Round 11 WAFL Match Report

Swan Districts kept its winning form going with an impressive performance to beat South Fremantle by 27 points to claim the inaugural John Todd Memorial Cup.

A crowd of almost 5000 people turned out at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday afternoon to honour the memory of four-time Swan Districts premiership coach John Todd with Swans taking on South Fremantle where Todd also had a remarkable legacy as a player and coach.

Swan Districts came into the contest on a two-game winning run and kept the form going with the 10.12 (72) to 6.9 (45) victory as well.

The win means that Swans remain in fifth position on the WAFL ladder but now hold onto that spot with a game and percentage advantage with a 5-4 record after the opening 11 rounds.

Brad Lynch stepped up impressively in attack for Swan Districts without leading goalkicker Leigh Kohlmann once again, kicking a career-best four goals from his 16 possessions to go with six tackles, six inside-50 entries and five marks.

Jackson McLachlan also kicked three goals to go with 17 possessions, six marks, six tackles and four inside 50s while Tom Edwards kicked another two goals.

The Swans midfield was outstanding once again with Nik Rokahr collecting another 29 possessions to go with six tackles while Josh Cipro picked up 27 disposals, Aidan Clarke 26, Jarvis Pina 23, Jesse Turner 23, Jye Chalcraft 22 and ruckman Nathan Blakely 19 to go with 18 hit outs.

The Swans defence stood firm once again as well which included Jake Pasini finishing with 25 possessions and 10 marks. Will Collins also had 18 touches and seven marks while doing well quelling the influence of South Fremantle's WA Day hero Dylan Main.

Lewis Tester (16 possessions), Anthony Stephens (16), Bryce Watson (15) and Brenton Hilton (14) all did well keeping Riley Colborne, Caleb Datson, Kaden Harbour and Noah Strom in check.

The game got off to the perfect start for Swan Districts with a goal to Brad Lynch after only 45 seconds had gone on the time clock.

South Fremantle got one back soon after thanks to Tom Blechynden before the trend continued with Tom Edwards adding another for Swans, and Zac Strom responding for the Bulldogs.

Swan Districts then closed the first quarter with goals to Jackson McLachlan and a second to Lynch for the home team to be leading by 13 points at quarter-time.

Swans then extended that advantage with the first two goals of the second term as well courtesy of McLachlan and Edwards with the lead out to as much as 23 points.

However, South Fremantle responded by closing the half with goals to Matthew Parker and Haiden Schloithe which cut the lead of Swans to 11 points at half-time break.

It took 10 minutes for the first goal of the second half and that went the way of Swan Districts thanks to McLachlan. His third of the day put Swans out to an 18-point lead before Lynch kicked two more to give him four for the contest.

That had Swan Districts in control leading by 31 points at three quarter-time before the black-and-whites also kicked the first goal of the last quarter thanks to Luke Kelly to be out to a 38-point advantage.

South Fremantle did manage the last two goals of the contest through Zac Strom but that only cut the final margin of Swan Districts to 27 points.

The day at Steel Blue Oval got underway with the colts contest on Saturday morning with Swan Districts beating South Fremantle 9.4 (58) to 6.11 (47).

Swans kicked three goals to one in the last quarter to score the 11-point win with Otis Harvey kicking three goals, Chayse Martinson two and Colby McDonald two.

Martinson also racked up 20 possessions, Lucas Andrews 18, Tom Cathcart 17 and Cody Ryan 17 with Evan Smith adding 15 touches, 41 hit outs and six tackles in the ruck.

Meanwhile, in the reserves match it was South Fremantle scoring the 18.10 (118) to 7.6 (48) victory against Swan Districts.

Swan Districts is now 1-7 on the season following the loss where the Bulldogs outscored them 11 goals to two after half-time.

Ayden Cartwright did all he could to earn a recall to the league team for Swans with 35 possessions, eight marks, six tackles and two goals.

Tarir Bayok also gathered 24 disposals for the black-and-whites, Brody Fitzgerald 18, Mitch Roche 18, Jaxon White 17 and Ethyn Kane 16.