responded in the jumper he designed to give Perth the four-point edge by quarter-time.

Stubbs then kicked his second goal to give the Demons the perfect start to the second term and when Sam Perkusich kicked truly, the margin was out to 15 points and a drought breaking win for Perth was right on the cards.

That was even more so the case with a goal to Brodie Gray to push the lead out to 20 points, and it was 27 points when Jye Clark added their fourth goal of the quarter.

Importantly Swan Districts did get a goal back just before half-time through Tarir Bayok to make the margin 21 points.

That gave the black-and-whites some belief and they built on it to start the third term with a quick goal to Ryan Kemp and another to Edwards to make it a nine-point ball game just five minutes into the second half.

It was Will Collins with his first score of the season that brought Swan Districts to within a point before a third to Edwards saw the home team grab the lead, and still be on top by three points at three quarter-time after Seb Bright kicked truly to close the quarter.

It was then all Swan Districts in the fourth quarter with the only two goals from Edwards and Kemp to see them complete the comeback with seven goals to one after half-time for the 9.11 (65) to 7.6 (48) victory.

The day started at Steel Blue Oval with Perth's colts defeating Swan Districts 8.13 (61) to 6.8 (44).

Adam Brock, Josh Middleton, Jai Cahill, Max York, Brodyn Fitzgerald and Izzak Bolton were the goal scorers for Swan Districts while Jack Saunders gathered 31 touches, Luke Kelly 28 (12 tackles), James Sullivan 18 and Michael Durack 15.

Swan Districts' reserves then won a tight battle against Perth 6.6 (42) to 5.8 (38) also at Steel Blue Oval.

Warrick Wilson kicked two goals for Swans with Max Chipper gathering 31 touches, Noah Hannan 27, Brayden Jones 24, Lawson Humphries 22 and Lewis Tester 20.

Swan Districts will head to Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday to take on South Fremantle with both teams entering the clash only separated by percentage on the WAFL ladder with 7-4 records.