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Swan Districts to honour ANZACs with tribute match

Swan Districts is hosting its fifth annual “Joe Pearce ANZAC Day Tribute Game” to pay tribute to Australia’s ANZAC heroes at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday the 25^th of April. 

The “Joe Pearce ANZAC Day Tribute Game” begins at 2:15pm with a pre-game welcome address, which honours the sacrifices the ANZACs made for their country and also recognises the connection between the ANZAC tradition and the WAFL. Many ANZACs have played football with WAFL teams, and Swan Districts is no exception.

Joe Pearce is one example of the proud history between the WAFL and the ANZACs. 

Mr. Pearce made his debut in the WAFL with Swan Districts in 1939.  

However, his career with the Swans was interrupted when he enlisted in the military during World War II, joining the 2/4^th Machine Gun Battalion in October 1940. 

Despite being wounded and imprisoned for three years in a Japanese POW camp, after the war ended Mr. Pearce picked up where he left off with the Swan Districts in 1946.

   He stayed with the club until his retirement in 1951 having played a total of 91 league games in the WAFL. 

Swan Districts came out on top in their match against the Perth Demons in last year’s ANZAC day match, and are hoping that fortune will once again be on their side when they come up against the Claremont Tigers on the 25^th. 

Matthew Peach, Swan Districts’ Football Manager, said that the key to the match for Swan Districts would lie in their game plan. 

“Claremont has recruited really well this year, so we know it’s always going to be a very competitive game against them.

“We’ve just got to come up with a good game plan and stick to it and hopefully we can come out on top against them.” Mr. Peach said. 

Claremont currently has a winning record against Swan Districts, however the last time the two teams faced off, in round 12 of the 2008 season, Swan Districts came out on top.

Swan Districts will also host a Presidents Luncheon at 12:00pm. Local veterans and RSL members are welcome to attend. 

Children can also look forward to bouncy castles and face painting. 

The “Joe Pearce ANZAC Day Tribute Game” is free to all RSL members and to children aged under 15.