SWAN Districts opened the 2024 season beating the West Coast Eagles at Bassendean Oval by 64 points before backing up against East Perth on Saturday.
The Swans were leading by as much as 15 points just before half-time.
The black-and-whites then had their chances to take control again in the third quarter, but a string of behinds proved costly and East Perth ended up winning 18.11 (119) to 11.16 (82).
Jiah Reidy finished the game kicking three goals for Swan Districts with Leigh Kohlmann, Tom Edwards and Ayden Cartwright all adding two apiece.
Co-captain Jesse Turner was prolific once again on the wing ending up with 43 touches and 18 marks with Jye Chalcraft racking up another 37 disposals, Nik Rokahr 31, Jackson McLachlan 20, Josh Cipro 18 and Aidan Clarke 17.
Tony Notte was a steadying influence down back too with 23 possessions and five marks in the 294th game of his career.
Swan Districts scored the first goal inside less than two minutes courtesy of Jackson McLachlan, but the Royals then built some momentum with four quick goals themselves in the space of seven minutes.
Swans responded with two quick goals thanks to Ayden Cartwright and then a running goal on the left boot of Aidan Clarke.
Leigh Kohlmann scored just before quarter-time, but going into the break and it was East Perth leading by 12 points on the back of both teams combining for 10 goals between them.
Swan Districts dominated the first half of the third quarter as well but couldn’t put the score on the board.
Swans managed to kick a goal in the final term but the Royals scored six of the game’s last seven goals to win by 37 points.