Peel Thunder is back on the winner’s list this week after defeating West Coast 10.5 (65) to 19.6 (120) at Mineral Resources Park in Lathlain on Saturday.
The 55-point win was played in beautiful conditions for football, with six listed Fremantle Dockers playing for Peel and eight senior Eagles playing for West Coast.
West Coast looked to put pressure on Peel early, kicking the first two goals of the game within the opening three minutes, but the Thunder managed to ease their way back into the match.
PLAYER STATS: The numbers of each of our Freo-listed players
Defenders Ethan Hughes and Nathan Wilson got the team going in defence, with some timely intercepts and clean football, while Peel’s Wade Derkson was on fire early with two first-quarter goals.
Fremantle young gun Jye Amiss looked to continue with his excellent form, taking a strong mark on the lead to kick Peel’s fourth goal for the term.
Peel responded to West Coast’s fast start with five unanswered goals, finishing the first quarter up by 20-points.
The second quarter turned into a high scoring tit for tat contest, with neither side kicking consecutive goals within the first six goals of the term before Peel broke the pattern late in the quarter.
After missing last week’s match against West Perth due to entering the AFL’s health and safety protocols, midfielder Connor Blakely was impressive in his first game back, entering halftime with 15 disposals, four tackles, and three inside 50s.
Young forward Sam Sturt added two goals to the scoreboard in the second term, as Liam Henry worked hard on the wing, producing some impressive repeated efforts.
The second quarter concluded with both teams kicking four goals apiece as Peel entered the main break with a 21-point lead.
With Blakely starring in the midfield, Peel started the third quarter on fire kicking four straight unanswered goals, taking full opportunity of their inside 50 dominance.
West Coast looked to have gained some momentum back midway through the term, kicking two straight goals, but their hopes of a comeback were quickly crushed as the Thunder slammed on another three goals to enter three-quarter time with a 52-point lead.
The final quarter turned into an arm wrestle as the Eagles locked the ball in their forward half, looking to halt Peel’s momentum.
The quarter concluded with Peel still outscoring West Coast 3.1 to 2.4, as the Thunder walked away with the win.
Blakely finished his game with 31 disposals, 11 marks, and seven inside 50s, while Henry worked hard all day on the wing, finishing with 15 disposals, six inside 50s and five tackles.
Hughes was influential down back as he gathered 16 disposals and eight marks, as forwards Sturt and Amiss booted three goals each for the day.
Wilson’s experience was on show all afternoon as he concluded his game with 16 disposals and five marks.
The defender said the team looked to improve their movement this week by controlling the ball more.
“Last week, we played a little bit long down the line too much; West Perth countered and hurt us, so we wanted to change angles this week, and I thought we did that,” Wilson said.
Despite the convincing win, Wilson still believes there is room for improvement.
“We wanted to make them defend a bit more, then push up and keep it in our front half, and I thought we did that at times,” Wilson said.
“There were a few times when we let it out the back, but we’ll adjust and hopefully, get better in the next couple of weeks.”
After three rounds, Peel sit fourth on the ladder and will now prepare to face the eighth-placed Perth Demons at Lane Group Stadium in Mandurah next Saturday at 2:10pm.
WEST COAST 2.1 6.1 8.1 10.5 (65)
PEEL THUNDER 5.3 9.4 16.5 19.6 (120)
GOALS
WEST COAST J Williams 3, J Petruccelle 2, I Winder 2, Z Langdon, D McCarthy.
PEEL THUNDER W Derksen 4, J Amiss 3, B Bell 3, S Sturt 3, R George 2, J Sears, R Bennell, B Carroll, T Anderson.
BEST
WEST COAST J Deegan, J Rotham, R Bazzo, J Jones, J William, J Petruccelle.
PEEL THUNDER W Derksen, C Blakely, N Wilson, J Ewing, E Hughes, B Blair, S Sturt, H Mathews, L Henry.
