ROUND 14 - DETERMINED & POSITIVE SENIOR DEVELOPMENT TAKE THE WIN

The bye gave the opportunity for the Development team to regroup and refocus after a tough month of football. As a group we came up with some key focuses for the remaining 9 games of the season. We are determined to finish the year off positively and build on the progress the group has made to date. First up was East Fremantle, who sat in 5th place on the ladder.

Michael Humble and Nick Merritt were rewarded for some consistent football with a promotion to the League side. They were joined in the League side by other players 20 years old or younger in Alex Bray, Calvin Thorne, Haydn Matthews and Michael Tassone, a great sign for the future of the club going forward. The Development side welcomed back Josh McMahon, Brett Milward, Brad Walsh, James Kirby and Noah Hura with Matthew Yeates making his first appearance for the season, taking our players used at Development level to 44.

After a scrappy start, where the pressure form both sides was strong, Jacob Perry, skippering the team for the first time this season, kicked the opening goal with a clever snap from a stoppage. From that point the East Fremantle midfield got on top and finished the first quarter on top. It was a similar story for the start of the 2nd quarter with the ball bouncing back and forth between the half back lines before some strong forward pressure resulted in a turnover and a clever snap goal to Brett Milward. Another quick goal from the restart to James Kirby and the Thunder hit the lead. It was goal for goal for the rest of the first half. Peel came out strong at the start of the 3rd and opened up a decent lead through Brett Milward, who kicked 3 for the quarter. But East Fremantle weren’t going away and got back within a kick before a late Will Zilko goal, who had been switched forward at half time, gave the Thunder a 10 point buffer heading into the last. The last quarter was a tight contest with both sides having enough opportunities to take the game but the Thunder held on to record their 4th win for the season.

Better players for the day include James Kirby, who linked up well and provided some strong work around the stoppages, Brett Milward, who provided a lone marking target up forward and kicked 5, Dixon Wight, who provided strong run from behind and was strong in the air and Aaron Victor, who used the ball well from defence. Special mentions to Jacob Perry, who nullified a dominant Dion Anthony in the last quarter and Mitch Lewis, who gave a contest in the ruck but provided the mids with valuable support at ground level.

It was a step forward for the young group and the positive result helps reinforce the key areas we need to focus on each week.

We now take on Claremont at Bendigo Bank stadium next Saturday @ 11.30am, keen to improve on the first time we played them.

WRITTEN BY: BRAD DODD - SENIOR DEVELOPEMENT COACH