Despite leading for the majority of the match, Peel Thunder was narrowly defeated by ladder leaders West Perth, 7.5 (47) to 6.8 (44), at Pentanet Stadium in Joondalup on Saturday afternoon.

13 listed Fremantle players were in action for the Thunder in the wet, boisterous conditions as they looked to get back in the top five and secure their first win over the Falcons in Joondalup since 2017.

In his first game back from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for over a month, defender Heath Chapman kicked his first goal for the Thunder to open the scoring for the match.

Marks inside 50 were extremely difficult to conjure as the Thunder squandered their shots on goal early in the challenging conditions, kicking two goals and five behinds.

Peel then gave away two crucial free-kicks inside 50 late in the quarter, allowing the Falcons to kick the following two goals and trim the margin to five points at the quarter time break.

The heavy rain continued in the second quarter as Josh Treacy kicked the first goal of the term at the eight-minute mark to extend the Thunder's lead out to 10 points before West Perth's Tyler Keitel kicked his second midway through the quarter.

Despite the slippery conditions, ruckman Lloyd Meek found form and finished the first half with 29 hitouts, nine disposals and a goal, giving the Thunder a 12-point lead at the main break.

The scoring dried up in the second half as puddles on the oval continued to grow.

Peel was held goalless in the third quarter, kicking just one behind to the Falcons one goal and two behinds.

Strong repeated efforts from young docker Joel Western got Peel inside 50 late in the quarter, but the siren denied them any shot on goal as the Thunder entered the final change with a five-point lead.

As the scrappy contest continued, Tyler Keitel's third goal gave the Falcons the lead at the eight-minute mark of the last term before Guy Barnes immediately scored to give Peel the lead back.

However, their lead was quickly lost, and despite repeated inside 50s late, the Falcons managed to deny the Thunder any shots on goal and walked away with the four points.

Connor Blakely continued his good form, finishing the game with 26 disposals, six tackles and four inside 50s, as did Karl Worner, who had 23 disposals and five tackles.

Meek impressed all day in the ruck, ending his match with 51 hit-outs, six tackles, 11 disposals and a goal, as Chapman completed his return game with 23 disposals, five tackles and a goal playing off half-back, pressing his case for an AFL return.

Peel Thunder currently sit sixth on the ladder as they prepare to clash with the eighth-placed Subiaco Lions in Mandurah next Saturday at 2:10 pm.

WEST PERTH 2.0  4.1  5.3  7.5  (47)
PEEL THUNDER 2.5  5.7  5.8  6.8  (44)

GOALS
WEST PERTH: T Keitel 3, A Antonio, A Hamp, A Black, M Peirce
PEEL THUNDER: G Barnes 2, L Meek, H Chapman, S Kuek, J Treacy

BEST
WEST PERTH: S Nelson, T Keitel, T Hobley, M Peirce, L Meadows
PEEL THUNDER: L Meek, C Blakely, H Chapman, K Worner, G Barnes, M Crowden

Player Stats:

Reserves: