Fremantle recruit Shane Yarran starred on debut for Peel Thunder, with a polished three-goal display at Rushton Park on Saturday.
In his first match since injuring his knee playing for Subiaco in last year’s WAFL Grand Final, the reigning Bernie Naylor medallist displayed clean skills and speed as Peel cruised to a 19.9 (123) to 7.4 (46) victory.
WAFL Watch player stats: Saturday 30 April
He also proved an important target, with two high-flying attempts in the goal square.
Defender Ethan Hughes said Yarran had been determined to impress since arriving at Fremantle last November.
“He was strong all the way through [rehabilitation], his mind never flickered from where he was going - aiming to get back out here and play with the boys,” he said.
“Strong performance from him today. It was good to see.”
Peel was well served by experienced midfielder Matt de Boer, who finished with 24 possessions, 10 tackles and two goals.
Hughes said de Boer’s leadership was crucial to the Thunder's midfield dominance.
“Matty brings a world of knowledge to the team,” he said.
“He instructs us out on the field, brings it to life and builds it out.”
Midfielder Ed Langdon (25 possessions) and defender Clancee Pearce (30 possessions) were also pivotal, using their endurance and kicking to link defence and attack on multiple occasions.
In attack, Tanner Smith presented strongly all day to finish with 25 possessions, 12 marks and a goal, while developing forward Matt Uebergang kicked three goals in his best display for the Thunder.
Sam Collins continued his consistent start to the season, while Garrick Ibbotson was composed playing as the spare man in defence.
Peel started brightly after Smith set up Yarran’s first goal, before converting a shot of his own from 40m. Yarran then roved strongly again, breaking away from the midfield with speed before converting on the run from 50m.
The second quarter continued in the same fashion, with Nick Suban applying significant pressure at the contest before finishing two long-range goal efforts from 45m.
But the Thunder tired late in the third term, conceding the last three goals to enter the final change with a 50-point advantage.
Peel sits third on the WAFL table with four wins, and travels to Joondalup on Saturday to take on West Perth at HBF Arena.
