Dees Dominate in WA Day Clash

A second-half dominant display by the Demons saw them power their way to their third victory of the season with a comprehensive 54-point victory against arch-rivals Swan Districts on WA Day.

Average conditions throughout the match didn’t make scoring an easy task for either side throughout the contest, but Perth made the most of the opportunities when they arose from Swan Districts’ mistakes and around the stoppages.

Coming off a bruising 26-point defeat to West Perth last week, the Demons now sit level with Claremont on three wins apiece, with the two teams to face off within the next month.

Perth’s even spread of contributors across the field was pivotal in their thumping of the Swans despite losing key defender Brent Latch to a hamstring injury during the week.

The Demons kicked the first two goals of the game through captain Dene White and Taran Etto to lead at quarter-time by eight points.

The Swans found an extra gear after goals from Rudy Riddoch and Matthew Rogers put the Swans in the lead halfway through the second term, but an excellent snap from Perth forward Matt Thompson in the miserable conditions put the Demons back in front to lead by a solitary point at the long break.

Despite the conditions, the Demons produced some of their best football for the season in the third term, kicking three unanswered goals.

Rowan Brookes kicked his first of two goals for the day at the five minute mark, followed by Etto’s second goal from a set shot, as well as another inventive snap by Thompson to put the Demons ahead by 22 points at the final change.

The Swans threatened to come back early in the last quarter after Rogers’ second goal within the first sixty seconds, but failed to keep the ball from the Demons midfielders.

The Demons kicked the last five goals of the game to round out the 11.20 (86) to 4.8 (32) victory.

Perth won the key areas on the stat sheet as well as dominating on the scoreboard, having 29 more possessions than the opposition, as well as 36 more hit outs, and an incredible 39 more inside fifties.

Clint Jones was one of the standout performers for the visitors with another clinical outing of 35-posessions which included twelve tackles.
Fellow midfielders Aidan Tropiano and Liam McKenna both had 28 possessions apiece, along with Michael Sinclair who contributed with 23 possessions off the half-back line.

Brent Edmonds had one of his best games of the season off the half-back line, restricting his opponent and distributing the ball with precision when Perth went forward.

After limiting his opponent’s influence last week, Cody Leggett had another fantastic afternoon, this time playing a run-with role on Swans midfielder Matt Riggio.

Riggio, who had 25 possessions and kicked a goal, drifted in and out of the contest and struggled to get hands on the ball when matching up with the 19-year old Leggett.

Angus Graham continued his strong form in the ruck with 58 hit-outs, providing fantastic service to the likes of Jones, McKenna and Tropiano throughout the afternoon.

Adam Faulkner was one of the very few shining lights for the Swans with 31 possessions, along with Freddie Clutterbuck (27 possessions), Riggio (25 and Jesse Turner (22).

The colts resisted to their first loss of 2016 with a four-point loss but remain one game clear on top of the ladder, whilst the reserves fell agonisingly short by a solitary point.

The Demons have the bye next weekend due to the state game, but will return on the 18th of June to play East Perth at Leederville Oval, with bounce down at 2.15pm.

TOTAL

PERTH            2.3    3.6    6.11    11.20 (86)
SWAN DISTRICTS    1.1    3.5    3.7    4.8 (32)

GOALS
PERTH: T Etto 2, S Garstone 2, D White 2, R Brookes 2, M Thompson 2, K Cary 1.
SWAN DISTRICTS: M Rogers 2, M Riggio 1, R Riddoch 1.

BEST
PERTH: C Jones, B Edmonds, M Sinclair, L McKenna, A Tropiano, C Leggett, T Etto
SWAN DISTRICTS: A Faulkner, F Clutterbuck, J Simpson, J Turner

UMPIRES: B Laycock, D Margetts, M Edinger

CROWD: 3000 (approx) at Steel Blue Oval