WAFL Round 2 & WAFLW Round 10 Match Report

In a round full of passion and emotion, Saturday and Sunday’s games paid tribute to the sacrifice of the past and present servicemen and women of Australia. The games provided a platform to highlight the spirit of the ANZAC’s, displaying the qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice.

Unfortunately for all six Swan Districts sides, the home ground advantage wasn’t enough to get any of the teams over the line.

Check out the breakdown of each game below…

WAFL League

The Swans league team were forced into some late changes to their side, giving Cian Ehlers the opportunity to make his league debut.

In a hard fought, physical opening quarter, it was the home side that kicked away early, taking an 11-point lead into the first break.

The scoring continued for the Swans in the second, outscoring their opponents five goals to two, to see them up by 26 at the half.

A tough third quarter saw the visitors close the gap, holding the black and whites goalless, while narrowing the gap to under three goals heading into the final term.

Although the Swans threw everything at the Sharks in the last quarter, a run of six goals to East Fremantle saw them run over the top of the home team SD 12.8 (80) to EF 13.11 (89).

Matt Germs impressed with 39 hit-outs, while Aidan Clarke dominated the stat sheet amassing 33 disposals, 6 tackles, 7 inside 50s and a goal.

Goals: 3 – J Palmer, 2 – T Edwards, B Noble, J Turner, 1 – A Clarke, S Fisher, E Hewett.

Best: J Turner, A Clarke, G Ottaviano, T Watson, T Notte.

WAFL Reserves

It may be early in the season, but after strong wins in Round 1, a victory in this game for the Reserves Swans and Sharks sides could have seen either team take an early lead atop the WAFL ladder.

In a close first half, just 10 points separated the sides, with the Swans taking a narrow lead into the main break.

The goalless third quarter curse was evident for the men’s teams on the day, with the Reserves managing just two points, as their opponents hit the lead after a five-goal haul.

Unfortunately, the third quarter slump was too much to overcome in the final term, with the black and whites going down SD 9.5 (59) to EF 10.7 (67).

Brenton Hilton led all disposal getters on the day with 30 possessions, while Max Chipper and Ben Hewett continue to push for League selection, voted in the teams best for the second week in a row.

Goals: 3 – K Hughes, 2 – J Cox, 1 – D Ralph, K Caporn, N Hannan, H Babich.

Best: M Chipper, B Hewett, K Caporn, D Ralph, K Hughes.

WAFL Colts

The Swans found themselves immediately under the pump from the first bounce, with their opponents taking eight scoring shots to two, to take a 21-point buffer into the first break.

Closing the gap to two goals by halftime, and just seven points heading into the final quarter, the stage was set for an epic finish.

Trading goal for goal in the last, it was the visitors that held on to take the narrow SD 9.3 (57) to 9.13 (67) victory.

Riley Hardeman is sure to be recovering from leather poisoning after finishing the game with 37 disposals. Tom Smith dominated the ruck with 24 hit-outs while James Sullivan had 8 tackles.

Goals: 2 – J Sullivan, D Hirst, 1 – T Burgess, T Smith, B Fitzgerald, M Durack, C Skeen.

Best: A Laurisson, D Jones, T Smith, R Hardeman.

WAFLW League

In arguably one of the biggest defeats the League side have faced in many seasons, East Fremantle showed why they were the only undefeated team in the women’s competition.

Unable to score in the first half, the Swans pressure around the ball was the only thing keeping them in the game, to be down by just 15 points going into the main break.

Managing just a single point in the third term, a comeback win wasn’t out of the question, with three goals separating the teams heading into the final quarter.

The visitors piled on another four goals to one in the fourth to take the comprehensive SD 1.1 (7) to EF 7.5 (47) victory.

Captain, Jess Cox, continued to lead from the front, amassing 22 disposals and 8 tackles to again be named one of the best on ground for her sixth straight game.

Goals: 1 – A Ralph.

Best: I Edgley, E Gelmi, A Ralph, S Proudfoot, J Cox.

WAFLW Reserves

The Swans Reserves headed into this game with an equal amount of wins on the board as their East Fremantle opponents. A victory would see them potentially move into second place on the WAFLW ladder.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be, with a one goal first half seeing them down by 36 points at the main break.

The scoring didn’t come any easier in the second half for the black and whites, as the visitors put on a further 12 scoring shots to 3, to run away with the SD 2.2 (14) to 11.13 (79) win.

Goals: 1 – A Spencer, K Badger

Best: I Strover, C Vidovich, K May, A Spencer, K Polla

WAFLW Rogers Cup

Coming up against an East Fremantle side who had lost just one game for the season, the young Swans held there own for much of the day.

The Sharks were unable to get more than two goals ahead of the black and whites, with the Rogers Cup girls applying pressure all afternoon, even keeping the visitors scoreless in the third quarter.

A scoreless last quarter for the Swans was there eventual undoing, going down SD 2.5 (17) to EF 4.6 (30) in a tight match.

Goals: 1 – M Fletcher, R Hall.

With the women’s Reserves having a bye this weekend, the five other sides all take to the road for their next round of games. The men’s teams travel to Mineral Resources Park to take on the Demons, whilst the women’s squads head to Joondalup to clash against West Perth.

Saturday 30^th April - WAFL

Colts                    vs Perth at 9:10am          Mineral Resources Park

Reserves             vs Perth at 11:40am       Mineral Resources Park

League                vs Perth at 5:10pm         Mineral Resources Park

Sunday 1^st May - WAFLW

Rogers Cup         vs West Perth at 10:30am           Pentanet Staduim

Reserves             Bye

League                vs West Perth at 12:30pm           Pentanet Stadium