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WAFL 2022: Hamish Brayshaw returns to lead East Perth to Good Friday victory over Swan Districts

Headshot of Mitchell Woodcock
Mitchell WoodcockThe West Australian
Swan Districts defender Tony Notte is tackled by East Perth’s Christian Ameduri.
Camera IconSwan Districts defender Tony Notte is tackled by East Perth’s Christian Ameduri. Credit: Nic Ellis

It was a happy homecoming for Hamish Brayshaw, who helped East Perth hold their nerve and claim a thrilling four-point win over Swan Districts at Leederville Oval on Friday.

Down late in the game after a Nathan Ireland goal, Brayshaw and fellow midfielders Angus Schumacher and Angus Scott led from the front to ensure the Royals walked away with a 12.7 (79) to 11.9 (75) win.

The victory also helped ease the pressure on coach Jeremy Barnard, who will battle for his coaching future this year after signing a one-year deal at the end of the 2021 season.

For Swan Districts the early loss came with plenty of positives after Brayden Noble kicked an equal career-high five goals and VFL recruit Ryan Kemp starred on debut with three goals and 19 disposals.

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But the loss of reigning fairest and best Frank Anderson to a knee injury was glaring in the contests, as Swan Districts struggled to find a match for the likes of East Perth’s bigger-bodied mids in Brayshaw and Scott (25 disposals and a goal).

Swan Districts Jesse Turner tackled high by East Perth’s Angus Schumacher.
Camera IconSwan Districts Jesse Turner tackled high by East Perth’s Angus Schumacher. Credit: Nic Ellis
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Young ruckman Matthew Germs was well beaten by experienced Royal Scott Jones after half-time and there was little option for coach Adam Pickering to go to with Corey Gault retiring before the season because of concussions.

Veteran Tony Notte kept his side in the game early, taking seven marks in the first quarter as the Royals struggled to get past him and make the most of their hard work of Brayshaw (29 disposals) and his midfield teammates.

But once they began to circumnavigate the defender, they found it easier and looked as if they were going to break away when they led by 19 points during the second term.

Swan Districts kept kicking goals at the right time to keep themselves in the game and when Ireland took advantage of a 50m penalty late in the last term it looked as if they were going to snatch the win.

The Royals though won the next two vital clearances to send the ball forward, with Scott kicking an opportunistic goal before Sebit Kuek grabbed a strong contested mark to extend the lead to 11 points.

Swan Districts’ vice-captain Aidan Clarke drew back the margin when he kicked the final goal of the game, but the siren blew before the ball could be returned to the middle, handing the Royals an all-important win.

Scoreboard

EAST PERTH 3.2, 6.4, 9.5, 12.7 (79)

SWAN DISTRICTS 3.2, 4.4, 8.6, 11.9 (75)

Goals – EAST PERTH: S Kuek 2 E Simpson 2 T Medhat 2 C Ameduri H Brayshaw K Hamersley A Scott S Hille N Robertson. SWAN DISTRICTS: B Noble 5 R Kemp 3 A Clarke N Ireland T Watson.

Best – EAST PERTH: H Brayshaw A Scott A Schumacher S Jones H Sparks D Greaves. SWAN DISTRICTS: B Noble J Turner R Kemp J Pina S Fisher T Notte.

Injuries – EAST PERTH: S Hille (hamstring) J Ramsay (hamstring) replaced in the selected side by N Eaton.

Umpires: R McCaw J McCarthy K Tittertoni. Crowd: About 2500 at Leederville Oval.

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