Swans can't quite fly over Demons

DESPITE conceding the opening seven goals of the game, Swan Districts made a stirring comeback against Perth at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday but it wasn’t quite enough with the Demons kicking the game's last two goals.

Perth led by as much as 40 points early in the second quarter having kicked the opening seven goals of the contest, but Swan Districts began to get back in touch by half-time despite inaccuracy proving costly.

That remained the story of the third quarter with Swans going into three quarter-time having kicked 4.14 for the afternoon. But they managed to hit the front early in the last term and have all the momentum to appear on track for the first win of the season.

It wasn’t quite to be with Perth kicking the last two goals of the contest to win 11.8 (74) to 8.17 (65).

Leigh Kohlmann was impressive up forward for Swan Districts kicking three goals from 15 disposals and seven marks. Josh Cipro also kicked three goals to go with 21 possessions.

George Hampson fought valiantly in the midfield for Swan Districts and ended up with 27 possessions and seven marks while Jesse Turner racked up 26 disposals to go with nine inside-50 entries and six tackles.

Steven Payne finished with 20 possessions, Matt Riggio 20, David Ellard 19 and Ethan Maguire 17.

Swans back-line held up strongly again led by the job Tony Stephens did holding Michael Bennell to just four kicks, one goal and a mighty spectacular mark. Alex Howard was strong too and had 21 possessions and seven marks.

Perth came out on fire taking less than two minutes for Cody Ninyette to kick the first goal of the game. Added another seven minutes later in his first league appearance of the season before he added a third nearing time-on of the first term.

Shaun Smith and Michael Bennell then kicked goals also for Perth before quarter-time and the Demons were 30 points to the good at the first change.

Perth's lead then continued to balloon to start the second quarter with goals to Lachlan Dennis and former Swan Matthew Rogers. The demons were up by as much as 40 points before Swans finally got their first goal of the game at the 18-minute mark thanks to Josh Cipro.

Cipro added another before half-time to keep the Black Ducks in touch to a degree, with the Demons still leading by 26 points.

Perth restored its 31-point lead to start the third quarter thanks to a goal to Kristian Cary, but Swan Districts was turning around momentum in general play and was looking more dangerous.

Swans just couldn’t convert in front of goal but third quarter goals to Warrick Wilson and Leigh Kohlmann saw the home side only behind 16 points at three quarter-time despite having 18 scoring shots to just 14 from the Demons.

Swans were peppering the goals to start the final term but could only manage three behinds until Kohlmann marked and converted his second goal of the day and suddenly it was a seven-point ball game.

Rogers stepped up to goal for Perth in response to put the Demons back up by 14, but Swans weren’t going away. Kohlmann booted his third and then Cipro did the same and all of a sudden at the 16-minute mark, the Black Ducks were within three points.

Swans had all the momentum which continued when Corey Gault kicked truly at the 23-minute mark to give them the lead.

But Perth would have the final say with the last two goals of the contest from Brent Edmonds and Sam Garstone to secure the nine-point victory.

That keeps the Demons unbeaten after three games this season and Swans winless following the opening three rounds.

Perth's reserves also scored a win leading into the league clash at Steel Blue Oval, with the Demons beating Swan Districts 11.11 (77) to 8.7 (55).

Dylan Smith kicked two goals for Swan Districts from 15 possessions and seven marks.

Albert Dean responded to his demotion well by having 26 possessions, five tackles and a goal for the Black Ducks.

Jiah Reidy also had 24 possessions and 11 tackles for Swans while Jacob Coniglio collected 20 disposals, Brayden Hackett 19, Patrick Italiano 19, Callum Garcia 19 and Cameron Lamonaco 18.

Swan Districts continued its perfect start to the colts season beating Perth by 30 points at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday morning.

On the back of having already beaten South Fremantle and East Perth to start the colts season on the back of reaching last year's Grand Final, it's been a perfect start to 2019 under new coach Simon Bergin.

Swan Districts made a flying start kicking the only goals of the first quarter but Perth hit back in the second term five goals to one themselves and scores were all square at half-time.

Swans were able to keep the Demons goalless again in the third quarter while kicking three goals themselves. The Black Ducks then added two more goals to one in the last term to run out 10.12 (72) to 6.6 (42) winners.

Bailey Kane kicked three goals for Swan Districts from 10 possessions, seven hit outs, six marks, four tackles and four inside-50 entries. Jamison Ugle also kicked two goals.

Zane Trew produced a standout performance for the black-and-whites racking up 40 possessions to go with 10 tackles, four marks and four inside-50 entries.

Kade Wallrodt also compiled 24 possessions, Jak Watson 23 (13 tackles), Seb Bright 21 (eight tackles, eight inside 50s), Ashley Brockbernd 19, Ben Taylor 18, Brenton Hilton 18, Brock Fisher 18 and Ryan Letessier 16 to go with 31 hit outs.

SWAN DISTRICTS        0.3    2.9    4.14    8.17    (65)
PERTH                5.3    7.5    8.6    11.8    (74)

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Kohlmann, Cipro 3; Gault, W Wilson.
Best: Hampson, Cipro, Kohlmann, Howard, Stephens, Turner, Riggio.
PERTH – Goals: Ninyette 3; Rogers 2; Dennis, Cary, Smith, Bennell, Edmonds, Garstone.
Best: Jones, Colledge, Byrne, Sinclair, Yeo, Eyres, Lague.