A depleted Peel Thunder was unable to beat bottom-placed Swan Districts at Rushton Park on Saturday.
Fremantle’s growing injury list saw several AFL-listed players rested for the WAFL clash and a host of players promoted from the reserves.
Josh Deluca, who was one of just three Fremantle players in the Peel line-up, said the decision to rest key players didn’t affect the game plan.
“It didn’t change how we went into the game and our game plan at all, we just brought in more numbers from reserves and got on with it.” Deluca said.
The Thunder was dealt a further blow in the second quarter when Clancee Pearce left the ground with an ankle injury.
Deluca said losing such an experienced player had proved difficult.
“It was hard as we had Bootsma go down as well, so two men short and Shane Yarran was on limited minutes,” Deluca said.
“It was a challenge for the boys, but it’s a credit to them for sticking it out and playing the whole game.”
Yarran made his second WAFL appearance since returning from a calf injury and was lively in gathering 15 possessions and laying two tackles.
“He’s really grown since he’s come to club and it’s obviously hard when you’re not playing a full game to get involved as much as you like,” Deluca said.
“But he’s doing really well and he’s a lot more confident.”
The match started well for Peel as the young side matched it with Swans in the first quarter and went into the first break just four points down.
But the visitors kicked away in the second term, taking a 12.5 (77) to 4.4 (28) lead into the main break.
The home side was able to kick four goals in the third quarter, but Swans took control again in the final stanza and ran away with an 18.10 (118) to 12.7 (79) victory.
Deluca blamed the loss on Peel’s performance around the stoppages in the first half.
“We were a little sloppy with our skills and we lost our centre square bounce and stoppages,” he said.
“After half-time, we came out firing and our third quarter was good.”
Peel has the bye this weekend before a must-win clash against third-placed West Perth at Bendigo Bank Stadium on July 9.
