Peel Thunder coach Cam Shepherd thinks the time has arrived for Peel Thunder to get respect from their WAFL rivals after a barnstorming finals campaign.
 
Peel are vying to be the first club since East Fremantle in 1965 to win the premiership after finishing fourth in the regular season when they face Subiaco at Domain Stadium in the McDonald’s WAFL Grand Final on Sunday.
 
Shepherd, who won a flag as a player with Claremont in 1987, believes the players were extremely motivated to win after a breakout season.
 
“They’ve bought in strongly to an environment that we think will hopefully give us the ultimate success,” he said.
 
“There’s a real feeling of excitement and anticipation for the players.”
 
The Thunder coach, who was assistant coach at the Lions when they won the flag in 2008, credits the alignment with Fremantle with helping him develop as a coach.
 
Freo players excited about Grand Final

“I think the environment that we are in with the best coaches in Australia, from Ross (Lyon) right through to the assistant coaches and development coaches, has certainly fast-tracked my development as a coach,” he said.

Much has been made of the impact of Fremantle players turning out for Peel during the season, but Shepherd believes credit should go to Peel’s squad as well.
 
“I think the alignment’s been really strong and it only shows with how all the players have bought in - all the player’s, the 22 and the others that have played,” he said.
 
“O’Brien, Ugle and Bell have been really good.”
 
Shepherd, who was appointed head coach in 2012, said success for the club was important for the whole Peel region.
 
“I think it’s immensely important for the club to get some respect and some dignity in the competition and it’s an exciting time down in Mandurah at the moment,” he said.