Round 19 Preview - Swan Districts v Peel ThunderFriday, July 28, 2017 - 2:29 PM - by Chris Pike

SWAN Districts can take a step towards claiming third position in the WAFL on Saturday taking on reigning premiers Peel Thunder at Steel Blue Oval.

Just the one game separates the two teams from third to fourth position entering Saturday's clash and given finishing third now means a double chance come finals time in the final five system, the prize is significant entering the last five rounds of the season.

That makes the stakes high at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday with Peel coming into the game holding third position with a 10-6 record and percentage of 115.6. 

Swan Districts is currently fourth at 9-6 with a percentage at 96.6.

While the Thunder do hold the one-game and percentage advantage, they have played an extra game at this point than Swans meaning that a win for the black-and-whites on Saturday would put Swan Districts in a strong position to end up finishing third.

Swans had the bye last weekend following a 40-point loss to South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval despite having led by 41 points midway through the second quarter.

That was a disappointing way to enter the week off last weekend but prior to that Swans had won three straight games against Perth, East Fremantle and East Perth to secure their place inside the top five.

Peel had won five consecutive matches to be putting pressure on the second placed South Fremantle before taking on the league-leading Subiaco at Bendigo Bank Stadium last Saturday.

The Lions proved too strong beating the Thunder by 46 points to give them their first defeat since losing to Subiaco also in Mandurah back in Round 11.

Swan Districts and Peel have met just the once so far this season and that was back in Round 9 in Mandurah with the Thunder getting over the line by 21 points.

But despite winning just two games in 2016, one of those was against Peel for Swan Districts who beat the eventual premiers by 39 points at Bendigo Bank Stadium in Round 14.

Coming into the game, Peel remains the best defensive team in the WAFL conceding just 64.4 points a game. But they are third worst in attack kicking just 74.6 points a game.

Swans aren’t much better offensively at just 76.5 points per game but defensively they do concede 15 more points than the Thunder.

Swan Districts will make at least four changes on Saturday from the team that lost to South Fremantle a fortnight ago.

Co-captain Tallan Ames goes out of the line-up after having a good battle with South Fremantle full-forward Ben Saunders that day. Tom Smirk is straight back out of the team after coming in to tag Bulldogs centre half-back Blayne Wilson.

Jesse Manton is also out for Swans after playing seven consecutive matches with Ethan Maguire the other player named out at this stage.

Xavier Ellis is a significant inclusion for Swan Districts, though, with the Hawthorn premiership player from 2008 set to play his first game in black-and-white since Round 8 against Subiaco.

Matt Riggio is another significant inclusion to further strengthen Swans midfield while Brayden Hackett is set to return and 18-year-old young gun Samuel Taylor will make his debut.

There are plenty of changes once more at Peel Thunder largely on the back of the four changes made by Fremantle in the AFL.

Brady Grey, Brennan Cox and Luke Ryan all played for Peel against Subiaco last Saturday but are set to line-up for the Dockers against the GWS Giants on Saturday.

Ryan Nyhuis and Josh Deluca lose their place in the Fremantle team so at least one of them should return to play with Peel on Saturday.

Luke Strnadica continues to push for a league recall for Peel with outstanding reserves form in the ruck while Matt Taberner will remain the man Swan Districts has to stop after three dominant weeks for the Thunder and still no reward from the Dockers.

Chris Wrigley, Matthew Piggott, Calvin Thorne, Josh McMahon, Corey Morris and James Kirby are in the mix to all come into the Peel line-up on Saturday against Swan Districts as well.

SWAN DISTRICTS (9-6, 4th) v PEEL THUNDER (10-6, 3rd) – STEEL BLUE OVAL, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Selected teams, live stats 
Broadcast – KIX Digital