Round 17 Preview v West Coast Eagles

SWAN Districts' last win this season was against the West Coast Eagles so the black-and-whites will be hoping their return to Steel Blue Oval on Saturday signals an end of their seven-game losing streak.

Swans improved to a 2-5 record back in Round 7 when they defeated the Eagles last time they met and that 14-point victory meant there was reason for optimism for the black-and-whites that it could spark a run of good form.

Swan Districts hadn’t played as badly over those first seven games that only two wins to show for it suggested and breaking through for that elusive second win of 2019 had the chance to spark a run of winning form.

However, it wasn’t to be with Swans not having won a game in seven attempts since while the Eagles were in terrific form on a four-game winning streak up until a surprisingly heavy 68-point defeat at the hands of Subiaco last Saturday at Leederville Oval.

That has both teams now coming into Saturday's clash at Steel Blue Oval looking to bounce back after disappointing Round 16 showings.

Swans only kicked two goals all afternoon on a fine day to lose to South Fremantle by 85 points at Fremantle Community Bank Oval while West Coast only kicked four goals as well in that 68-point loss to Subiaco.

A lot has changed since that Round 7 win for Swans against the Eagles, but on that afternoon at Steel Blue Oval were able to dig deep and find a way to win, but the ability to remain competitive has diminished week on week since with the team becoming more and more youthful.

Now Swans come into Round 17 sitting in last position on the WAFL ladder with a 2-12 record with that seven-game losing run. They are two games behind the ninth placed East Fremantle.

West Coast comes into the clash still a real chance of playing finals in 2019 currently sitting seventh with a 6-8 record but just a game behind the fifth placed West Perth.

From the Swan Districts team that lost to South Fremantle last Saturday, the black-and-whites could blood another debutant this week in the form of Jake Pasini.

Nathan Ireland, Warrick Wilson, Nathan Blakely and Mitchell Bain are the other players in contention for a return.

David Ellard and Lachlan Riley are the two players to go out of the team at this stage.

There are plenty of changes once again with the Eagles with Brayden Ainsworth, Liam Duggan, Liam Robilliard, Harry Edwards, Daniel Acres, Patrick Bines, Jordan Busher and Joel Kalajzic making up the inclusions to the squad.

Luke Foley, Bailey Williams, Tom Cole, Drew Petrie and Jak Cary are those named out for West Coast at this stage.

With West Coast not having a reserves or colts team, the league clash will be a standalone fixture on Saturday afternoon for Swan Districts. 

The WAFLW match between Swan Districts and Claremont will serve as the curtain-raiser at Steel Blue Oval starting from 12.15pm.

OPTUS WAFL ROUND 17

SWAN DISTRICTS v WEST COAST EAGLES – STEEL BLUE OVAL, SATURDAY 2.15PM

LEAGUE LIVE STATS