The weather looked ominous at Mandurah today and the Thunder eventually struck, edging West Coast in a thriller, 10.16 (76) to 11.8 (74).
Despite lining up with only six AFL-listed players, the Eagles managed to piece together a solid performance, narrowly missing out on the win in a WAFL mini-Derby.
Bailey Williams was best afield for the day, taking home 16 disposals, 58 hitouts, seven marks and two goals, while Brayden Ainsworth (31 disposals, six marks, three tackles, one goal), Xavier O’Neill (32, five, five, one) and captain Hamish Brayshaw (19 disposals, 11 tackles) were also impressive in the Eagles’ engine room.
Lennon Marlin (21 disposals, six marks, four tackles one goal), Ben Johnson (29 disposals, three marks) and Zane Sumich (24, eight) must also be mentioned for their consistent efforts and intensity throughout the match.
It was a rocky start for West Coast after conceding the first goal, but the side fought back vigilantly and snapped the next five majors of the term to take a 21-point lead into the first break.
The Eagles added another four goals to their tally in their second quarter – while holding Peel to just one – thanks to constant supply from dominant midfielder Ainsworth, who entered the long break with 27 disposals, four marks, three tackles, three inside 50s and a major.
At the start of the third quarter, Cooper Nitschke snapped West Coast’s tenth goal of the match, but the rest of the Premiership quarter went Peel’s way, with the side claiming four consecutive goals including an impressive snap from the pocket.
In the final minute, West Coast managed to maintain possession, and belt the ball forward to Jarrod Garlett who ran past two Peel players and narrowly missed a soccer goal just before the siren.
Coming into the fourth quarter just 19 points ahead, West Coast upped the intensity and started the term with a tap from Williams, which led to a clearance and minor score from Kieran Hug.
But Peel were able to win the ball back and snare their seventh goal for the match, following up with another in rapid succession, this time from the centre bounce.
Their third inside 50 entry was stopped by West Coast, who sent the ball straight down the line, but the forwards were unable to convert from the turnover.
From there, Peel managed to mount a late comeback and eventually take home the win by two-points, despite a valiant effort and late final goal from Marlin.
WEST COAST: 5.2 9.5 10.7 11.8 (74)
PEEL THUNDER: 1.5 2.9 6.12 10.16 (76)
GOALS
West Coast: Williams, Nitschke 2, Winder, O’Neill, Ainsworth, Garlett, Marlin, Flint, Deegan
Peel Thunder: Thorne, Randall 2, Bell, Hancock, Lake, Sears, Hughes, Duman
BEST
West Coast: Williams, O’Neill, Ainsworth, Johnson, Sumich, Marlin, Johnson
Peel Thunder: Randall, Giro, Thorne, Hancock, Merrett, Duman
