Round 3 – East Perth v Swan Districts Match ReportSunday, April 2, 2017 - 8:22 PM - by Chris Pike

SWAN Districts came from behind to continue its undefeated start to the 2017 WAFL season beating East Perth by 10 points at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

Swans won just two games in all of 2016 on the way to the wooden spoon. They have now already bettered that in 2017 following Saturday's 11.7 (73) to 9.9 (63) victory over the Royals.

Twice last year did Swan Districts equal the club's lowest ever score of 2.6 (18). 

They did so against South Fremantle and East Perth. Over the past fortnight they have made amends by beating both those clubs to remain unbeaten after three rounds of 2017.

East Perth was hunting its first win of the season under new coach Luke Webster, and looked a good chance for much of the afternoon.

The two teams were all square at quarter-time before Swans held a one-goal advantage at half-time.

East Perth then turned on a good burst of football in the third term kicking four goals to two to end up leading by seven points at three quarter-time.

But the black-and-whites finished strongly with four goals to one in the last quarter to end up leaving Leederville Oval with the 10-point victory.

Swan Districts again had a different player standing up in the forward-line with youngster Taryce Stewart delivering four goals in an exciting display.

Xavier Ellis also kicked two goals in his first game against the team he did spend time playing with the past two years while at West Coast.

David Ellard continued his strong form over the first three weeks on return from Carlton. He has been playing through the middle and again had a significant impact with another 30 possessions, nine tackles, six marks and five inside-50 entries.

Adam Faulkner also racked up 31 possessions for Swan Districts, Matt Riggio 24 and Jarrad Blight 20.

Jamie Bennell was a late withdrawal the previous week against South Fremantle and made amends on Saturday making up for the absence of Ryan Crowley with 23 possessions, eight marks and a goal.

Corey Gault continued his good form with 20 possessions, eight marks, 17 hit outs and a goal as well while Brayden Noble impressed again up forward with 18 disposals, seven marks, seven inside 50s and a goal.

East Perth had done a lot right in the first two weeks but they just needed to find some more avenues to goal. In an attempt to do that, Nathan Blee was moved into attack and it worked well with him kicking four goals from 25 possessions and seven marks.

He had previously kicked three goals in his 87-game carer with East Perth.

Unfortunately for the Royals, he was their only multiple goal scorer with Tom Lamb kicking 1.3 from 16 disposals and eight marks.

East Perth again won plenty of the ball with Francis Watson racking up 30 possessions, Steven Payne 27, Sam Butler 27, Luke Partington 25, Jordan Snadden 24, Will Maginness 21, Tom Hodgson 20, Shayne Hille 19 and Lewis Jetta 19.

Fraser McInnes worked hard in the ruck up against both Gault and Troy Yukich to finish with 17 possessions, seven tackles, 31 hit outs and a goal.

Swan Districts has the bye in Round 4 before taking on East Fremantle at East Fremantle Oval on Easter Saturday.

East Perth remains at Leederville Oval to take on another unbeaten team, Claremont, this Friday night.

SWAN DISTRICTS        2.1    5.4    7.6    11.7    (73)
EAST PERTH            2.1    4.4    8.7    9.9    (63)

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Stewart 4; Ellis 2; Bennell, Gault, Cary, Notte, Noble.
Best: Ellard, Faulkner, Bennell, Stewart, Gault, Noble, Riggio.
EAST PERTH – Goals: Blee 4; Maginness, Schofield, McInnes, Lamb, Venables.
Best: Blee, Watson, Payne, Butler, Snadden, Partington, McInnes.