Demons defeat the Swans! Round 14 Match Review v Swans.

The Demons went into the Rio Tinto NAIDOC Round determined, and ready to earn the win over the Swan Districts. We were on top from the outset, holding a dominating lead for the duration of the match.

In the previous two meetings between the two teams this season, the Demons started strongly but couldn’t maintain it, going on to be overrun by the Swans on both occasions. With this fresh in our minds, the team were prepared with a mindset of tenacity.

Once again on Saturday we started strongly, but this time the Demons were able to maintain it throughout the afternoon at Steel Blue Oval to come away with the 14.17 (101) to 11.11 (77) victory. The win improves us to a 5-7 record on the season to be only percentage outside the top five.

It was a stunning display from the Demons throughout the afternoon. The boys earned 62 more possessions than Swans, 14 more marks, 21 extra inside-50 entries and then 31 scoring shots to 22.

It was only fitting that as part of the NAIDOC Week celebrations in the WAFL, Cody Ninyette delivered a stunning performance for Perth made up of five goals from 21 possessions, five tackles, four marks and four inside 50s.

Michael Bennell also kicked another two goals for the Demons as did Corey Byrne and Kristian Cary.

Michael Sinclair was superb in our defence against the Swans, ending the afternoon with a game-high 35 possessions and 17 marks. Matthew Taylor also had 20 possessions and eight marks.

Captain Clint Jones also racked up another 33 possessions (eight marks, eight tackles) for the Demons, Brant Colledge 31 (10 inside 50s), Corey Yeo 27, Cody Leggett 27 (11 tackles, nine marks, eight inside 50s) and Byrne 20.

Christian Eyres battled hard in the ruck for the Demons for 17 touches and 23 hit outs.

Perth started impressively coming off the bye with the first five scores of the contest at a well-populated Steel Blue Oval. That did include goals to Indigenous pair Michael Bennell and Cody Ninyette which was fitting as part of NAIDOC Week.

Swan Districts did get an answering major through Brayden Noble but the Demons were on song and Ninyette added two more goals before quarter-time as Perth had 10 scoring shots to two in the term to lead by 23 points at the first break.

Swan Districts did manage the first goal of the second quarter thanks to former Demon Matthew Rogers. But Perth hit back through returning key forward Spencer White.

Swan Districts were then just seven points behind to start the second half when Noble kicked a third goal before Bennell and Warrick Wilson traded goals for their respective teams in NAIDOC Week.

The Demons continued to have the answers, though, and kicked five of the last six goals of the third term, including a fourth to Ninyette, with Perth heading into the three quarter-time huddle with a commanding five-goal advantage.

Ninyette kicked the first goal of the last term to give him five for the afternoon and while Swan Districts kicked three of the last four goals of the contest, the Demons still cruised to the 24-point victory at Bassendean.

Perth will play host to Peel Thunder on Saturday with the chance of the winner moving into the top five by the end of Round 15.

SWAN DISTRICTS 1.1 5.5 8.7 11.11 (77)

PERTH 4.6 6.12 12.13 14.17 (101)

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Noble 3; Faulkner, Rogers 2; Gault, Turner, Payne, Wilson.

Best: Turner, Faulkner, Noble, Rogers, Riggio, Payne, Gault.

PERTH – Goals: Ninyette 5; Byrne, Cary, Bennell 2; Yeo, White, Dennis.

Best: Ninyette, Sinclair, Leggett, Colledge, Jones, Yeo, Eyres, Taylor.