Swans crush struggling Demons
Swan Districts made the perfect start to the 2015 season with an emphatic 96-point win against Perth at Steel Blue Oval today.
While it was the perfect platform for Swans’ coach Greg Harding to work with, rival mentor Earl Spalding looks to have a tough assignment ahead.
Led by veterans Tony Notte and Matt Riggio, Swans had winners across all lines in the 21.21 (147) to 7.9 (51) victory.
Swan Districts increased their lead throughout, ahead by 32 points at quarter time, 37 at the long break and 65 at the last change.
The home team kicked 11 of the last 13 goals in what was a clinical dissection of the Demons.
Tall utility player Notte was rock solid in defence with 17 possessions and eight marks while rugged midfielder Riggio was busy throughout, adding three goals to 21 possessions and four marks.
Captain Tallan Ames and Nathan Broad did well in defence for the winners with midfielders Aaron Elari and Adam Faulkner providing plenty of opportunities for forwards.
Former East Fremantle squad member Aidan Tropiano tried hard to lift Perth with support from captain Dene White, ex-East Perth utility player Jacob Payne, Jarryd Morton, Michael Sinclair and Daniel O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan did well to curb Swans’ playmaker Ryan Davis.
Tropiano finished as the game’s leading possession winner with 34 while Elari collected 33 on the day.
Swans, kicking with a three to four goal breeze favouring the Guildford end of the ground, dominated play early in the early part of the contest.
Matt Rogers kicked the first goal in the opening minute to give the home team the perfect start.
Jason Daniels weighed in with two goals for the black and whites while rugged midfielder Matt Riggio added one to help set up a 38-point lead at the first break.
The Demons first inside 50m took 12 minutes with their first score, a point to Brennan stack, coming at the 20-minute mark of the first stanza.
Mitch Morton booted Perth’s opening goal with his first touch for the game at the four-minute mark of the second term.
Swans extended their lead to 50 points by the 26-minute mark of the second quarter, with Notte and Riggio continuing their excellent start to the season.
Mitch Morton’s second goal and another to former Peel squad member Liam McKenna helped the Demons reduce the margin to 37 points at half time.
The league result completed a whitewash on the day for Swans who won by 35 points in the colts and 50 points in the reserves.
