Bryce Watson kicked a goal for Swan Districts in their last home and away game of the season where they defeated Perth. Picture: The Sports Photo

Swan Districts lock in third spot

Swan Districts beat Perth to lock in third spot on the WAFL ladder, which gives them a double chance to make it into the grand final.
August 29, 2024
Chris Pike

Leigh Kohlmann kicked six goals and Swan Districts locked away their place in the finals and a double chance by beating Perth by 55 points in tough conditions at Bassendean oval.

The equation was simple for Swans coming into the contest on Saturday afternoon in the last round of the home and away season with a win to keep them in third position.

Swan Districts took care of business with a dominant performance to beat Perth 10.14 (74) to 2.7 (19) and that was enough for the black-and-whites to lock in a third place finish and to take on Peel Thunder on Saturday in Mandurah in a qualifying final.

Despite Swan Districts winning the game by 55 points and kicking 10 goals to two, having 24 scoring shots to nine and 55 inside-50 entries to 25, it was a much more efficient Swans than a Demons team who had 28 more disposals despite all of that.

Kohlmann’s round 21 goals came from 14 kicks and nine marks to give him 44 goals in a standout return season to the WAFL.

Co-captain Jesse Turner continued his superb form with another 29 possessions and 10 inside-50 entries while Jye Chalcraft gathered 28 disposals, Aidan Clarke 21, Nik Rokahr 20, Tony Notte 20, Jackson McLachlan 19, Jake Pasini 17 and Josh Cipro 17 to go with eight tackles and a goal.

The conditions were tricky last Saturday and Perth started the game with the first goal inside less than a minute thanks to Sam Stubbs.

But it would be a long time before Perth managed to kick another goal and Swans did kick two themselves later in the term through Bryce Watson and Jackson McLachlan to be narrowly leading by three points at quarter-time.

Kohlmann then kicked two goals inside the first six minutes of the second term and then after Tom Edwards got on the board, Kohlmann added a third and Swan Districts kept the Demons scoreless for the quarter to be leading by 33 points at the long break.

Neither team managed a goal in the third quarter as the weather made things a challenge and just the five behinds were kicked with Swans still leading by 34 points at three quarter-time.

Kohlmann then opened the fourth term with two quick goals and then after Stubbs kicked a second for the day for the Demons, Swans responded courtesy of Cipro and then with a sixth to Kohlmann to achieve the finals securing 55-point victory.

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