Round 2 Match Report v East Fremantle

For the second straight week to open the 2023 WAFL season Swan Districts has suffered a heartbreaking defeat this time going down to East Fremantle by four points at Steel Blue Oval.

It has been a case of so close yet so far for Swan Districts to open the WAFL season under new coach Andrew Pruyn.

While the combined margin is just five points against both East Perth and East Fremantle, the black-and-whites have started off at 0-2 ahead of taking on the reigning premiers West Perth this Sunday at Steel Blue Oval.

Earlier in the day on Saturday at Steel Blue Oval, the Swan Districts colts lost to East Fremantle 10.12 (72) to 3.7 (25) but the Swans reserves defeated the Sharks 12.7 (79) to 8.6 (54).

East Fremantle dominated the start to the contest going to the scoring end at Bassendean. The Sharks had the first seven scores of the contest but could only convert one of those into goals and that was thanks to Fraser Turner at the 10-minute mark.

Eventually Swan Districts got on the board just before quarter-time with a goal from Ben Hewett and that cut the East Fremantle lead to just five points at the first break despite the Sharks having seven scoring shots to two.

A brilliant goal at the eight-minute mark of the second quarter from Ryan Kemp then brought Swans level. He swooped on the ball in congestion inside the forward 50, went on a run outside the arc to get some space, and then slotted the long goal from outside 50.

That brought the Swans faithful to their feet but the Sharks steadied and were back in front with a goal to Tom Joyce after a 50m penalty.

Dillon O'Reilly then kicked impressively to stretch the East Fremantle lead before Alex Montauban and Hugh Dixon also kicked truly to put the Sharks 23 points up heading towards half-time.

Swan Districts needed to respond and did get a late goal with a clever snap from Jesse Palmer but the Sharks were still leading by 16 points at the main break.

It took almost 22 minutes for a goal to come in the third quarter with the breeze making life tricky at Bassendean. Eventually it was new Shark Brayden Lawler that got a goal to put the Sharks back up by 20 points, but Swans stayed in touch with a goal to Jarrod Cameron just before three quarter-time.

Tom Edwards and O'Reilly traded goals for either team to start the final term before a second for the day to Kemp kept Swan Districts in touch with just a 10-point deficit.

There wouldn’t be another goal in the game until Mitch Bain kicked truly for Swans at the 25-minute mark. That set up a grandstand finish with a four-point margin, but the Sharks held firm over the next couple of minutes for the four-point win.

Ryan Kemp was lively across half-forward Swan Districts kicking two skilful goals from 14 possessions, four marks, four inside 50s and three tackles.

Sandover Medallist Sam Fisher had a strong showing for Swan Districts with 32 possessions and seven tackles with reigning Swan Medallist Jesse Turner gathering 26 disposals, seven tackles and six inside-50 entries.

Co-captain Brandon Erceg was terrific down back once again and had 23 disposals and five tackles with Aidan Clarke finishing with 19 possessions, Jehb O'Donohue 16 and Brayden Noble 15 to go with 16 hit outs as the back up ruckman to Jesse Glass-McCasker who had 41 hit outs.

The day started with the colts contest and despite Swans losing by 47 points, Lewis Zolnier-Owens kicked two goals while Luke Kelly had 29 disposals, Jack Saunders 27, Tom Cathcart 22, Max York 21 and Chayse Martinson 21.

Then in the reserves match up, Swan Districts won by 25 points with Jack Cox and Tyrell Metcalf kicking four goals apiece, and Warrick Wilson two.

Max Chipper also collected 26 possessions, Lawson Humphries 25, Jacob Sideris 19 and returning ruckman Nathan Blakely 19 to go with nine hit outs and seven marks.