Swan Districts have capped off a dominant season by claiming a sixth reserves premiership, holding off a gallant West Perth in a thrilling four-point win at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

Leading by 10 points with only minutes left in the game, Nate Dimanlig kicked a goal for the Falcons to draw them within a kick.

But they were unable to win the centre clearance, with Swan Districts pushing the ball forward and holding on to secure the 9.17 (71) to 107 (67) victory.

It is the Swans’ second reserves flag in the past four seasons and third this century, leaving West Perth stuck on five, having last won in 2019.

Swan Districts midfielder Luke Cotellessa was awarded the Merv McIntosh Medal as the best on ground after racking up a game-high 29 touches as well as two goals and six tackles.

Brad Lynch was also great with 25 disposals, while Otis Harvey (23 touches and seven tackles) and Blake Kelly (23 touches and six tackles) were among the best.

For West Perth, Matt Galjaardt racked up a game-high 30 disposals, laid 11 tackles and kicked a goal, while Jayden Rigoll had 20 touches.

Swan Districts kicked the first goal of the game through Henrick Alforque, but the underdogs were not overawed and took the lead on the back of consecutive majors to Xavier Vallejo and Dimanlig.

The Swans would take control for the rest of the term but were incredibly wayward and could’ve led by more than 15 points had they kicked straighter.

They took full control in the second term. However, they continued to not be able to take advantage on the scoreboard.

At the other end, West Perth managed to kick vital goals through Jack Wooden and Sandon Page to keep themselves in the game at half-time.

Every time Swan Districts looked like they were going to kick away, the Falcons found an answer and come the final change, they were only seven points down.

It was a tense start to the final term, with both sides defending as if their lives depended on it.

Powerful Falcons forward Matt McKenzie would finally break through with his second goal 10 minutes into the last quarter to draw them within two points.

Swans found a response through Lewis Zolnier-Owens, which gave the favourites some valuable breathing space, but the Falcons upped the intensity.

They could’ve sealed the premiership, but consecutive misses left the door ajar, and Page’s second of the day for the Falcons kept the game on a knife’s edge.

Zolnier-Owens took less than two minutes, though, to add another settler for Swans, giving them a 10-point lead with only six minutes left on the clock.

Dimanlig would kick his second to set up an exciting finish, but time ran out for the fast-finishing Falcons, who were left heartbroken on Optus Stadium.

SCOREBOARD

SWAN DISTRICTS 4.5, 5.11, 7.14, 9.17 (71)

WEST PERTH 2.2, 4.4, 7.7, 10.7 (67)

Goals – SWAN DISTRICTS: A Cartwright 2 L Cotellessa 2 L Zolnier-Owens 2 H Alforque N Reiger C Rullo. WEST PERTH: N Dimanlig 2 M McKenzie 2 S Page 2 M Galjaardt M Inverarity X Vallejo J Wooden.

Best – SWAN DISTRICTS: L Cotellessa B Lynch O Harveye A Cartwright N Reiger B Kelly. WEST PERTH: M Gaaljardt J Wooden J Rigoll S Page J Coleman D Keenan.

Umpires: S Kirk-Williams M Forsyth R Harrison W Turner.