Defender Ryan Nyhuis can talk from experience when he stresses the importance of the upcoming WAFL Grand Final for Peel’s Fremantle-listed players.
Alongside Jon Griffin, Nick Suban, Sam Collins and Josh Deluca, Nyhuis is one of five Fremantle-listed players chasing back-to-back WAFL premierships at Peel.
The 21-year-old admitted that the task of another flag rests on a significantly younger Peel side, who will face either Subiaco or South Fremantle next Sunday at Domain Stadium.
Peel can field up to 15 Fremantle-listed players, with six of those eligible players in their first year at Fremantle – including Griffin Logue, Sean Darcy, Brennan Cox, Luke Ryan, Taylin Duman and Luke Strnadica.
“I’m feeling excited, it’s obviously a different group this year but I’m looking forward to another crack at the grand final and hopefully, making it two in a row,” Nyhuis said.
“Any grand final is obviously a lot quicker, so we have to prepare for that. It’s a less-experienced group as well, so I’ll have to bring a bit of leadership (from past experience) going into the game.
“It’s definitely a good growing experience, especially for the first year boys. We’ve got a young group coming through, so to play in these finals games is going to do them a world of good.”
Nyhuis says he remains wary of Subiaco, who have lost just two games in 2017, including Peel’s second semi-final win on Sunday.
The Lions boast the WAFL’s most dangerous forward in Liam Ryan, who won this year's Bernie Naylor Medal by a margin of 15 goals.
Nyhuis limited Ryan to one goal in last year’s grand final, while Ryan kicked three goals in last week’s second semi final.
“I’ve played on (Liam Ryan) a couple of times now, it’s always a good battle against him,” Nyhuis said.
“I’ve learnt a lot from playing on guys like him and it helps me grow as well. If I get a crack at him again in a couple of weeks I’ll be looking forward to it.
Nyhuis said another WAFL premiership would be momentous for Freo’s Peel players.
“The mood’s great, we have a tight group here,” Nyhuis said.
“I think if we can get a win in the grand final, it will lift the group's spirits going into the off-season and pre-season and hopefully, we can transfer that into the AFL side as well.”
