A breezy Steel Blue Oval was the setting for the WAFL Eagles’ first game of the 2024 season, and despite showing plenty of spark, Swan Districts claimed the four points with a 21.11 (137) v 10.13 (73) defeat.
Exciting young Eagles rookie Loch Rawlinson showed some individual brilliance on debut, the 18-year-old slotting three majors in the third term and having a significant impact around the ground.
Andrew Gaff was pivotal for West Coast, finishing with a team-high 29 disposals and a game-high nine tackles, while Zane Trew managed 18 touches and a goal.
Acting captain Trey Ruscoe produced an inspiring game, kicking three goals and setting up another four for his teammates.
The home side had a vibrant start, kicking two goals in the first two minutes of the game, before late goals from West Coast’s Trew and Ruscoe brought the margin back to within one point at quarter time.
The Swans stepped it up a level in the second, kicking six goals to the Eagles one, with Leigh Kohlmann starring for the Swans and managing five first-half goals.
It was a goal-fest for both sides in the third, the Eagles entered the term 29 points down and managed to close the gap to just two points, thanks to some quick ball movement, and goals from Rawlinson, Ruscoe and Next Generation Academy product Tyrell Dewar.
Swans held strong to round out the third quarter, with Kohlmann kicking his sixth goal on the siren and pushing the margin back out to 21 points heading into the final term.
The endeavour from West Coast throughout the game was first class, but the home side were able to kick away with the breeze in the fourth quarter and finish with a convincing 64-point win.
The Eagles will now look ahead to round two where they will face South Fremantle at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday, 6th of April, bouncedown at 11:10am.
SWAN DISTRICTS 2.4 8.8 13.8 21.10 (137)
WEST COAST 2.3 3.7 9.11 10.13 (73)
GOALS
Swan Districts: Kohlmann 6; McLachlan, Reidy 3; Cartwright, Edwards Turner 2; Blakely, Cipro, Collins. West Coast: Rawlinson, Ruscoe 3; Dewar 2; Trew, Lucassen
BEST
Swan Districts: Kohlmann, Turner, Pina, Rokahr, Chalcraft, McLachlan, Reidy. West Coast: Ruscoe, Gaff, Rawlinson, Witherden, Sparks, Dewar, Trew, Hall
Crowd: TBC at Steel Blue Oval
