East Perth kick away against Swans

East Perth's sheer midfield and forward line power lifted them clear of Swan Districts at Hands Oval, with a dominant last quarter delivering a 35-point win.

The Royals triumphed 14.22 (106) to 11.5 (71), with only inaccuracy keeping swans in the match after half time after swans had dug in to produce a competitive first half.

Brendan Lee led a dominant East Perth midfield, while only his poor kicking kept power forward Josh Smith from collecting a bag of goals far bigger than the three he did kick.

East Perth also got strong performances from Eagles rookie Will Maginness and forward Dean Cadwallader.

Swans defenders Graham Jetta, Josh Simpson and Alex Howard battled doggedly and Kirk Ugle, Aaron Elari and Jarrad Blight offered them run at times.

Swans started with plenty of enterprise if not much method. They got the first two goals of the game through Aidan Anderson, the second through a strong mark and long kick from out around the fifty metre mark.

But as the quarter went on East Perth's marking power in attack started to tell. Brant Colledge got his team's firs goal after a great grab 20 metres out and Fraser McInnes added a second from an equally strong mark 30 metres out.

When Josh Smith grubbed a clever goal from the goal square the Royals had gained control of the match, though a late Ricky Cary goal dragged swans to within a point at quarter time.

The Swans continued to hang tough in the second term, although East Perth's tall forwards remained threatening.

The Royals edged two goals clear twice - after kicking two of the first three goals of the second term through McInnes and Will Maginness, and again when Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls kicked their sixth goal of the game 23 minutes in.

But Swans kept finding a reply, through Jarrad Blight on the run at the 17 minute mark, Matt Rogers from a set shot after 19 minutes and Ryan Davis on the run after 25 minutes.

The Royals looked the better team at half time, but were only seven points to the good to show for it.

And midway through the third term they had little more despite a period of absolute dominance where the ball resided almost permanently in their attacking fifty.

Swans had actually kicked the first goal of the quarter to draw level. But finally, goals to Josh Smith, Dylan Main and Craig Wulff, along with a host of points, gave east Perth a 22 point lead at the last change and a grip on the match.

The Royals piled on the pressure in the final term, but they also piled on the points, kicking 5.8 while the Swans added 4.1. Smith was by now dominant in attack for east Perth and Will Maginness ran himself onto his team's best players list.

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