East Perth took another step towards playing finals with a convincing 54-point win over Swan Districts at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

A fast start and third-quarter masterclass from small forward Willie Rioli set up the Royals’ 17.8 (110) to 8.8 (56) victory, which has them firmly entrenched in the top five race.

East Perth signalled their intent from the outset and booted five unanswered goals in the opening quarter to lead by 30 points at the first change of ends.

The Royals showed the fourth-placed Swans no mercy early in the second term.

Nathan Blee and Callum Hart goalled in the fourth and 10^th minutes to extend the home team’s lead to 42 points before Jake Waterman kicked back-to-back goals to edge East Perth further ahead.

The Black Ducks finally found the major opening via Kirk Ugle in the 26^th minute and Ryan Crowley kicked a late goal before the half-time siren to reduce the visitors’ deficit to 34 points.

All hopes of a Swan Districts comeback were lost when Rioli stamped his authority on the game in the penultimate quarter.

The 22-year-old – who was playing just his second league game in black and blue following two severe hamstring injuries – kicked East Perth further ahead with a true set shot from 25m in the third minute and essentially put the game to bed with three consecutive goals during a 10-minute stretch at the back end of the quarter.

Rioli showcased his natural talent and sense for the goals by nailing two no-look snaps – one from 25m and the other from 50m – before rounding out his three-goal streak with a pure 45m set shot from an acute angle just one minute before the siren.

East Perth took its foot off the accelerator and only booted one-goal-to-four in the final term, but the damage was done and they sang team song out with vigour in the sheds afterwards.

Chris Masten was influential and distributed the ball effectively on 36 occasions, developing centreman Jordan Snadden amassed 23 disposals, 10 contested possessions and five clearances while playing a run-with role and Tom Lamb got plenty of the football (27 disposals) patrolling the wing.

Defenders Tom Cole and Francis Watson (20 disposals each) played with confidence, as did veteran Will Schofield (15 touches) and Eagles rookie Tom Gorter (13 disposals, six spoils), who kept the Swans’ dangerous forwards in check.

Kurt Mutimer (17 disposals, 13 pressure acts) applied plenty of heat from the half-back line, Malcolm Karpany (16 disposals, six marks) opened the game up with his accurate ball use, while Rioli (12 possessions, four goals), Jake Waterman (15 touches, two goals) and Fraser McInnes (13 disosals, one goal) wreaked havoc in the forward 50.

Jonathan Giles also toiled manfully and won 33 hitouts (nine to advantage) in the absence of rucking compatriot Scott Jones, who left the ground with an ankle injury midway through the second quarter.