Round 20 Match Report v Peel Thunder

Swan Districts might not have quite been able to finish the 2023 WAFL season with a win in the Pride Game against Peel Thunder on Saturday, but there was again plenty to be encouraged by with the Reserves now gearing up for a finals campaign.

Swans started strongly against the finals bound Peel at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday in the inaugural Pride Game held at the Bassendean venue.

While the Thunder ended up overpowering Swans as they gear up to play finals in 2023 to prevail 12.11 (83) to 10.13 (73), there was again a lot to like from the black-and-whites and reason for optimism looking towards the 2024 WAFL season.

Lachlan Riley and Josh Cipro kicked two goals apiece for Swan Districts with Riley also ending the afternoon with 19 possessions and six marks with Cipro also having 26 disposals, six marks, four inside-50 entries and three tackles.

Reigning Swans fairest and best winner, and vice-captain Jesse Turner finished another fine season with a terrific performance once more on the wing with 34 possessions, eight marks and five inside-50 entries.

Aidan Clarke also delivered a standout showing with 31 possessions, seven marks and six inside 50s with Jackson McLachlan racking up 29 touches, Jarvis Pina 23, Lawson Humphries 22, Jehb O'Donohue 21 and Tony Notte 17 in the 292nd game of his remarkable career.

While it was Peel who was the team needing the win to sew up a finals spot, it was Swan Districts who had the better of the start to the contest and after a string of three behinds, they finally kicked the first goal thanks to a crafty snap from Ryan Kemp.

Almost 10 minutes later and Swans had the game's first two goals when Josh Cipro kicked truly. Peel did get on the board thanks to Ben Middleton, but the black-and-whites finished the opening term with another goal to Lachlan Riley to be in control leading by 15 points at quarter-time.

The Thunder did make a better start to the second stanza with a couple of early goals to Josh Corbett and Brody Wemm. Then when Max Knobel kicked another, the Thunder were in the lead but Swan Districts answered with a quick couple of goals themselves to Jesse Glass-McCasker and Cipro.

It was Peel's turn to grab back the momentum, though, heading into half-time with late goals to Corbett (two) and Middleton which saw the Thunder leading by 11 points at the main break and on track to secure a finals berth.

Corbett then opened up the second half kicking his fourth goal of the game for Peel before Wemm added a second, and Middleton a third as the lead blew out to 28 points for the visitors.

Swans weren’t going away, though, and did close the third period with a couple of goals from Max Chipper and Sam Fisher to narrow the gap to 14 points by three quarter-time to remain within striking distance.

Early goals in the last quarter to Corbett and debutant Reece Torrent then put Peel back out to a 26-point lead. That was enough to secure the win despite Swans kicking the game's last three goals to Riley, Jackson McLachlan and Chris Jones to close the final margin to 10 points.

The final round of the Colts got underway on Saturday morning with Peel Thunder defeating Swan Districts 12.9 (81) to 6.18 (54) at Steel Blue Oval in what was the last game of the season for both teams with finals out of reach.

Otis Harvey and Max York finished the season with two goals apiece for Swan Districts with Harvey also racking up 29 possessions, Riley Hardeman 27, Blake Kelly 22, Chayse Martinson 21 and Luke Cotellessa 18.

The last round of the Reserves for the home and away season began at Steel Blue Oval with Swan Districts gearing up for the finals beating Peel Thunder 15.7 (97) to 8.5 (53). Swans were already locked into second position no matter the result with Peel's season now over.

Lewis Zolnier-Owens kicked five goals from six kicks in the win for Swan Districts with Ben Hewett and Jiah Reidy adding two goals apiece. Ayden Cartwright collected 27 possessions, Luke Kelly 24, Hewett 19, Ethyn Kane 15 and Adam Justice 15.