Round 11 Saturday WAFL ResultsSaturday, June 1, 2013 - 4:00 PM - by Chris Pike

ALL eyes were focused on Lathlain's Brownes Stadium on Saturday for the standalone clash to kick off Round 11 and boy did both Perth and Swan Districts deliver an incredible spectacle with 13 goals between two star forwards and an astounding finishing by the black-and-whites to see them home by four points.

Perth looked set to record its sixth win of the WAFL season several times during the afternoon in its home clash to start Round 11 off, but Swan Districts refused to lie down and despite trailing by 15 points midway through the last quarter found a way to win.

Former Perth midfielder Aaron Elari kicked two goals in a minute from the same forward pocket on the outer side of the ground that he knew so well when in red and black.

His two goals brought Swans within nine and then three points before Dayle Garlett found himself clear to run into an open goal at the 26-minute mark to again give the black-and-whites a sniff and back to within two points after Perth had steadied with a goal of its own through Matt Boyle.

Swans kept running and with the siren set to sound any moment, Brett Robinson took a handball from Tim Geappen through the centre square, ran all the way inside-50 and resisted the temptation to give Garlett a chance in his one-on-one battle, and went for goal instead.

The 2010 premiership player never looked like missing and kicked his second goal of the day with his 24th possession to put Swan Districts three points in front. There was still time in a frantic last minute but the black-and-whites held on for a terrific 16.8 (104) to 15.10 (100) victory.

It was a crucial win for the Swan Districts as well after disappointing losses at home to East Perth and Subiaco. It improves Swans' season record to 4-5 while Perth slips back to 5-4 with the Demons having lost three of their last four games.

Without question the two stars of the afternoon at Brownes Stadium were stationed at either end of the ground and realising they had a potential match-winner, both coaches gave them plenty of room inside the forward 50 isolated against their individual opponent to work with.g losses at home to East Perth and Subiaco. It improves Swans' season record to 4-5 while Perth slips back to 5-4 with the Demons having lost three of their last four games.

While neither Paul Bevan nor Garlett are the stature of a Gary Ablett or Paul Salmon who combined for 24 goals at the MCG in 1993 when Essendon beat Geelong, the pair combined for 13 goals in incredible individual performances.

Garlett spent most of the day playing out of the goal square and kicked the first two goals of the game before adding another midway through the first quarter, his fourth just before half-time, fifth midway through the third term and then sixth at the 26-mintue mark of the last.

On talent alone, Garlett is one of best young players in the country but the 19-year-old is not in the AFL because of his lack of discipline. Now that he continues to play scintillating WAFL football with Swans, as long as he is behaving off the field the AFL beckons for him in 2014.

Meanwhile up at the other end, Bevan is a proven AFL commodity with the 29-year-old having played 128 games with the Sydney Swans and being a key contributor in the drought breaking 2005 premiership win.

He had a solid first season with the Demons in 2012 largely as a midfielder, but has moved forward in 2013 to incredible effect and turned it on again yesterday.

Dual South Fremantle premiership defender and two-time State representative Kyle Hams got beaten by him the first three times the ball came in their vicinity with Bevan kicking Perth's first two goals, one more in the second term and then three in the third after Graham Jetta moved onto him.

Bevan kicked a seventh to put Perth up by 15 points at the 13-minute mark of the last quarter, but it wasn’t quite enough.

The pair were far from the only strong performers on the day, though, in what turned into one of the games of the season after Perth beat Swan Districts in another two-point thriller in Round 4.

Brennan Stack and Simon Tunbridge also kicked two goals for Perth with West Coast's Ashley Smith racking up 29 possessions, Dene White 28, Jackson Sketcher 26, Matt Tedesco 24, Julian Jacobs 21 and Brett Hodge 20.

Matt Rogers joined Elari in kicking two goals in the first game for the former Perth pair at their old stomping ground while Robinson was outstanding with 24 possessions, two goals and the match-winner.

Tom Roach racked up 35 possessions, Matt Riggio 29, Wayde Twomey 29, Elari 23 and Garlett 23 to go with six goals. Wes Lammie worked tirelessly in the ruck as well with 18 possessions and 40 hit outs.

ROUND 11 SATURDAY RESULTS

LEAGUE

Perth 15.10 (100) lost to Swan Districts 16.8 (104)

RESERVES

Perth 13.11 (89) beat Swan Districts 8.10 (58)

COLTS

Perth 10.8 (68) beat Swan Districts 8.8 (56)