SWAN Districts took the challenge up to the reigning WAFL Men’s premiers South Fremantle on Good Friday at Steel Blue Oval and despite the end result, there was plenty to like to open the 2026 season.

It was a significant challenge for the Swans to start the new season hosting the reigning premiers at Steel Blue Oval, especially with the decidedly new-look and youthful team they are bringing into 2026.

Despite the six-point margin midway through the third quarter South Fremantle ended up finishing strongly, with Swan Districts losing the season-opening match by 16.12 (108) to 9.9 (63) despite the encouraging signs.

Jiah Reidy worked hard as a pressure forward on the day for Swan Districts to lay eight tackles and ended up kicking two goals from his 11 possessions.

Jackson McLachlan also kicked two goals for the black-and-whites to go with 22 disposals, five marks, five inside-50 entries and four tackles.

Captain Jesse Turner started the season in brilliant fashion racking up 38 possessions with seven tackles and a goal with Max Chipper gathering 24 disposals, Josh Cipro 24, Zane Trew 22, Jarvis Pina 20 and Brad Lynch 18.

Of the new faces, Clint Hinchliffe made his long-awaited WAFL debut and was impressive with 22 possessions and five marks, while Caleb Ernst had 16 touches and 12 hit outs, Jez Rigoni 14 disposals and three tackles, Kade Chalcraft 10 possessions and a goal, and Zach Provest eight disposals and four marks.

It took just over five minutes for Trey Ruscoe to start the season for South Fremantle with a goal but Swan Districts quickly responded thanks to captain Jesse Turner.

Ed Graham kicked truly to put South Fremantle back on top and Jordan Boullineau kicked two in quick succession to push the reigning premiers out to a 20-point lead before Kade Chalcraft opened his Swan Districts career with a goal.

The Bulldogs were leading by 12 points at quarter-time before Roan O’Hehir and Jackson McLachlan kicked a goal for their respective teams to open the second stanza.

Consecutive Swans goals from Jehb O’Donohue and Max Chipper had the home team back within seven points, and by half-time it was a tight contest with South Fremantle only holding a five-point advantage.

It took more than 10 minutes for the first goal of the second half which went the way of South Fremantle thanks to Ruscoe before Boullineau added another, but the Swans hit back with two quick goals from Jiah Reidy and Josh Cipro to get within six points.

The Bulldogs again hit back leading into three quarter-time with goals to Ruscoe and Mitch Geier to hold a 19-point lead.

The game was back on to start the final quarter with a goal to McLachlan to make it a 13-point margin again, but the Bulldogs took control from there with five of the last six goals of the contest for the eventual season-opening 45-point victory.