Match Report – Germs the hero for Swans over EaglesSunday, July 11, 2021 - 10:21 AM - by Chris Pike

BOTH teams felt they kicked a winning goal in dramatic fashion in the dying stages but it was Swan Districts' ruckman Matthew Germs who proved the hero in his team's two-point win over the West Coast Eagles.

Both teams entered the game at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval on Saturday in winning form prior to last week's enforced break with Swans coming off a win over Subiaco to sit comfortably in the top five while the Eagles had won their first two matches of 2021.

It then proved a dramatic contest all afternoon with both sides able to have their moments of dominance, and then in the dramatic finish late feeling as though they had delivered a match-winning goal.

The breeze played a part in the contest all afternoon with West Coast kicking with it to start the game. The Eagles managed nine scoring shots to one as a result and went into quarter-time leading by 18 points on the back of three goals to one.

Swans picked up the breeze behind their backs in the second term and took full advantage with 12 scoring shots to four. 

That saw the black-and-whites kick seven goals and they had blown the game wide open with seven goals to one to head into the half-time interval in control leading by 20 points.

West Coast got back that help behind them in the third quarter and it made a difference with the Eagles managing eight scoring shots to five, but they couldn’t quite find their accuracy managing just the two goals.

That saw Swan Districts still hold on to a 12-point three quarter-time edge setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

West Coast kicked the first three goals of the last term and went in front at the 23-minute mark when Cooper Nitschke kicked truly.

Swans needed something special to snatch back the lead and it came two minutes later with second-game ruckman Matthew Germs kicked the first goal of his career to secure the 10.11 (71) to 9.15 (69) victory and to further cement them inside the top five.

In celebration of NAIDOC Round, Warrick Wilson stepped up to kick three goals as the only multiple goal scorer for Swan Districts in the two-point win.

Sandover Medallist Sam Fisher was outstanding in the midfield for Swans compiling 28 possessions, seven marks, five inside 50s, four tackles and a goal while Frank Anderson added 24 disposals, five marks and five tackles.

Jackson Beck impressed for Swans too with 24 disposals and nine marks while Tony Notte proved mighty tough to get past at centre half-back taking 16 marks to go with 18 kicks. Chris Jones also had 16 touches and 13 marks, and Brandon Erceg 14 disposals and seven marks.

Jesse Turner finished with 18 possessions as well for the black-and-whites, Lachlan Riley 17 and Jiah Reidy 16 to go with 10 marks.

Mark Hutchings continued his outstanding form for the Eagles and he just can't do more to try and earn an AFL recall. He finished with 30 possessions and three goals with Jake Waterman also kicking three goals for West Coast and Cooper Nitschke two.

Connor West continued his push for an AFL debut as well for West Coast racking up 33 possessions while Xavier O'Neill gathered 24 disposals, Luke Foley 22 and Brayden Ainsworth 17.

Swan Districts will now play host to the reigning premiers South Fremantle next Saturday while the Eagles take on Subiaco.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 14

SWAN DISTRICTS            1.0    8.5    9.9    10.11 (71)
WEST COAST EAGLES            3.6    4.9    6.15    9.15 (69)

SWAN DISTRICTS: Goals – Wilson 3; Fisher, Reidy, Gault, Riggio, Germs, Turner, Watson.
Best – Fisher, Notte, Beck, Anderson, Wilson, Jones, Erceg, Turner.
WEST COAST EAGLES: Goals – Hutchings, Waterman 3; Nitschke 2; O'Neill.
Best – Hutchings, West, O'Neill, Foley, Waterman, Brayshaw.