East Perth has sneaked into the WAFL’s top five with a hard-fought win against Swan Districts on Saturday.

The Royal’s 40-point win over the Swans helped it leapfrog Peel Thunder on percentage and claim fifth spot on the league’s ladder.

In conditions that can only be described as deplorable, Craig Wulff speared a 40m drop punt through driving rain to open the Royals’ account in the 15th minute of the opening quarter.

While the deluge continued and the ground conditions deteriorated, East Perth ruckman Jonathan Giles revelled in the wild weather and, in a similar fashion to his captain, launched a 40m set shot straight through the big sticks to increase the visiting team’s lead to 13 points in the 21st minute of the period.

Wulff capped off an excellent first term for the Royals when he nailed a set shot from 20m out near the left boundary after copping a high shot from a frustrated Swan.

Mother nature had no time for football in the second quarter as the rain made clean play almost impossible at Steel Blue Oval.

Swan Districts locked the ball into its forward 50m for much of the second term, but East Perth’s dogged defence denied them a shot at goal.

Giles and Liam Duggan combined for the highlight of the quarter - a clean hit-out and clearance near the western boundary that resulted in a rare Royals’ inside 50 - but neither side managed to kick a goal as the contest descended into a war of attrition.

Just when it looked like either side might score again, Simon Tunbridge kicked back-to-back goals midway through the penultimate term to increase East Perth’s advantage to 28 points.

The Swans made a perfect start to the final quarter when Rudy Riddoch sent home the host side's first goal of the game minutes after the resumption of play, but Tom Cole neutralised the black ducks’ major moments later when he received a hand-off from Wulff and sent a low laser through the wind and tall posts from 35m.

Matt Riggio got the home side six points closer with a long 40m bomb in the 16th minute, but Paul Johnson edged the Royals ahead with a spectacular left foot snap from 35m that dribbled its way through the goals and Wulff capped off East Perth’s spirited performance with a crafty major from the left pocket late in the fixture.

Jack Redden produced an almost flawless performance with 35 disposals, four marks, six tackles and five hit-outs, Corey Adamson starred with 24 touches and 10 tackles and Malcolm Karpany continued his good run of form with 23 possessions, three marks and four tackles.

Tom Cole bounced back to form with a 22-disposal, one goal effort, Tom Lamb worked tirelessly for his 20 disposals and Dom Sheed got the ball moving 20 times as well.

Kurt Mutimer’s midfield evolution continued as he racked up 19 touches, Eric Mackenzie was solid at the back of the ground in locking down Swans' forward Ricky Cary and Paddy Brophy used his speed to win 15 possessions.

Simon Tunbridge went hard at the contest and was rewarded with 14 disposals and two goals, Liam Duggan gathered 12 touches and Jonathan Giles was solid in the ruck with 36 hit-outs.

Jamie Bennell and Matthew Allen collected eight and seven possessions respectively.