A fast-finishing Peel Thunder have won their second game in a row defeating East Fremantle by 33 points at ATOM Stadium on Saturday.
The Thunder kicked five unanswered fourth quarter goals while keeping the Sharks to two behinds in the final term to seal the win, 9.12 (66) to 3.12 (30)
Ethan Hughes led the Thunder with a team-high 26 disposals.
Luke Strnadica said Hughes’ leadership skills had really grown this season.
“He’s really vocal and has been helping out all the boys,” he said.
Zac Dawson kicked the opening goal of the game within two minutes of the first quarter, but it wasn’t until late in the first that the Thunder were able to score their second.
Matthew Taberner kicked two goals and won 15 hit-outs as he spent the game rotating between the ruck and the forward line.
Garrick Ibbotson had a strong outing with 24 disposals to go along with six marks and three tackles.
Peel lead the inside-50 count all game but struggled to convert on their opportunities early on, kicking only four goals in the first three quarters.
Luke Strnadica said coach Cam Shepherd urged the team to keep going hard at the ball if they wanted to leave with the win.
“Shep [told the group] to just keep running hard and it’s up to us if we want to win the game," he said.
Strnadica said the Thunder were able to capitalise more on their inside-50 opportunities later in the game.
“We built the ball up better and were more composed which was pleasing,” he said.
The Thunder put their foot down in the fourth quarter, with a pair of goals coming from Zac Dawson and Matthew Taberner.
Strnadica said they plan to build off their last quarter as they take on Claremont next week.
“We want to bring the effort which we really model our game on.”
Peel will host Claremont at Rushton Park next week on Saturday 1 July.
