Round 2 WAFL Match Report v East Perth

All three grades for Swan Districts were in action for the first time this season on Saturday against East Perth with the end result being a couple of defeats with plenty to still like and a victory for the colts.

Swan Districts opened the 2024 season beating the West Coast Eagles at Steel Blue Oval by 64 points before backing up against East Perth at Leederville's Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday.

It was a competitive and entertaining hit out throughout the afternoon as well with Swans leading by as much as 15 points just before half-time.

The black-and-whites then had their chances to take control again in the third quarter, but a string of behinds proved costly and East Perth finished the better to end up winning 18.11 (119) to 11.16 (82).

Jiah Reidy finished the game kicking three goals for Swan Districts with Leigh Kohlmann, Tom Edwards and Ayden Cartwright all adding two apiece.

Co-captain Jesse Turner was prolific once again on the wing ending up with 43 touches and 18 marks with Jye Chalcraft racking up another 37 disposals, Nik Rokahr 31, Jackson McLachlan 20, Josh Cipro 18 and Aidan Clarke 17.

Tony Notte did what he could as a steadying influence down back too with 23 possessions and five marks in the 294th game of his remarkable career.

Swan Districts made a perfect start with the first goal of the game inside less than two minutes courtesy of Jackson McLachlan, but the Royals then built some momentum with four quick goals themselves in the space of seven minutes.

Swans were able to respond with two quick goals thanks to Ayden Cartwright and then a beautiful running goal from outside 50 on the left boot of Aidan Clarke.

Leigh Kohlmann did another for Swans just before quarter-time, but going into the break and it was East Perth leading by 12 points on the back of both teams combining for 10 goals between them.

The goal fest continued in the second quarter and it was Swans with the first on the board thanks to Jiah Reidy to cut the margin back to four points. Eventually a second goal to Kohlmann put the black-and-whites in front too.

Goals to Tom Edwards and a second to Reidy saw Swan Districts' lead get out to as much as 15 points as well, but East Perth answered with the last three goals heading into half-time to take a four-point edge into the break.

Swan Districts dominated the first half of the third quarter as well but couldn’t put the score on the board. Swans managed to kick six consecutive behinds and it proved costly with the Royals finishing the term with two goals to be leading by 11 points at three quarter-time.

Swans managed to kick a first goal of the second half a minute into the final term thanks to Edwards to make it a five-point game, but it was all the Royals from there kicking six of the game's last seven goals to end up winning by 37 points.

Both the Swan Districts colts and reserves were playing their first games of the season on Saturday as well after having the opening round bye due to the league side coming up against the West Coast Eagles.

Swan Districts' colts started their season in impressive fashion beating East Perth 11.12 (78) to 7.13 (55).

Colby McDonald kicked four goals in the win for Swans with two goals each to Harrison Creighton, Mason Hawkes and Jessie Hollins.

Otis Harvey collected 27 possessions, Luke Cotellessa 26, Creighton 19, Lucas Andrews 17, Harry Jones 17 and Ned Reiger 17.

It was then a thrilling reserves match up at Sullivan Logistics Stadium with East Perth ending up beating Swan Districts 11.10 (76) to 10.8 (68).

Luke Kelly produced a stunning performance for Swans finishing with 39 possessions, five marks, five inside 50s, four tackles and two goals on the back of being part of last year's premiership team.

It was a game of big disposal tallies for Swans players with Jehb O'Donohue also racking up 45 possessions, Max Chipper 34, Brenton Hilton 28, Henrick Alforque 21, Luke Taylor 18 and off-season recruit Mitch Roche 18.