Peel’s finals hopes have been dented with a 55-point loss to reigning premiers Subiaco at Medibank Stadium on Saturday.

In wet and greasy conditions, the Thunder were well short of their best against a strong and classy Lions outfit, who triumphed 15.9 (99) to 6.8 (44).

It is the Thunder’s second heavy loss to the reigning premiers this season, and the pressure applied by the Lions was elite.

While the Thunder’s ruck duo of Jonathan Griffin and Jack Hannath combined for 54 hit-outs, the Subiaco midfield were a class above, and the discrepancy in the tackle count (Subiaco 79 to Peel 60) told the tale of the Lions’ pressure.

Despite inside 50s remaining square at 45 apiece, the manner in which Peel moved forward was a stark contrast to the efficiency that was a trademark over the past month.
 
Griffin was Peel’s best with 32 hit-outs and two goals, while Brady Grey put in another complete midfield performance with 23 disposals, eight tackles, seven inside 50s and a goal.

Ben Hancock provided plenty of run off halfback with 12 disposals in the first half and 19 for the game, while Josh Bootsma was rock-solid in defence, curtailing the dangerous Shane Yarran.

Jacob Ballard (26 disposals, seven tackles) and Hayden Crozier (24 touches) were also solid, however the Thunder lacked consistent contributors.

Peel coach Cam Shepherd said the performance was disappointing considering the benchmark set by the Lions this season.

“We really came here with high hopes, and we recognise Subiaco are the reigning premiers, but that performance was disappointing,” Shepherd said.

Peel’s intensity lifted in the second quarter, gaining an ascendancy in the contested ball and clearances, but it was not maintained for the rest of the contest.

“We fought really strongly in the second quarter to get back into the game, but let ourselves down after the main break,” Shepherd said.

While the statistics showed Peel were in the game with more kicks, handballs, hit-outs and marks, skill errors were costly early in the third term.

“We made some turnovers in general play that gave Subiaco the opportunity to hit the scoreboard, and when a four-goal gap becomes a seven or eight goal gap, it makes it hard,” Shepherd said.

“We were not efficient with our inside 50s, we were disappointing in that area and sometimes stats don’t tell the full story.

“The stats would show that we had a fair bit of the ball, but they used it better than us and we conceded eight free kicks inside forward 50, which has a real impact as well.”
 
Earlier, Subiaco asserted its dominance in the first term before the Thunder fought its way back into the contest through sheer grit.

The reigning premiers then showed why they are heavily touted to contest for a second successive premiership with an intense, skillful brand of football that the Thunder struggled to contain.

Peel still clings to fourth spot on the ladder despite the loss, but there is heightened importance surrounding next weekend’s clash with eighth-placed East Fremantle at Bendigo Bank Stadium.