The Swan Districts Round 5 Wrap-Up

Round 5 saw all six Swan Districts sides head to Freo to take on the Bulldogs.

With a number of debutants across the teams, the often wet conditions saw the games played under a lot of pressure and around contests.

Check out the breakdown of each game below…

WAFL Colts

The Colts had chances to take their first win of the season on Saturday morning, with inaccuracy in front of goal eventually costing them the victory.

Starting strong, the young Swans hard work around the contest saw them dominate the inside 50m count. Having nine scoring shots to two, they went into the first break with a narrow lead, having kicked seven behinds.

Imprecision in front of the big sticks continued in the second quarter, keeping their Bulldogs opponents in the game. In what could have quite easily been a 7-8 goal lead at the main break, it was just 17 points that separated the teams at half time.

Kicking with the breeze in the third, the Colts could not take advantage of the conditions, with South Fremantle kicking back to be within four points going into the final term.

The black and whites continued to look clean in the fourth, but were kept goalless in the last, a 50m penalty putting the Bulldogs in front for the first time in the game to run out as victors; SF 9.8 [62] to SD 6.16 [52].

Coach, Simon Belgin, said it was really disappointing for the boys to go down like they did, recognising that not all players were switched on throughout the entire match.

“We gave ourselves a really good chance to win the game” Belgin said. “Unfortunately there were lapses in concentration out on the field and some individuals didn’t lock in to the importance of key moments throughout the game, which cost us.”

“When you kick 16 behinds, it’s always going to be a struggle on a small ground when we get the breeze but don’t take advantage of it.

 “We had some really strong moments of good footy and competed for a lot longer than we have in some other games this season, which is a pleasing sign.”

Cian Ehlers was voted as best on ground, laying eight tackles and competing consistently in his role throughout the entire match.

WAFL Reserves

The Reserves looked sharp against their second placed opponents in the first term, with clean use of the ball by foot hitting team mates on the chest, giving their forwards the best chance to convert. Tom Edwards put the Swans on the board early after a great grab inside 50m.

Souths started to settle after the Edwards goal, taking control of the ball in their forward half and piling on the next six scoring shots. Luckily inaccuracy plagued the Bulldogs, managing to get just one major on the scoreboard. The Swans kicked their second for the term in red time, against the flow of play to take a 1-point lead into the first break.

South Fremantle took advantage of the strong breeze in the second, with six scoring shots to one. Thankfully their inaccuracy continued, allowing the black and whites to keep within two kicks going into the main break.

As the third quarter began, the Swans increase in intensity and their attack on the ball was obvious. Gaining territory by foot, Edwards got onto the end of a couple more goals, narrowing the gap to just 4-points heading into the final term.

Although their effort could not be questioned in the fourth, small errors at crucial times was the difference in the last, the Swans going down by just eight points at the final siren; SF 6.19 [55] to SD 7.4 [46].

Patrick Italiano was strong all across the ground, the defender managing to push up the oval for his first goal of the season. Jake Dugan, Matt Germs and Tom Edwards were also among the best on the day.

WAFL League

The winless Swan Districts league side came up against a top seeded, unbeaten South Fremantle outfit on Saturday afternoon.

In what many thought would be a blow-out after the Bulldogs disposed of reigning premiers, Subiaco, by 50 points the week before, it was obvious that this chatter was not believed by the black and white players and supporters.

With strong pressure all over the ground, it took quite a number of minutes for either team to get on the board. Souths struck first, with Josh Cipro replying immediately from outside 50m from the centre bounce. Frank Anderson kicked the Swans second, gathering the ball 25m out, splitting the defenders and slotting a nice check-side from directly in front. The Cipro/Anderson combination continued for the Swans third, the two combing through the middle of the ground to honour the lead of Leigh Kohlmann. The Swans defenders stood strong to help put their fourth on the board, rebounding from the backline into attack, the strong hands of Kohlmann marking in front of his opponent to see the black ducks take an 18 point lead into the first change.

The Swans continued to dominate the contested possession in the second, but the scoring dried up against the strong winds. With constant pressure on the ball and the black and whites leading the attack, it was Souths that closed the gap after Mason Shaw snuck back behind the play for an open goal, backing it up with a kick from outside 50m shortly after to close the gap to a single kick at the main break.

The conditions made it hard for either team to score in the third, with the ball locked in all over the ground. It was Souths who broke through first to put them back in front for the first time since the opening quarter. Their lead was short lived, George Hampson wrestling it back from 45 out to keep them in front by just five at three quarter time.

An exciting final term saw the lead constantly changing between the two teams. South would score first, Kohlmann would regain the lead back for the Swans. A free kick in the Bulldogs forward-line would see them up by a point, before debutant, Jacob Sideris put it through from the goal square in congestion for his first league goal to go four points up. Getting late into the quarter, the Bulldogs would receive a series of controversial free kicks in their forward half, converting truly to take the win SF 10.7 [67] to SD 7.5 [47].

The captaincy trio of Matt Riggio, Tony Notte and Corey Gault were voted amongst the best on the day, along with Josh Cipro and Anthony Stephens.

WAFLW Rogers Cup

It was always going to be a tough day on the field for our youth girls, coming up against a strong opposition in wet conditions.

South Fremantle blew the game open in the first half, kicking 8.2 while holding the Swans scoreless.

In a situation that could have seen the young black ducks drop their heads and give up, they showed great spirit after half time. With more intent around their tackling pressure and a stronger attack on the ball, the Swans limited their opponents scoring in the second half, going down SF 12.5 [77] to SD 0.2 [2].

WAFLW Reserves

On a day where a win could have propelled our Reserves women into the top 4, it was a hard fought loss on Sunday.

With South Fremantle leading by a solitary goal at quarter time, the score couldn’t have been closer at the main break, with both teams locked up at 20 points apiece.

The Bulldogs were able to lock the ball in their forward half for the majority of the third quarter, putting three goals on the board to the Swans one, only 12 points separating the teams going into the final term.

As heavy rain started to set in, it was Souths who kicked ahead in the fourth, blowing the lead out of reach to take their first win of the season SF 8.4 [52] to SD 5.5 [35]

WAFLW League

Heading into this game, the objective was clear… Start fast!

Winning a first quarter has been something that’s alluded the Swans women’s league side so far this year, having to play catch-up for the rest of the game.

This all changed on Sunday.

Having spent most of the season so far in the ruck, it was tall forward, Steph Graskoski, who got the Swans on the board early, taking a strong pack mark in the goal square and converting truly. Fast youngster, Tara Stribley, was able to use her speed to avoid defenders, piling on the black and whites second for the term.

Holding their opponents to a single point in the second quarter, the Swans were able to extend their lead against the swirly winds. Veteran, Fiona Boucher, started the attack, while Courtney Lindgren kicked her first league goal with a beautiful snap from the pocket.

Souths fought back early in the third, increasing their pressure on the ball and kicking the first goal of the term. Having worked hard up in the forward line, Chanel Jetta joined the small club of kicking a goal on debut to help take a 22 point lead into the final term.

Keeping the Bulldogs scoreless in the fourth, some class from Mikayla Hyde saw her take a great grab in the Swans forward half, dodge and step through a couple of defenders and hit Boucher on the chest for her second. Inspired by her fellow midfielder with the same name, Mikayla Morrison then gathered the ball in congestion, also stepped through a number of defenders, and kicked truly. Boucher kicked her third late to close out the game, and see her team advance to third on the WAFLW ladder, with a SF 2.2 [8] to SD 8.8 [56] victory.

Although the scoreboard looked heavily one-sided after the final siren, coach Jo Taylor said it was a great opportunities for both teams to participate in the hit out.

“South Fremantle’s contest around the ball was really strong and our girls had to adjust to it really quickly” she said.

“Our team personally were really young on the park, and we played a number of 15 year olds, who stood up and held their own.

“To see the girls attack the contest, open the space with their speed and look to get it in to our talls was good to see.”

There were a large number of players who could have received best on ground honours today, with rookie forward-turned-ruck, Sarah Wielstra winning a majority of the taps against her AFLW-listed opponent and former Swan, Mim Strom. Graskoski made her presence known in attack, spending the majority of her day up forward, crashing packs and fighting for every possession.

A special mention has to be given to Shannon Matthews, who after playing three quarters in the Reserves (without a single rest), backed up her performance by coming into the league side after Nyra Anderson was a late withdrawal. Not only was this great effort recognised by the coaches, her team mates appreciated the enormous effort, voting her in as the Player’s Player of the day.

Tara Stribley was given best on ground, after her run, carry and attack on the ball was crucial all over the ground. Nicole Bombardieri pushed back and played deep in defence for the first time in her short career. Usually playing in the ruck, her body usage, closing speed and jump were on show, so don’t be surprised to see her there in the future. Mikayla Hyde rounded out the top 3, recognised once more her strength and composure in and around the contest, and skilful disposal on both sides of the body.

Round 6

Round 6 sees most of our teams head back to Steel Blue Oval this Saturday, to take on Peel Thunder.

Why not make it a family day out and bring the children along to our infamous Kids Zone, where they can enjoy laser tag, a jumping castle, face painting, spider mountain, bungee tramps and much more. All activities once inside the ground are FREE!!

Expect to see both the Men’s League side and Colts get their first wins of the season, coming up similarly placed opponents on the ladder. The Women’s League team will secure outright second if they conquer Peel this weekend, having beaten them by a goal in Round 1 already.

The Women’s Reserve and Rogers Cup girls will make the trip to Joondalup arena, while the Men’s Reserves side freshen up with the bye.

Saturday 22^nd August

Colts (Men’s)                     8:50am (Steel Blue Oval)

League (Women’s)          12:50pm (Steel Blue Oval)

League (Men’s)                 2:30pm (Steel Blue Oval)

Sunday 9^th August

Rogers Cup (Women’s) 10:30am (Joondalup Arena)

Reserves (Women’s)      12pm (Joondalup Arena)

Bye

Reserves (Men’s)