Semi Finals WAFLW Match Report

Swan Districts got a measure of revenge on Peel Thunder on Sunday to eliminate them from the 2022 WAFLW season with the five-point win to advance to the preliminary final.

It has been quite the rivalry developed between Swan Districts and Peel Thunder including meeting in the finals twice last year with  the Thunder winning the Grand Final.

They met once again in the first semi-final on Sunday at Mandurah's Lane Group Stadium in a cut-throat match up with the winner to advance and the season to be over for the loser.

In the end it was Swan Districts who prevailed 5.4 (34) to 4.5 (29) to win and keep their season alive, and to end the dreams of Peel of attempting to win a third straight WAFLW premiership.

The win means that Swans now have a chance to book a spot in the Grand Final by taking part in this Sunday's WAFLW preliminary final against Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Ashley Sharp kicked two goals from her five kicks in the win for Swan Districts with goals for the black-and-whites also to Courtney Zappara, Jorjina Kean and Jaime Henry.

Abbygail Bushby continued her standout form this season for Swan Districts with another 18 possessions to go with six tackles, four marks and four inside-50 entries.

Ruby Mahony also finished with 15 touches for Swans, Jorjina Kean 15, Natalie House 15, Jaime Henry 15, Naomi Baker 15 and Taylah Edwards 14 while Aimee Ralph had 11 to go with 18 hit outs and 10 tackles.

The seasons of Peel and Swan Districts went on the line in the first semi-final on Sunday featuring two teams who know each other so well, and it was Swans who started well with a goal after just two minutes to Jaime Henry.

Ashley Sharp then added a second just before quarter-time and the black-and-whites took an 11-point lead into the first change.

Peel managed to kick its first goal of the contest seven minutes into the second quarter thanks to Chloe Wrigley and then Kira Phillips also kicked truly to put the home team in front.

Swans responded impressively, though, with the next two goals through Jorjina Kean and Sharp to be back out to a 10-point advantage before Peel pulled that back to four by half-time with a late second quarter major from Phillips.

Swan Districts again opened the second half strongly with a goal to Courtney Zappara and the lead was soon 11 points once more, but the Thunder responded soon after with a goal to Jorja Haines.

However, there wouldn’t be another goal in the game with Swans kicking three behinds to end the third quarter, and then the Thunder scored the only three points of the last term.

That saw Swan Districts hold on for the 5.4 (34) to 4.5 (29) victory in Mandurah to advance to the preliminary final and end the hat-trick premiership dreams of the Thunder in the process.

It was a winning start to the day for Swan Districts as well in the WAFLW Reserves competition with a 7.13 (55) to 1.2 (8) win in the first semi-final against Claremont.

Gemma Hill kicked two goals in the win for Swan Districts with a goal each to Erin Brown, Hayley Hill, Shannan Rene, Charity Ryder and Kaitlynne Badger to go with her five behinds.

The Swan Districts reserves team now has the chance to advance to the Grand Final by taking on Claremont in Sunday's preliminary final.