Round 20 Match Preview

Everything goes on the line in the 2022 WAFL season for Swan Districts against Peel Thunder this Sunday in Mandurah.

On the back of last Saturday's terrific home win against West Perth at Steel Blue Oval, Swans were able to keep their finals aspirations alive and now set up a cut-throat clash this Sunday against Peel Thunder at Lane Group Stadium.

The equation is quite simple for both teams going into the contest. Coming into the final round of the 2022 season, both Peel and Swan Districts sit on 10-7 records with the Thunder only fifth ahead of the Swans because of percentage.

But that won't come into calculations in determining who claims that fifth and last finals position for 2022. Quite simply, the winner of Sunday's game will finish fifth and the loser will end up sixth and their season will be over.

The game bounces down at Mandurah's Lane Group Stadium on Sunday at 12.10pm and will be shown live on Channel 7.

Swan Districts comes into Sunday's do-or-die clash on the back of one of their best performances of the season last week to beat West Perth at Steel Blue Oval by 12 points.

It was a win Swans needed to set up their crack at booking in a finals spot this Sunday after Peel scored a 73-point victory also at home last Saturday against the bottom placed West Coast Eagles.

Last time the two teams met was in Round 8 this year at Steel Blue Oval and if that's anything to go by for what's in store on Sunday, then it's going to be quite the thrilling way to decide who makes the finals and who doesn’t.

It was Swans who ended up winning that game on their home turf by four points in what was a thrilling contest that could have gone either.

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).

Not only did Jones 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.

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.

Ben Middleton stood tall for Peel to kick three goals while small forward Guy Barnes made the most of his chances to kick three as well.

Thunder with Haydn Matthews picking up another 27 touches, Mitch Crowden 26, Karl Worner 22, Neil Erasmus 21, Liam Henry 21 and Lloyd Meek 21 to go with 44 hit outs.

Going back further and Swans have now won five in-a-row against Peel Thunder and another win on Sunday would make it six straight and guarantee a finals appearance.

Peel's last win against Swan Districts came in Round 12, 2019 and was in Mandurah with a 79-point victory.

If Swans are able to win on Sunday it will be the first time they've been able to win six straight against the Thunder since winning the first 11 meetings between the two clubs after Peel's entry into the WAFL in 1997.

Peel didn't beat Swans until Round 1, 2001 but since then things have been a bit more even with the Thunder winning 15 and Swan Districts 34 of the 49 meetings the last 21 years.

Gun Swan Districts midfielder and 2020 Sandover Medallist Sam Fisher was proud of the team's performance last week to beat West Perth and keep their season alive, and can't wait for the challenge to come on Sunday.

"It was an awesome result on the weekend and added in with the reunion of the premiership teams of the 80s," Fisher said.

"There was a massive crowd there and we stepped up after a disappointing the weekend the week before. It was a great day there at Steel Blue but it all means nothing now if we can't back it up this weekend down in Mandurah."