Preliminary Final WAFL Match Report

Swan Districts made a flying start in front of a big crowd on Sunday at Steel Blue Oval and while it wasn’t quite to be by the end of the afternoon, the colts continued to excite and are in the Grand Final.

Swans played host to Peel Thunder on Sunday at Steel Blue Oval and a monster crowd of 7192 people turned out for the club's first preliminary final appearance since 2012.

Things couldn’t have started better with the black-and-whites kicking the only five goals of the first quarter, but the Thunder took charge from there with 15 goals to four the rest of the day to end up winning 15.13 (103) to 9.2 (56).

Leigh Kohlmann, Ben Hewett and the returning Tom Edwards all kicked two goals apiece in the preliminary final for Swan Districts.

Fresh off winning the Sandover Medal on Monday night, Nik Rokahr collected 23 possessions for Swans to go with laying nine tackles while Josh Cipro picked up 18 disposals and Jye Chalcraft 18.

Captain Brandon Erceg fought hard down back for 17 possessions and 10 marks with Brayden Noble finishing with 15 disposals, Nathan Blakely 15 (17 hit outs, seven tackles), Max Chipper 14 and Will Collins 14.

Swan Districts opened the preliminary final having the breeze behind them and the 7000-strong Steel Blue Oval crowd backing them, and the home team delivered a stunning start.

It took less than two minutes for the first goal of the contest thanks to Ben Hewett and soon after Tom Edwards kicked two to mark his return after missing the first two weeks in the first finals appearance of his 66-game career.

Jackson McLachlan also snapped truly when he found space at the top of the goal square and then Hewett kicked his second, and suddenly Swans had five goals on the board inside the first 16 minutes.

Peel did wrestle back a degree of control in general play the rest of the first quarter but only managed seven behinds with Swan Districts in charge by 24 points at quarter-time.

Peel kicked two quick goals to start the second quarter and then three more in quick succession midway through the term to hit the front before Swan Districts did stay in touch thanks to Leigh Kohlmann.

However, Peel managed one more before half-time to see the visitors go into the main break leading by nine points.

Despite the breeze back behind them in the third quarter, Swan Districts couldn’t manage a goal until the 17-minute when Lewis Tester sneaked forward and snapped truly on his left boot for the second goal of his 22-game career.

Peel were still leading by 15 points at three quarter-time but Swan Districts were back within striking distance when Bryce Watson kicked truly following a 50m penalty early in the last term.

However, the Thunder took charge with seven goals to one the rest of the way to end up winning by 47 points to advance to the Grand Final.

The day got underway at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday morning with the colts preliminary final which ended up seeing Swan Districts produce a huge finish to beat Subiaco 10.10 (70) to 8.9 (57) to book in a Grand Final place.

Swan Districts scored two thrilling colts wins against Perth and West Perth to book in the spot in the preliminary final, and then it was a goal apiece in the first quarter on Sunday morning.

It was then three goals apiece in the second term with Swans leading by four points at half-time before Subiaco kicked two goals to one in the third quarter to go into the final break leading by three points.

Swans then started the fourth quarter on fire with three goals in less than three minutes courtesy of Colby McDonald, Max York and Leo Steed to be leading by 14 points.

However, Subiaco hit back and soon were back within a point to set up a big finish but it was McDonald the hero for Swan Districts with the last two goals of the game as the black-and-whites prevailed by 13 points to now take on Claremont in Sunday's Grand Final at Optus Stadium.

Colby McDonald kicked those three goals for Swans and Max York two while Otis Harvey racked up 24 possessions, Blake Kelly 20, Luke Cotellessa 20, Cody Ryan 17, Lucas Andrews 17 and Ethan Hall 15 in the ruck to go with 25 hit outs.