Peel Thunder gave its best shot and led at half-time but Swan Districts piled on 16 goals to six in the second half to record a 58-point win at Mandurah's Bendigo Bank Stadium on Sunday.
The 25.14 (164) to 16.10 (106) win for Swan Districts keeps it in second spot on the ladder and Peel last following Saturday's results that saw East Perth beat East Fremantle by 53 points, West Perth down Subiaco by 50 and Claremont hold off Perth by 28.
Peel hit back hard kicking to the scoring end in the second quarter turning a 16-point quarter-time deficit into a one-point half-time advantage after a terrific term where the home side kicked eight goals to five.
However, Swans hit back hard in the third with eight goals to three, and then another eight to three in the last to run out comfortable 58-point winners ahead of next Saturday's clash with the league-leading Claremont.
West Coast's Tony Notte was dumped to the reserves after some poor form and kicked four goals meaning the forwards in the league side had to perform and they all did. Josh Pullman was the star with seven goals, while Justin Simpson added four and Tim Geappen three.
Fremantle's Michael Walters kicked three to go with 20 possessions and seven tackles in a strong performance. His Dockers teammate Clancee Pearce was also impressive with 24 possessions and 10 marks.
Swans' captain Josh Roberts was outstanding with 32 disposals, Tom Roach had 28 and kicked two goals, Wayde Twomey 25 and a goal, Matt Riggio 23 and a goal, Matthew Spencer 21 touches and Travis Casserly 19 and a goal.
Andrew Krakouer was solid with two goals and 18 possessions with Llane Spaanderman returning to carry the ruck with 15 disposals, 34 hit outs and a goal.
Peel was far from disgraced against one of the premiership favourites with Matt Battye proving a good forward target with five goals. Brodie Filo kicked four to go with 17 possessions and Rory O'Brien was outstanding with 36 disposals and a goal.
Captain Brendon Jones worked hard for 24 touches, Rhett Mason had 21, Matt Brown 20, Kieran Butcher 19 and Matt Ware 19. Harley Bennell, one of the expected top AFL draft picks, kicked three goals.
Round 18 action next week is all on Saturday afternoon with West Perth playing Peel at Arena Joondalup, Perth taking on East Perth at EFTel Oval, Subiaco hosting South Fremantle at Medibank Stadium and Swan Districts and Claremont doing battle at Steel Blue Oval.
SWAN DISTRICTS 4.5 9.8 17.12 25.14 (164)
PEEL THUNDER 2.1 10.3 13.9 16.10 (106)
SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Pullman 7; Simpson 4; Geappen, Walters 3; Roach, Krakouer 2; Twomey, Riggio, Casserly, Spaanderman.
Best: Pullman, Roach, Roberts, Twomey, Simpson, Peace, Riggio, Walters.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Battye 5; Filo 4; Bennell 3; R O'Brien, Crichton, Ware, McPhan.
Best: R O'Brien, Filo, Battye, Jones, Mason, Crichton, Butcher, Bennell.
