Round 11 WAFL Match Report

Swan Districts produced its most impressive performance of the WAFL season on Sunday to control the contest from start to finish and end up beating West Perth by 15 points at Joondalup.

Swans went into the contest up against it by taking on the reigning premiers on their home ground of Pentanet Stadium having lost on 10 of their last 11 trips to the venue.

To top it off and West Perth was celebrating the 250-game milestone of premiership winning captain Aaron Black, and Swans were missing their own co-captains Brandon Erceg and Chris Jones along with Sandover Medallist Sam Fisher.

However, what Swan Districts produced was a best performance of the season to score the tremendous 11.6 (72) to 8.9 (57) victory.

The win improves Swans to a 4-7 record on the season to remain in the finals hunt ahead of the bye this coming weekend.

It might have been a big day of celebration for West Perth with the 250th game of premiership captain Aaron Black, but Swan Districts arrived on a mission and made a dominant start with the breeze working in their favour.

Brayden Noble kicked the game's first goal after just over a minute before Aidan Clarke soon added another when he nailed a beauty from well outside 50.

West Perth did get one back from Conal Lynch but Swans responded with goals to Nathan Blakely and Max Chipper before quarter-time to be in control by 21 points.

Despite going against the breeze in the second quarter, Swans started well with a goal to Tom Edwards to stretch that lead out to 27 points.

Mitch Peirce did get one goal back for the Falcons but they then only managed a strong of behinds before Cian Ehlers kicked the first goal of his league career for Swans to keep the lead at 23 points.

West Perth did close the half with a couple of goals from Nathan Alexandre and Tyler Keitel, though, to cut the Swan Districts advantage to nine points at the main break.

It was goal for goal for most of the third quarter with Swan Districts getting out to a 16-point lead on three occasions including with a late goal from Noble, but West Perth responded each time including just before the siren from milestone man Black.

That set up a thrilling finish especially with the Falcons having the advantage of going to the scoring end, but it didn’t prove much help. Swans locked away the win with a third goal to Noble and another to Blakely to end up securing the impressive and important 15-point victory.

In the absence of Chris Jones as his fellow tall target, Brayden Noble stood up strongly in attack in the win for Swan Districts kicking three goals from his 15 possessions and 15 marks for the afternoon.

Tom Edwards also kicked two goals from 17 touches and 10 marks while Nathan Blakely chipped in with two important goals from the ruck on a day where he also had 23 possessions, 17 hit outs and six tackles.

Aidan Clarke was tremendous all afternoon in the middle for Swan Districts finishing with 30 possessions, eight tackles, six marks and a good long goal.

Jarvis Pina gave tremendous run and drive off half-back with 30 disposals and 12 marks with Josh Cipro racking up 28 touches, Jesse Turner 21, debutant Brad Lynch 20 and Tobe Watson 18.

Meanwhile, Round 11 of the Reserves saw Swan Districts win a thriller 7.6 (48) to 6.11 (47) against West Perth at Pentanet Stadium.

Jack Saunders finished with 23 possessions for Swans, Jacob Sideris 22, Tarir Bayok 21, Noah Hannan 20 and Ayden Cartwright 17.

The Colts then had West Perth then beat Swan Districts 8.9 (57) to 4.4 (28).

Chayse Martinson kicked two goals for Swan Districts to go with his 22 possessions and 17 tackles for the game. Max York also picked up 28 disposals, Tom Cathcart 22, Harrison Creighton 20, Cody Ryan 20 and Evan Smith 15 along with 21 hit outs.