Wrap of Swan Districts' All Abilities Season

It was another encouraging All Abilities season from Swan Districts in the Perth Football League in 2023 with a six-game winning streak leading into the A division finals before falling short against Mandurah in the elimination final.

Swan Districts ended the 2023 season in the All Abilities competition in fifth position with eight wins and four losses, including winning the last six matches of the home and away season to secure a finals position.

The Swan Districts' All Abilities team were coming off a 2022 season where they played in the B division finals before bowing out with a Week 2 defeat at the hands of Kelmscott.

However, it was a successful inaugural season for Swan Districts having been working hard towards entering a team in the competition on the back of the club's social impact program to provide access for people of different abilities to play sport.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing going back to that first season, though, with Swans having their application into the competition accepted but not being able to field any players who had come from a rival team in 2021.

But still, there was a lot to like about what the Swan Districts team did in 2022 and could then build on coming into the 2023 campaign.

It started in Round 1 back on Saturday April 22 with an away clash against High Wycombe, with the home team beating Swan Districts 9.9 (63) to 4.0 (24). The goals that day for Swans were kicked by William Brenssell, Luciana Gill, James Maxted and Matthew Spooner.

Next up was a memorable occasion at Optus Stadium with Swan Districts given the opportunity to play the curtain raiser game to the AFL contest between the West Coast Eagles and Carlton.

Swans took on Kelmscott and scored the 7.5 (47) to 6.6 (42) victory as well to earn some revenge for the loss in the finals to the same team last year.

The occasion of playing in an AFL stadium boosted the Swans’ players energy with many putting in outstanding performances.

Then after the bye in Round 3, Swan Districts remained away from home to play Wembley at Pat Goodridge Reserve and came away with the 7.9 (51) to 3.10 (28) victory.

Swans then had another bye in Round 5 before taking on Willetton at Burrendah Reserve in Round 6 with the home team scoring the 11.11 (77) to 5.10 (40) victory. Jackson Foskett kicked three of the goals for Swan Districts with Dylan Farrow and Liam Trifon adding one apiece.

Next up in Round 7 for Swan Districts was the first home game of the season at Steel Blue Oval on a Sunday afternoon, but it ended up with a 6.7 (43) to 2.8 (20) defeat at the hands of Mandurah. The goals for the black-and-whites were kicked by William Brenssell and Mark McNair.

Swan Districts then faced Coolbinia at Coolbinia Oval in Round 8 and it was the home team who prevailed 9.9 (63) to 7.5 (47). Jayson Mann kicked three goals on that day for Swans with one goal each for William Brenssell, Mark Ivey, Mark McNair and Junior Williams.

It was another home game for Swans in Round 9 at Steel Blue Oval and it ended up in a 3.10 (28) to 1.4 (10) victory against Warnbro. Blake Cooper kicked two goals in that win for Swan Districts with Nathan Ball adding one.

It was another home game at Steel Blue Oval in Round 10 on Sunday morning for Swan Districts and it ended up being a 7.10 (52) to 3.8 (26) win against Curtin Uni Wesley. Blake Cooper and Mark McNair kicked two goals each in the win with a goal each to Dylan Farrow, Luciana Gill and Jason Kappler.

Swan Districts remained home in Round 11 to play host to Kingsway and it turned out to be another win with the black-and-whites prevailing 8.2 (50) to 4.1 (25). Blake Cooper kicked three goals for Swans, Mark Ivey two and one each to Peter Comb, James Maxted and Mark McNair.

Swans hit the road again in Round 12 to play Ocean Ridge and the winning run continued with the 5.10 (40) to 3.1 (19) victory at Heathridge Park. Damian de Grussa ended up kicking three goals in the win, Blake Cooper one and Mark Ivey one.

Swan Districts had the last bye of the season in Round 13 before returning to action in Round 14 at home to Fremantle CBC at Steel Blue Oval. It ended up in another win as well as Swans took the 5.6 (36) to 1.0 (6) victory.

Blake Cooper kicked another three goals in that win for Swan Districts and captain Dylan Farrow two.

The last game of the home and away season then saw Swan Districts defeat North Beach 7.9 (51) to 5.4 (34) at Steel Blue Oval. In that win, Blake Cooper kicked another three goals, Dylan Farrow three and Ben Klaassen one.

That saw Swan Districts qualify for the finals and to set up an elimination final against Mandurah at Merlin Street Reserve. Mandurah ended up prevailing 9.7 (61) to 3.5 (23) to end the season of Swan Districts.