Swan Districts’ ruckman Nathan Blakely runs out for his 100th WAFL game. Picture: Blake Parry/The Photo Shop

Swans win five in a row

Swan Districts came away with a 24-point win despite West Coast kicking five goals in the last quarter.
July 4, 2024
Chris Pike

TWO late goals in the first half and then four goals in the first 12 minutes of the second saw Swan Districts set up a fifth straight win for the season and to remain undefeated against the West Coast Eagles with Sunday’s 24-point win.

It was the 10th time the two teams have played one another in the WAFL and in the end it was the last two goals of the first half and the first four goals to start the second half that ensured that Swans got the result they were after.

Swan Districts went on to score the 16.8 (104) to 12.8 (80) victory to now have won five straight matches this season and to have won all 10 games against the Eagles dating back to 2019.

Not only did Swan Districts ruckman Nathan Blakely celebrate his 100th WAFL game on Sunday, but he had a significant say in the result too as the best big man on the ground.

He finished with 21 possessions and 18 hit outs while taking on two AFL-listed ruckmen with Harry Barnett only having three touches and 21 hit outs, and Coen Livingstone seven disposals and 15 hit outs.

Tom Edwards continued his stunning form up front for Swans by kicking another four goals to go with 12 kicks and six marks while Luke Kelly added three goals and Jesse Glass-McCasker two.

Captain Jesse Turner also kicked two goals for the black-and-whites to go with 30 possessions while Nik Rokahr collected 28 disposals, Jye Chalcraft 26, Josh Cipro 25, Aidan Clarke 24, Jarvis Pina 20, Jake Pasini 19 and Bryce Watson 18.

It was West Coast who managed to kick the first goal of the game after six minutes through Trey Ruscoe but just a minute later Swans were on the board too thanks to Jehb O’Donohue.

Swans soon got on a roll with goals to Luke Kelly, Jesse Glass-McCasker, Jesse Turner and then McCasker again which helped the home team to the 14-point advantage by the end of the first quarter.

There was just a goal apiece in the opening 20 minutes of the second term and then the Eagles got another at the 21-minute mark to bring it back to a seven-point ball game.

But Swan Districts managed to finish the half strongly with two goals to Tom Edwards which saw the lead back out to 19 points at the main break.

Swan Districts then blew the game open with a blistering start to the second half beginning with a goal to Turner after just a minute. Jye Chalcraft, Jackson McLachlan and Kelly then added goals as well and suddenly Swans had kicked four goals in 12 minutes to be on top by 44 points.

The lead for the black-and-whites was still 45 points by three quarter-time thanks to another late goal from Edwards.

Even though West Coast kicked five goals in the last term, goals for Swans to Kelly and Brad Lynch were enough to secure the eventual 24-point triumph.

Privately owned, proudly independent local news service.

ALL IMAGES & WORDS © 2023 Echo Newspaper
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram