WAFL Round 4 Match Report v South Fremantle

Not only did Swan Districts record its first win of the WAFL season on Saturday, but claimed the John Todd Cup and snapped a nine-year drought at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in the process.

Swans arrived at the port venue on Saturday still hunting a first win of the season on the back of the first three games that could easily have gone the other way, but ultimately were narrow defeats to East Perth, East Fremantle and West Perth.

That meant that Swans needed to knock off South Fremantle at a venue that they had not won at in the last nine years on their last nine visits against an opponent they had lost 10 of the last 11 games against.

However, Swan Districts produced a terrific performance across the afternoon and ended up claiming the 13.10 (88) to 10.10 (70) victory.

It capped a perfect day for Swans with the reserves also winning at Fremantle Community Bank Oval and the colts also prevailing against the Bulldogs at Lathlain.

It's the first win of the season for Swans and a first at the port since 2014 with Brayden Noble celebrating his 100th WAFL appearance for the black-and-whites with the first win at the venue of his career in eight attempts.

Fremantle Community Bank Oval had been anything but a happy hunting ground for Swan Districts over the last decade, but they did start well on Saturday with an early goal to emerging forward Tom Edwards.

Co-captain Chris Jones soon added a second for the black-and-whites and then a couple leading into quarter-time from Jesse Palmer, and another to 100-gamer Brayden Noble and suddenly the hoodoo at the port was a chance of being ended by Swan Districts.

Swans were leading by 29 points at quarter-time having held South Fremantle goalless but it only took a minute of the second term for the Bulldogs to change that thanks to in-form midfielder Tom Blechynden.

The visitors responded, though, with Jones kicking a second before rival skipper Dylan Main kicked South Fremantle's second of the afternoon. Jones was having a half to remember and soon had a third on the board with the Swans lead out to 32 points.

The game was slipping from the grasp of the Bulldogs but they hit back with goals leading into half-time from Brandon Donaldson, Nathan Spooner and Brendon Ah Chee to make it a 12-point ball game at the main break.

The Bulldogs kept the momentum going to start the second half with another to skipper Main to make it a five-point ball game with the home side having kicked four goals in succession.

Swans got a steadier through Palmer and then it would be more than 13 minutes before either side kicked another goal, and it was the black-and-whites who put their foot down with goals to Lachlan Riley and Palmer heading into the three quarter-time.

Swan Districts was up 21 points heading into the last term but South Fremantle got off to a flying start to the final quarter with a third of the day to Main and another to Zac Strom.

It was just a nine-point ball game again but Swans continued to have the answers and goals to Ryan Kemp and Edwards were just what they needed to snap the drought at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Tobe Watson kicked a goal late to make sure of the 18-point victory for Swan Districts.

The Swan Districts forward-line is starting to click and on Saturday, Jesse Palmer kicked another four goals from eight kicks while co-captain Chris Jones kicked three goals from six kicks and five marks.

Tom Edwards also chimed in with two goals while in his 100th game, Brayden Noble kicked a goal from 13 touches, seven hit outs, five marks and five tackles as he played in his first win at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

While the Swans midfield was missing Sam Fisher and Aidan Clarke, Tobe Watson performed strongly with 22 possessions, six tackles, five marks and four inside-50 entries along with the clinching goal.

Jesse Turner collected another 20 possessions while Jarvis Pina finished with 19 disposals and Jackson McLachlan 19.

Swan Districts won a close one in the Reserves with South Fremantle 10.10 (70) to 9.8 (62) with Kristian Caporn kicking four goals while Max Chipper collected 23 touches, Lawson Humphries 23, Lewis Tester 18, Tom Smith 17 and Tony Notte 17 to go with eight marks in his second game back from his ACL reconstruction.

Swan Districts' Colts also defeated South Fremantle 13.9 (87) to 6.6 (42) with Lewis Zolnier-Owens kicking three goals for Swans with two each to Evan Smith, Denver Roberts and Jack Lawson.

Smith also had 18 possessions and 40 hit outs with Luke Kelly racking up 27 possessions and 19 tackles.