ENCOURAGING SIGNS IN SWANS DEFEAT

DESPITE another disappointing last quarter, there were plenty of encouraging signs for South Fremantle against Swan Districts on Saturday with a stunning debut from Aaron Drage, lively showing from Jack Blechynden and strong defensive performance from Jordan Boullineau.

South Fremantle was right in the game for three quarters against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday in Round 17 of the WAFL.

The Bulldogs trailed by just eight points at quarter-time, six at half-time and five at three quarter-time before Swans would go on to kick the only five goals of the final stanza to end up winning 13.9 (87) to 7.8 (50).

Brandon Donaldson and Jack Blechynden kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle.

The shining light of the day for South Fremantle was debutant Aaron Drage. The 20-year-old had been building some impressive ball winning form in the reserves and translated that to league level on Saturday where he finished with 23 possessions, four marks, three tackles and three inside-50 entries.

Glenn Byron also picked up 22 touches for the Bulldogs, Tom Blechynden 17 despite the tag from Swans of Jehb O'Donohue, Caleb Stephens 16, Jacob Dragovich 15 and Jimmy Miller 13 mostly in the ruck to go with 30 hit outs.

Jordan Boullineau also did another standout defensive job holding on-fire Swan Districts forward Tom Edwards to seven kicks, four marks and a goal while having 12 touches himself.

Swan Districts made the perfect start when in-form forward Tom Edwards marked strongly and goaled in just over a minute before celebrating with the Bassendean locals showing off his pride in the black-and-white jumper.

Swans then had the first two goals of the game when Jackson McLachlan marked inside-50 and converted, but South Fremantle got on the board shortly after thanks to Aiden Hall.

Jesse Palmer kicked Swans' third goal of the quarter but then the Bulldogs got one back just before three quarter-time from Brandon Donaldson to cut the margin at the first break to six points.

Swan Districts then made a strong start to the second term as well with goals to vice-captain Jesse Turner and captain Chris Jones to push out to a 20-point lead.

However, South Fremantle hit back with the last two goals of the half thanks to Dylan Main and Donaldson and once more the Bulldogs were able to cut the Swans lead back to six points at the main break.

South Fremantle opened up the second half with a goal to Manfred Kelly and suddenly it was just a one-point ball game. A behind soon after to the Bulldogs and scores were all square.

Swans responded with the next two goals courtesy of Brad Lynch and Jiah Reidy, but then South Fremantle also hit back and it was Jack Blechynden having his best moments at league level.

He started off by marking on the lead and slotting a good long goal outside 50. He then marked on the goal line to kick another, and the Bulldogs were in front by a point.

Swan Districts did answer after the three quarter-time siren, though, with Jones kicking truly and that saw the black-and-whites up by five at the last change.

The game was right up for grabs at the final break but it wouldn’t stay that way for long with Turner and Jones again adding to their goalkicking days to start the last term for Swans.

Brayden Noble kicked truly soon after to stretch the lead for the home team to 23 points before goals to Palmer and Turner sealed the eventual 37-point triumph for Swans to give them three straight victories.

Meanwhile, Round 17 of the Colts started with a thriller at Steel Blue Oval with Swan Districts beating South Fremantle 9.11 (65) to 9.6 (60) on the back of kicking the last two goals of the game.

Harrison Heaton kicked three goals for South Fremantle, Peter Gioulis two and Hudson Pivac two with Jordan Douglas gathering 24 touches, Jacob Whan 23, Fred Rodriguez 22, Mitch Geier 21, Tarkyn Etherington 21 and Toby Whan 20.

Round 17 of the Reserves began with South Fremantle scoring the nail-biting 9.9 (63) to 8.10 (58) win against Swan Districts despite Swans finishing off with the last three goals to set up the tight finish.

Kaden Harbour kicked three goals for the Bulldogs, Mackenzie Nield two and Nathan Spooner two. Jacob Sax gathered 26 touches, Jarrod Salmeri 22, Toby Dodds 22 and Mitch Sinnott 19.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON 2023 – ROUND 17

SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.2    4.4    7.6    7.8    (50)
SWAN DISTRICTS        3.2    5.4    8.5    13.9    (87)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Donaldson, J Blechynden 2; Kelly, Hall, Main.
Best: Drage, Boullineau, Byron, Miller, J Blechynden, Stephens.
SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Jones, Turner 3; Palmer 2; Edwards, Noble, McLachlan, Reidy, Lynch.
Best: Turner, Clarke, Watson, McLachlan, Riley, O'Donohue, Jones.