Thirteen Fremantle-listed players lined up for Peel Thunder in their pre-season practice match against West Perth on Saturday afternoon at Arena Joondalup.
Peel fell by nine points in the tight scratch match hitout, with momentum shifting between the two sides throughout.
Fremantle young guns Neil Erasmus and Matthew Johnson saw plenty of midfield minutes, while recruit Josh Corbett showed his forward craft booting two goals for the match.
Joel Hamling, Brandon Walker and Joshua Draper lined up in defence, Tom Emmett, Sam Sturt and Sebit Kuek joined Corbett up forward while Nathan O'Driscoll, Karl Worner, Corey Wagner and Liam Reidy went through the middle.
The Thunder jumped out of the blocks against the reigning premiers kicking five straight goals, while Peel's defence were able to withstand the Falcons pressure to only concede one goal in the first term.
Johnson and Erasmus gave the team the upper hand through much of the first quarter with their drive out of the middle.
West Perth hit back in the second term, kicking the first four goals of the quarter before a Corbett major settled the Peel side, with the Thunder taking a one-point lead into the main break.
Scoring was halted for both sides in the third quarter, with ample defensive pressure being applied.
A goal from Johnson was the highlight of the quarter for Peel as the tight tussle continued to set up an exciting final period with West Perth four points ahead at the final change.
While scoring remained a difficult feat in the final term, an elegantly flowing play between Kuek, O’Driscoll and Sturt saw Erasmus kick the Thunder’s only goal of the final term.
Much of the quarter’s play went West Perth’s way and despite a valiant effort from the Thunder’s defence, West Perth were able to impact the scoreboard enough to secure a nine-point lead by the final siren.
The second practice match of the WAFL pre-season was another important hitout ahead of Peel's season opener against East Fremantle on Friday 7 April at Rushton Park.
SCORELINE -
Peel Thunder 5.0 | 6.1 | 7.4 | 8.5 (53)
West Perth 1.2 | 5.6 | 7.8 | 8.13 (61)
GOALS
Peel Thunder: Brody Wemm 3, Josh Corbett 2, Blair Bell 1, Neil Erasmus 1, Matthew Johnson 1.
West Perth: Tyler Keitel 3, Mitchell Dobson 1, Zac Langdon 1, Conal Lynch 1, Luke Meadows 1, Rudy Riddoch 1.
