Round 9 Preview – Swan Districts v PerthSaturday, June 2, 2018 - 8:28 AM - by Chris Pike

WITH Swan Districts looking to consolidate their top five spot and potentially rise up further and Perth trying to stay in the finals race altogether, Saturday's contest between at Steel Blue Oval should be a good one.

Swans return to Steel Blue Oval for the first time since beating East Fremantle in Round 5 to host Perth in Saturday's Round 9 contest which will be broadcast live on 7mate from 2.50pm.

Swan Districts comes into the game following an impressive 13-point victory last Saturday against East Perth at Leederville Oval which was their first game in three weeks following the State game break and their own Round 8 WAFL bye.

That win improved the black-and-whites to a 4-3 record on the season to sit in fourth position but Perth deserves to be coming to Bassendean on Saturday confident of a good performance as well.

Since the Demons had their own double bye with a break in Round 6 and then the State game, they have been impressive snatching a win over Claremont with a strong finish and then with a competitive showing last Saturday at home to Subiaco.

Perth was just two points behind the Lions early in the last quarter and while they ended up losing by 40 points, it was a strong showing by the Demons against the undefeated league-leaders.

Coming into Saturday's game against Swan Districts, Perth sits in eighth position with a 2-5 record but a win against Swans would likely leave them just one game outside of the top five by the end of the round.

Meanwhile for Swans, a win against the Demons and they will improve to a 5-3 record and might even finish the round in second position depending on percentage and if South Fremantle and West Perth both lose on WA Day to East Fremantle and West Perth respectively.

Swan Districts has enjoyed its recent meetings against Perth as well having won four straight including in Round 1 this year. Swans had to fight hard but ended up overrunning the Demons to claim the 45-point win at Lathlain Park.

This current four-game winning run for Swans comes after Perth had won three in-a-row over Swan Districts back in the two-win wooden spoon year of 2016.

But prior to that, Swans had also won eight straight matches against the Demons so they have enjoyed winning 12 of the past 15 heading into Saturday's contest at Steel Blue Oval.

From the Swan Districts team that beat the Royals last Saturday at Leederville Oval, Brad Fullgrabe, Jack O'Sullivan and Levi Ridley have been added to the squad.

Fullgrabe worked hard in the reserves last week for Swan Districts with 13 possessions, six marks and 11 hit outs to put his name up in the mix for a potential league debut.

O'Sullivan produced 14 possessions and three inside-50 entries in the reserves last week as he also vies for a debut appearance.

Ridley has already played some encouraging league form this season and responded well to being back in the reserves last Saturday delivering 28 possessions, six inside 50s, five marks and three tackles against East Perth.

There is mixed news at the selection table for Perth with Michael Sinclair, Devin McFarlane, Mitch Henderson, Marshall Jones, Michael Bennell and Daniel Horan added to the squad.

Sinclair could very well be Perth's most important player and his return will add much-needed quality and experience off half-back as his absence has been sorely felt since Round 3. He had a combined 62 possessions in his two games so far in 2018.

McFarlane will be another important addition for Perth as he attempts to play his first league game of 2018 after an interrupted pre-season. He was one of the Demons' best players in 2017 with his run and drive off half-back with his creative left foot.

Meanwhile, Cody Leggett, Blake Johnson and Kurtis Chester go out for the Demons.

Leggett's loss will be significant as he goes out through suspension given he has averaged 26 possessions a game so far in 2018 for Perth.

SWAN DISTRICTS (4-3, 4th) v PERTH (2-5, 8th) – STEEL BLUE OVAL, SATURDAY 2.50PM
Selected teams, live stats 
Broadcast – Noongar Radio, HFM, Footy Radio