Round 9 Match Report – Swan Districts v Perth

SWAN Districts fought back from 40 points down to kick the last nine goals and beat Perth by 30 points in the WAFL Round 9 contest at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

 

Perth shot out of the blocks in stunning fashion at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday piling on eight first quarter goals to two.

 

Perth went on to lead by 40 points late in the second quarter. But Swan Districts kicked the last two goals of the first half, five goals to one in the third quarter and the only five goals of the final term to come away with the 17.13 (115) to 13.7 (85) victory.

 

From the point Perth held a 40-point advantage, Swan Districts kicked 12 of the game's last 13 goals including the last nine of the contest. The Demons didn’t kick a goal after the nine-minute of the third quarter.

 

Having only ever kicked more than two goals once before in his WAFL career, four against South Fremantle in Round 6 this year, Brayden Noble had a career-best afternoon for Swan Districts kicking five goals from 16 possessions and nine marks.

 

Corey Gault, Matt Riggio and Warrick Wilson all kicked two goals each as well for Swans. Gault also had 18 touches, seven marks and 14 hit outs with Riggio contributing 21 possessions and seven marks, and Wilson 19 touches, and eight marks as well.

 

David Ellard worked tirelessly in the midfield for Swan Districts with 25 possessions and seven tackles while Steven Payne racked up 24 disposals and nine marks.

 

Jesse Turner also had 23 touches, Tobe Watson 21, Rhys Palmer 18, Todd Banfield 17 and Nathan Blakely 17 along with 34 hit outs and a goal.

 

Michael Bennell made an impressive debut for Perth kicking three goals from 14 possessions, five marks and four tackles.

 

Ben Giobbi, Brant Colledge and last year's leading goalkicker Cody Ninyette all kicked two goals apiece for the Demons.

 

Colledge also had 21 possessions, seven marks and seven tackles to go with his two goals with Clint Jones also finishing with 26 touches and seven marks, and Corey Yeo 25 disposals, six tackles and six inside-50 entries.

 

Michael Sinclair finished with 20 touches for the Demons, Corey Byrne 18, Matthew Taylor 18 and Mitch Lague 16.

 

Perth's remarkable opening quarter began with a goal to Brant Colledge at the nine-minute mark. But Swan Districts responded through Matthew Rogers and there was little sign of what was to come.

 

But in the space of four minutes, Colledge, Laine Wilkins and Mitch Henderson all goaled in quick time for the Demons before Swans got a steadier courtesy of Todd Banfield.

 

Perth continued its momentum head into quarter-time with goals to Ben Giobbi, debutant Michael Bennell, Lachlan Dennis and Giobbi again as they opened a 33-point advantage.

 

By the time Bennell had added two more goals for Perth just before half-time, the lead for the Demons was out to 40 points before Matt Riggio and Corey Gault kicked truly to keep Swan Districts just 28 points down at the main break.

 

Nathan Blakely then brought Swans within 20 points when he kicked truly at the six-minute mark of the third quarter but Perth got the answering major from Cody Ninyette.

 

Swans were building momentum, however, and managed the last four goals of the third quarter from Taryce Stewart, Riggio and then two from Brayden Noble to make it a tied ball game by the final change.

 

It was then all Swan Districts in the last quarter as they held Perth goalless while scoring five majors themselves thanks to Jackson Slater, Warrick Wilson, Tobe Watson, Noble and Gault to come away with the 30-point victory after earlier being 40 points down. 

 

It was a nail-biting reserves contest at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday with Perth winning at the death 13.7 (85) to 11.14 (80).

 

Perth started the reserves clash strongly with four goals to two in the first quarter and another four to two in the second to lead by 22 points at half-time.

 

But Swans hit back hard in the third term with five goals to three to only trail by five points at three quarter-time.

 

Swan Districts was then on track to win late in the final term but Perth had the last say and kicked the last goal to end up winning by five points and improve to a 4-4 record in fifth spot. Swans sit last at 2-6.

 

Marshall Jones put his hand up for a league recall at Perth kicking five goals from seven kicks in the reserves win. Caelen Bennell also booted two majors.

 

Kurtis Chester compiled 34 possessions for the Demons, Lennon Marlin 27, Daniel Horan 26, Jake Schleicher 18, Jayden Johnstone 17, and Callum Marshall 17.

 

Levi Ridley had an impressive showing for Swan Districts with 25 possessions and two goals while Chad Daniels also kicked two goals from 26 touches and eight marks. Greg Ottaviano and Aaron Wheeler booted two goals each also.

 

Ethan Maguire amassed 30 disposals for Swans, Freddie Clutterbuck 26, Albert Dean 24, Laurence Grescos 22, Callum Garcia 18 and Jack O'Sullivan 18.

 

Swan Districts will now play Claremont for the first time in 2018 on Saturday at Claremont Oval. Bounce down will be 1.40pm with the game again live on Channel 7.

 

Perth returns home to Lathlain Park this Saturday to host the second placed South Fremantle. It will be the Demons' first crack at the Bulldogs in 2018 with South Fremantle having won the previous eight games over Perth by an average of 51.2 points.

 

 

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Noble 5; Gault, Riggio, Wilson 2; Rogers, Banfield, T Watson, Stewart, Slater, Blakely.

Best: T Watson, Payne, Ellard, Wilson, Noble, Riggio, Turner, Gault.

PERTH – Goals: Bennell 3; Giobbi, Colledge, Ninyette 2; Wilkins, Cary, Henderson, Dennis.

Best: Colledge, Bennell, Yeo, Jones, Sinclair, Lague, Taylor.