WAFL 2024: East Perth on track to break 22-year premiership drought after beating Swan Districts in semifinal

East Perth have one hand on the premiership after making their first grand final in a decade with a 28-point win over Swan Districts. The minor premiers set up the second semifinal win with four unanswered goals in 10 minutes just before half-time on their way to the 11.6 (72) to 6.8 (44) victory at Sullivan Logistics Stadium. It puts East Perth into their first grand final since 2014 and a step closer to their first flag in 22 years. For Swans, they will get one more chance to make the grand final when they host the winner of the first semifinal between Peel Thunder and Claremont in the preliminary final next week. Swan Districts came with their trademark run and carry gamestyle but it invited the pressure from the Royals who came with an intent to close down the space. The Swans never wavered from their plan and arguably had the better of the second half, but missed opportunities in front of goal cost them the chance to complete a remarkable comeback. East Perth’s powerhouse midfield set up with the win even in the absence of Sandover medallist Hamish Brayshaw. Ruckman Scott Jones was incredible with a WAFL record 82 hit-outs to go with 21 disposals and seven clearances. Jones provided Mitch Crowden (30 disposals and seven clearances) and Angus Schumacher (26 disposals and six clearances) with plenty of supply. East Perth got the ideal start when co-captain Christian Ameduri (two goals) walked into an unguarded goalsquare for a goal 66 seconds into the match. It started a goal-for-goal affair with Swans spearhead Leigh Kohlmann (three goals) kicking two for the term, but the home side held an edge. Swans send Jehb O’Donohue (18 disposals and 13 tackles) to tag Schumacher, who had 12 touches in the first term, but the Royals had a spread of midfielders who were holding their nerve. Both sides had their fair share of momentum in the second term as the tactical battle played out. Kohlmann was threatening to tear the game apart if he had enough supply, while William Reidy kicked an incredible goal midway through the quarter to level the scores. The Royals lifted their intensity though and pushed the Swans back as they tried to handball their way out of trouble. Patiently the Royals waited for Swans to make a mistake and when they did they caught the visitors out with Tom Graham (three goals) and Zach Hill (two goals) winning their respective one-on-one battles. Leading by 25 points at the main break, it looked as if it was going to be an easy Royals win but the Swans managed to finally break through the pressure in the third term. For all the hard work of Jye Chalcraft (28 touches and six clearances) and Nik Rokahr (27 dispsoals and six tackles) though they only kicked the one goal through half-back Bryce Watson. To make matters worse, Royal Tom Medhat took an incredible mark before slotting a goal just before the last break to deflate Swans. Shayne Hille then all but sealed the win with the first goal of the final quarter, extending the lead to an insurmountable 29 points. SCOREBOARD EAST PERTH 3.1, 8.5, 9.6, 11.6 (72) SWAN DISTRICTS 2.2, 4.4, 5.6, 6.8 (44) Goals – EAST PERTH: T Graham 3 C Ameduri 2 Z Hill 2 M Crowden S Hille T Medhat A Scott. SWAN DISTRICTS: L Kohlmann 3 B Lynch W Reidy B Watson. Best – EAST PERTH: S Jones M Crowden A Schumacher S Wright B Fullgrabe H Macreadie. SWAN DISTRICTS: W Collins J Chalcraft N Rokahr B Watson J O’Donohue T Notte. Injuries – EAST PERTH: L Tedesco (head). SWAN DISTRICTS: J Glass-McCasker (abductor) replaced in the selected side by B Erceg. Reports: S Jones (EP) for rough conduct on J O’Donohue (SD) in the third term. Umpires: T McPhee G Simmonds J Kerr B Laycock. Crowd: 5223 at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.