Match Report – Swans celebrate over RoyalsSunday, August 15, 2021 - 11:55 AM - by Breanna Redhead

BUOYED by locking in their finals return and spurred on by the 60-year anniversary celebrations of their breakthrough 1961 premiership, Swan Districts produced a strong showing to beast Perth by 41 points at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

Swans had locked away a return to finals for the first time since 2017 last week by beating Peel Thunder but Saturday's clash with the Royals was anything but a given with East Perth one of the genuine form teams of the competition.

To be any hope of still replacing Swan Districts in fifth position East Perth had to win on Saturday and win its final two matches while hoping that Swans wouldn’t win again in 2021. But it wasn’t that simple with the Royals needing to outscore the Swans by 268 over the last three games too.

So that did appear decidedly unlikely but Swan Districts put any of those hopes to bed anyway by delivering an impressive four-quarter in tribute to the 1961 premiership team that was being celebrated on the day.

It was quite the impressive anniversary celebration as well with Swan Districts wearing replica outfits to honour the 1961 teams with the umpires even getting in on the act to commemorate the breakthrough Swans' triumph.

That win back in 1961 put an end a tough ride in the WAFL competition after entering in 1934 but the arrival of Haydn Bunton Jr as captain-coach inspired them to beat East Perth in the Grand Final, and then go on to win premierships in 1962 and 1963 as well.

Saturday was the day to celebrate that 60 years on for Swan Districts and the team of today made a flying start at home to East Perth and produced the 14.11 (95) to 8.6 (54) victory.

Swan Districts might have been the outsiders back in the 1961 Grand Final, but the tables had turned on Saturday at Steel Blue oval with the black-and-whites dominating from the beginning creating a five-goal lead in the first term that caused the Royals trouble for the entire four quarters.

Swan Districts proved their class across the field but it was Aidan Clarke and Brayden Noble who gave the most crucial performance for their side producing seven of their 12 goals with four and three respectively.

While it was last week’s win over Peel that secured the Swans' finals position, Saturday’s result sees them stay in the race for a spot higher up in the top five.

Swan Districts' ‘good vibrations’ began from the bounce down, producing an impressive six goals to one from the Royals. 

Aidan Clarke and Brayden Noble carried the first term performance for the black-and-white with two goals each but a late snap from the Royals’ Angus Schumacher in the 27th minute provided a late remedy for the visitors.

The heat turned up in the second quarter, with an early goal from Scott Jones that fired a spark under the Royals. Messy ball work from Swans saw a quick flip in possession count that now saw the Royals working their way on top.

Swan Districts held their own kicking two more goals leaving them in front by 33 come the major break.

The trend continued into the third term as the Royals continue to hustle, failing to overcome the five-goal buffer created by the Swans in the opening quarter. 

The end-to-end game saw dynamic performance from both sides, most notably two goals from East Perth’s Stan Wright who worked to win the quarter for his side.

Ben McGuire produced his second goal for the day, with Swan District’s Clarke and Noble also adding another major each to their successful day on the scoreboard.

The Royals scoring spree progressed into the final quarter with back-to-back goals from McGuire and Shayne Hille, working to close the 30-point deficit that has remained since the opening term.

Clarke again came through for Swans with a fine goal that maintain the substantial buffer for the team, but it was the follow-up major from Matt Riggio that re-instate the same 30-point barrier.

It was this lead that proved too much for the Royals, conceding two more goals to Swans, including a goal after the siren from Sam Fisher, to go down by 41 points.

SWAN SONG
Aidan Clarke and Brayden Noble were the clear standouts for Swan Districts in all aspects of gameplay. Aidan Clarke was the leading goalkicker with four goals as well as 19 disposals and eight tackles. Brayden Noble had a successful scoring day with three goals and 11 disposals. Jesse Turner proved a weapon with his hands, leading the match with 28 disposals.

BLAST FROM THE PAST
Steel Blue Oval was its very own time machine, taking patrons back to 1961 in honour of the 60th anniversary of Swan Districts' first premiership, a victory over East Perth. Swans players donned that of their ancestors, sporting retro, collared jumpers identical to those worn in the notable Grand Final. Umpires also joined in on the fun discarding their regular uniforms for an all-white look. Hits from the 60s blasted from the speakers in between quarters with plenty of patrons dressed in their favourite 60s get up.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 19

SWAN DISTRICTS        6.2    8.6    10.8    14.11 (95)
EAST PERTH            1.2    3.3    6.5    8.6 (54)

SWAN DISTRICTS: Goals – Clarke; Noble 3; Ireland, Wilson 2; Palmer, Fisher, Riggio.
Best – Turner, Erceg, Clarke, Notte, Noble, Howard, Jones.
EAST PERTH: Goals – McGuire 3; Wright 2; Schumacher, Hille, Jones.
Best – Kerr, Scott, Blee, Lynch, Schumacher, Willcocks, Sparks.