Round 17 WAFL Match Report v South Fremantle

Swan Districts weren’t quite able to make it eight straight wins but neither did they suffer a loss in a dramatic draw with South Fremantle on Saturday on the day Tony Notte set a new games record.

Swan Districts arrived at Fremantle Community Bank Oval looking for an eighth consecutive win this season and a fourth in-a-row over the Bulldogs, and they were well on track most of the afternoon.

Swans did lead by as much as 21 points throughout the contest, but it ended up being a thrilling finish and after scores were tied in the dying seconds, Will Collins scored a behind to put Swan Districts in front.

However, just seconds before the siren Manfred Kelly took a mark for South Fremantle and while his kick fell short and came off hands before the goal line, it was judged a behind and scores were locked at 8.12 (60) apiece.

With Leigh Kohlmann, Jackson McLachlan and Brad Lynch all held goalless, Swan Districts found an unlikely avenue to goal with Bryce Watson moving forward after Jiah Reidy had to leave the ground after a heavy fall.

Watson ended up kicking the first three goals of his 16-game WAFL career to be his team's only multiple goal scorer on the afternoon.

The Swan Districts midfield once again had some standout performers led by Nik Rokahr who finished with another 34 possessions while Jesse Turner collected 28 disposals, Aidan Clarke 22, Jye Chalcraft 22, Josh Cipro 21 and McLachlan 21.

The Swans back-line stood up well too with Jake Pasini finishing with 23 possessions and seven marks while Tony Notte had 19 touches and nine marks in the 306th game of his career to now standalone as the club's games record holder.

It took until the 11-minute mark of the contest for the first goal to come and it went the way of Swan Districts' second-gamer Kristian Caporn before he went and contested the ruck contest straight afterwards.

South Fremantle answered courtesy of Ed Graham and it would be just a goal apiece in the opening quarter with scores all square by the end of one.

Swan Districts then started the second quarter well with an early goal to captain Jesse Turner before adding another 10 minutes later courtesy of Max Chipper who came back into the side for Round 17.

Jehb O'Donohue then got forward while having the job on Haiden Schloithe for the day to add another for the black-and-whites to push the lead out to 21 points midway through the second term.

South Fremantle needed to respond and did just that with the last two goals of the opening half including the first in the 13-game career of ruckman Solomon James.

Dylan Main then added another to cut the Swan Districts lead back to just nine points at the half-time break.

With Jiah Reidy having left the field in the first half with a concussion on his return to the team, Bryce Watson was a surprise option to go into attack for Swan Districts and he opened the second half with the first goal of his WAFL career.

Swans were soon back out to an 18-point lead before the Bulldogs got a goal back thanks to Isiah Winder.

It continued to be goal for goal with Watson adding a second for Swan Districts only for Schloithe to answer for the Bulldogs just before three quarter-time to make it a seven-point margin once more.

Swans pushed their lead back out to 19 points by the 10-minute mark of the last term following goals to Tom Edwards and a third to Watson, but South Fremantle weren’t going away and got one back through Graham.

Chase Bourne then added another at the 22-minute mark before Jordan Gallucci swooped three minutes later for a nice finish on his left boot in his second game of the season to tie scores up.

It was a frantic finish with Will Collins kicking a behind to put Swans back in front, but the Bulldogs attacked out of that behind and in the end the ball was in the hands of Manfred Kelly as the siren sounded after he took a spectacular two-grab mark.

He had the set shot on goal from 40m out and couldn’t quite make the distance but with the pack on the goal line, the ball came off hands and bounced back onto Collins with the Swans defender behind the line and it was determined the point would count.

That meant scores were level and the draw left neither team really knowing how to feel but further consolidating a finals spot at the same time.

Swan Districts' colts opened proceedings on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with the 10.12 (72) to 3.12 (30) victory against South Fremantle.

Tylah Williams kicked three goals in the win for Swans, Evan Smith two and Adam Sandrini two.

Lucas Andrews picked up 25 possessions, Otis Harvey 20, Chayse Martinson 19, Anthony Hansen 18 and Elijah Huddlestone 16.

Then in the reserves match up, Swan Districts couldn’t quite mount a last quarter fight back with South Fremantle ending up winning 10.7 (67) to 7.8 (50).

Luke Kelly responded well to dropping back with 32 possessions and two goals while Ethyn Kane picked up 28 disposals, Ayden Cartwright 23, Brodyn Fitzgerald 21 and Tom Panuccio 18.