WAFL 2022 Preview – Swan DistrictsWednesday, March 16, 2022 - 12:00 AM - by Chris Pike

SWAN Districts were back in the finals in 2021 and will look to continue their rise in 2022, and the signs are promising in their bid to do that with some exciting talent coming in even though they've lost a bit of experience at the same time.

It has been a slow build at Swan Districts under Adam Pickering, but the hard work was beginning to pay off in 2021 with the black-and-whites returning to the finals for the first time since 2017.

They put up quite an impressive showing too before just falling short in the elimination final against West Perth at Joondalup in what turned out to be the final games in the glittering WAFL careers of Matt Riggio and Alex Howard.

Lewis Jetta's one season back in the WAFL will also be his only year back at the WAFL but the biggest loss of all could be the devastating news that concussion symptoms have forced ruckman Corey Gault into a premature retirement.

However, there's plenty of good news for Swan Districts coming into the 2022 WAFL season as well as they attempt to make it back-to-back finals appearances and to go further while there.

Exciting small forward Jarrod Cameron is back at Swans following his time with the West Coast Eagles and the same goes for defender Will Collins. Tobe Watson has also returned to Bassendean following his time in the AFL at the Fremantle Dockers.

Adding some pace and running power into the group was a focus in the off-season for Swan Districts as well and the recruitment of Jarvis Pina will help to take care of that as will the arrival of Victorian recruit Ryan Kemp.

Then there is the players returning for 2022 and the Swans' back-line will again be a strength featuring Tony Notte, Brandon Erceg, Anthony Stephens, Chris Jones and then the addition of Watson and Collins.

Their midfield will miss reigning fairest and best winner Frank Anderson following his knee reconstruction, but still is strong with Jesse Turner, Sam Fisher and Josh Cipro leading the way.

Finding more goals will again be a focus but Jesse Palmer and Brayden Noble combined for 59 goals in 2021 so that provides them a good starting point.

COACH – Adam Pickering (Fifth season, 23-40 record)
CAPTAIN – TBA
FAIREST AND BEST 2021 – Frank Anderson

LOOKBACK ON 2021

It has been a long build back to playing finals for Swan Districts but they got there in 2021 and ultimately deserved to consider themselves a little unlucky to not have a greater impact in them.

Following an impressive home and away season, the black-and-whites found themselves back in the same position in 2021 as they played finals for the first time in four years and for the first time under coach Adam Pickering.

Swans would go on to open up a 14-point half-time lead on the road to West Perth and even though they ended up losing the elimination final in heartbreaking fashion, the season was one that should be built upon further moving forward.

FULL SWAN DISTRICTS 2021 SEASON REVIEW

INS AND OUTS

Incoming – Jarrod Cameron, Tobe Watson, Will Collins, Ryan Kemp, Jarvis Pina

Outgoing – Matt Riggio, Alex Howard, Lewis Jetta, Corey Gault, Jiah Reidy

FEATURE FIXTURE

Swan Districts has a chance to build some early season momentum with three non-finals opponents from last year, East Perth, East Fremantle and Perth, first up and then it's their Round 4 clash with Claremont that could provide some real insights into what they are going to be capable of in 2022. Swans take on the Tigers at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday May 7 in their first meeting with a fellow finals team from last year as they attempt to beat Claremont for the first time since Round 7, 2017 having lost their last nine clashes with them.

PREDICTION

Now having had a taste of finals last year, Swan Districts should be looking to build on that in 2022 and there's every reason to suggest they are capable of that provided they find enough avenues to goal and some added midfield depth.