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Faced with an eight-point deficit entering the final term against the WAFL’s ladder leaders, Swan Districts decided they weren’t ready for their season to end just yet.
The Swans booted four goals to one in a blistering fourth-quarter effort in front of the Steel Blue Oval faithful to remain in contention for a finals spot, knocking over West Perth 9.5 (59) to 6.11 (47) and set up a virtual play-in clash with Peel Thunder next week.
Swan Districts and Peel will enter the season-ending Lane Group Stadium clash next Sunday locked on 10 wins apiece, with the victor bound for the finals.
Swans’ Brandon was enormous in defence to help spark the come-from-behind triumph and hold the Falcons at bay, taking 17 marks and notching up an equal game-high 32 disposals as the best player afield.
His intercept marking stunted West Perth’s forays into attack and kept the Swans within reach throughout the contest.
The Falcons had a game-high 16-point lead early in the second term, which the Swans were able to erase by the main break.
With scores even at half time, the arm wrestle continued in the third term, but West Perth appeared in control at the final break with an eight-point lead.
With their finals hopes on the line, the Swans came out firing in the last quarter, kicking the first three majors of the final term.
Young forward Tom Edwards kicked the first of the last term after the ball spilled out, booting it through off the ground for the Swans’ first.
Greg Ottaviano got in on the action, kicking a clutch around-the-body goal to pinch the Swans the lead for the first time.
Edwards nailed his second to give the Swans an 11-point lead on the eve of time-on after earning a free kick on the goal line.
Falcons co-captain Aaron Black, who played the majority of the contest up forward with what appeared to be a knee injury, missed an opportunity to cut the margin, spraying a set-shot out on the full.
The Swans burst away from the kick-out, with first-round draft hopeful Elijah Hewett bounding down the corridor at speed.
After receiving the one-two handball, Hewett’s on-the-run kick was sailing through before being touched on the line.
On the back of a 50-metre penalty, followed by a down-the-ground free kick, Black didn’t miss his second opportunity and cut the deficit to a single kick.
But when the ball landed in the hands of Hewett, all on his own in the forward 50, he made a sure thing of it.
The goal sealed the 12-point win and the ninth consecutive victory for the Swans at their Bassendean fortress.
The Swans will next week be without defender Tobe Watson after he was concussed in a marking contest during the third quarter, and could also lose Ottaviano, who was reported for rough conduct.
SCOREBOARD SWAN DISTRICTS 1.0, 4.2, 5.3 , 9.5 (59)
WEST PERTH 2.3, 3.8, 5.11, 6.11 (47)
Goals – SWAN DISTRICTS: T Edwards 2 J Palmer 2 M Bain E Hewett R Kemp B Noble G Ottaviano. WEST PERTH: K Knott 3 A Black M Dobson T Hobley.
Best – SWAN DISTRICTS: B Erceg A Clarke J Turner G Ottaviano E Hewett. WEST PERTH: L Meadows K Knott M Pierce S Nelson T Keitel.
Injuries – SWAN DISTRICTS: T Watson (concussion). WEST PERTH: M Hamilton (hamstring). Reports: G Ottaviano (rough conduct).
Umpires: C Snadden R McCaw T McPhee. Crowd: About 2400 at Steel Blue Oval.
