The Swan Districts Round 6 Wrap-Up

Is there a better feeling than going into the week having seen both the Colts and men’s League sides rack up their first wins of the season, along with the WAFLW women securing their place in the 2020 final series?

The Swan Districts is a proud club, glowing in both football history and strong community support, and this weekend was particularly significant for two main reasons; NAIDOC week (for the women’s sides), and Count Me In round.

Count Me In round celebrates the inclusion of people living with disabilities being able to play the game we all love, with North Beach and Coolbinia playing a curtain raiser to the WAFLW game.

With NAIDOC round officially being scheduled outside of the women’s shortened fixture, it was a chance for our ladies sides to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians have made to the game, by donning a beautifully designed jersey by local artist, Maddison Alone.

Check out the breakdown of each game below…

WAFL Colts

It was a tight tussle for our Colts boys on Saturday morning, as goals were traded throughout the first quarter, with neither team able to kick away. Inaccuracy in front of the big sticks saw the Swans dominate the shots on goal, but be down by two at the first break. Backing yourself in and taking your opportunities was the message from the coaches in the quarter time huddle.

The first goal of the second went to Peel after a 50m penalty took the ball out of the black and whites forward line, with another 50m penalty just minutes after seeing them add to their lead. As the quarter went on, the young Swans hit back, starting with a beautiful goal from Luke Taylor from the tightest of angles. Zane Trew, who found himself playing a role up forward in patches throughout the game, tied the scores shortly after. A fumble just metres out from the Swans goal line saw them take a one point lead into the main break.

Peel kicked the opening goal of the second half before Josh Middleton and Taylor piled on three between them to take a 14 point lead into the final term.

A couple of goals in the fourth saw the Colts build a big enough lead to hold on for their first win of the season, beating Peel; 10.12 [72] to 8.8 [56]

Having spent the majority of the season in defence, Ty Sears was given the chance to play out of the middle, and had a great impact with 23 disposals and seven inside 50’s, voted as one of the best on field, along with Cian Ehlers, Alec Clark and Joseph Salmon.

Middleton and Taylor provided strong targets up forward, kicking four and three goals respectively.

Trew was strong once more all around the ground, racking up 28 possessions, four tackles and a goal.

‘I felt good coming back after having to have the week off with concussion, and just went out there to play footy for the team, and it was awesome to get a win with the boys’ he said.

‘After coming so close in the last game, the spirits are really high, and that energy will carry us into next week also’.

‘Regardless of whatever age or level you coach at, it’s always nice to get a win’ Bergin said.

‘Our best footy is very good, and there have been games we have let go because we couldn’t put teams away in big moments.

‘The boys were able to sustain their effort, energy and skill for longer periods today, which resulted in the victory against Peel.

‘I’m just so pleased for the coaches, the playing group and our supporters’.

WAFL Reserves

The WAFL Reserves had the bye this weekend.

WAFL League

It was a battle of the teams who hadn’t yet tasted victory in 2020, when Swan Districts took on Peel Thunder Saturday afternoon. Stakes were high going into the game, with the loser staying winless on the bottom of the ladder.

Former Docker, Hayden Ballantyne, put Peel on the board early after drawing a soft free kick directly in front of goal. The black ducks got their first in style,  after a key smother on the wing by Corey Gault saw Frank Anderson run through his opponents, flick the ball to George Hampson, who at pace put it laces out onto the chest of a leading Brayden Noble. As the Swans began to hold the ball in their forward line, it was William Reidy who broke through the scoring-lock in red time, giving his side a seven-point lead at the first break. Stopping the Thunders uncontested marks, while increasing clearances and contested possessions was the key messaging from Adam Pickering to his players in the huddle.

The second quarter started with Hampson kicking truly from 45m out, being rewarded a free kick after initially being dumped as he disposed the ball. From there, it was the defenders who particularly had to stand strong for the majority of the quarter, with Peel constantly peppering the ball deep inside their forward 50m. Their structure and intent held strong, keeping their opponents goalless as the siren sounded for the main break.

Peel kept the pressure on in their forward half as the start of the third began. With the ball seemingly to be parked in their attacking 50m, nervous comments from the crowd began surfacing, focused mainly around it only being a matter of time before the visitors would convert. A couple of goals and a series of behinds later saw the Thunder take the lead back from the black and whites.

It is in these moments where a leader needs to stand up and take control of the game… enter George Hampson! A great roving effort from Jacob Sideris set up a series of plays that ended with the ball on Hampson chest, to kick his second of the day. Moments later, having been knocked to the deck outside the boundary line, Hampson bounced back up, put in a solid gut run to get off his opponent and put himself back in the play, taking possession of the ball to set up Steven Payne in the square.

With confidence and energy up, Brayden Noble provided a mark of the year contender to see the Swans take a nine-point lead into the final term. Messages from the coaches revolved around not taking unnecessary risks and playing simple footy to finish the game off.

It took almost 15mins to see a score in the fourth, with both teams playing desperate footy to find their first win. A Hampson to Sideris combination saw the black ducks go up by a couple of goals, with Josh Cipro getting on the end of another shortly after. Leigh Kohlmann’s strong grab and conversion, followed by Reidy’s second saw supporters getting up out of their chairs awaiting the final siren to celebrate the 9.8 [62] to 4.9 [33] victory with their team.

The win was soured by an early hand injury to Aidan Clarke, followed by Hampson going down with a hamstring late in the fourth.

Corey Gault received best on ground honours, followed by George Hampson and Jesse Turner. Hampson also received the Golden Grunt award, as voted on by his teammates.

WAFLW Rogers Cup

On a sunny day in Joondalup, the Rogers Cup girls came up against a West Perth team who were looking at making a late run to the finals.

After controlling the ball for around 70% of the first quarter, the Swans managed to put only three points on the board in the first quarter, to the home sides’ solitary goal.

A tough second quarter saw West Perth come out with a greater attack on the ball, kicking another three goals and keeping the ball in their forward half.

With the half time address directed at the young ducks to take the game on and not being reactionary to their opponents, they came out with more intent in the third, showing some great signs around the ground. Abbey Shepherd’s strength in the ruck saw her opponent react poorly physically, given a red card and sent straight off the field.

As fatigue kicked in from the warm day in the final term, it was the few players that dug deep, with solid gut running and the desire to be there for their teammates who really stood out in the 6.5 [41] to 0.4 [4] defeat.

Charlie Beazley, Tahlia Lough and Danielle Wright received best on ground honours.

WAFLW Reserves

It was obvious on Sunday that the WAFLW Reserves side had a solid game plan in mind… Apply high pressure and attack the ball.

In an exciting game to watch, the Swans laid 23 tackles in the first term, with simple errors allowing their opponents to take a nine point lead into the quarter time break.

The pressure continued in the second, another 25 tackles for the quarter going unrewarded on the scoreboard.

With the group in high spirits during the rooms at the half, recognising the importance of the jumper they were wearing as part of NAIDOC round, their never give up attitude was evident going into the third.

Emily Hocking broke the drought for the black and whites, kicking the first goal for the black and whites just minutes into the second half. As the Falcons continued to kick away, the most impressive part of the whole game was the positive mindset and encouragement that came from each and every Swans player, both on and off the field, with the side believing in themselves to finish the game strong regardless of what the scoreboard said. Loughlyn Webb and Shannon Matthews kicked the final goals of the game to go down 7.8 [50] to 3.3 [21].

Kaitlyn Beaton, Aimee Williams and Shannon Matthews were awarded with best on ground honours.

WAFLW League

The calculations were simple for the women’s side going into their game against Peel on Saturday -win and guarantee yourself a finals berth or lose and be in a position to miss out completely.

Having beaten Peel in Mandurah by a goal in Round 1, this grudge match with a lot at stake did not disappoint.

The Thunder got off to a quick start on the scoreboard. Mikayla Morrison put the first through for the Swans, ducking and weaving through her opponents in what has become her signature style of play. Even though the black and whites were in control of the possession in the first it was split second moments that saw them struggle to open the game up around the contest, with the team down by six points at the first break.

The second quarter saw the Swans take an early lead on the back of a Bianca Webb goal. Although they were able to lock the ball in their forward half, inaccuracy in front of the big sticks saw them up by the smallest of margins heading into the main break.

It was a battle for the lead in the third as teams traded goals. Peel were the first to score, before a beautiful passage of play involving Ash Sharp and Nyra Anderson got the ball to Morrison for her second goal of the game. When Shanae Davison put another through from 40m out, the Swans appeared to have the game on their terms. A couple of quick entries late in the quarter saw Peel take the lead once more, going into the final quarter.

Having looked a little flat all game, the Swans kicked into gear in the fourth, with an obvious increase in energy coming after goals from Davison and Anderson took the lead back from the visitors. Effort and attack to lock the ball in their forward half saw Davison kick her third to increase the lead. Peel closed fast, looking dangerous as they pushed forward late, but it was an epic two minutes from veteran Lauren Osborne who kept the Thunder off the scoreboard, rebounding the ball back into the Swans favour. Young defender, Olivia Cripps, pushed forward late in the quarter to kick her first goal of league footy, and secure the narrow 8.6 [54] vs 7.5 [47] victory, and guarantee a finals berth, having done it without their usual cohort of AFLW stars.

Shanae Davison received the Players Player award, as voted by her teammates, with Emma Nannut, Renee Holwill and Lauren Osborne best on ground.

Round 7

This week sees the men’s teams travel to Leederville Oval to take on East Perth, while the women’s sides take on East Fremantle at New Choice Homes Park.

Saturday 29^th August

Colts (Men’s)                     9:30am (Leederville Oval)

Reserves (Men’s)             12noon (Leederville Oval)

League (Men’s)                 2:30pm (Leederville Oval)

Sunday 30^th August

Rogers Cup (Women’s) 10:30am (New Choice Homes Park)

Reserves (Women’s)      12:15pm (New Choice Homes Park)

League (Women’s)          12:15pm (New Choice Homes Park)