MATCH REPORT: SOUTH FREMANTLE VS PEEL THUNDER – 14 MAY 2016

Rory O’Brien’s 100th game and dominant performances from midfield duo Michael Barlow and Matt de Boer weren’t enough to get Peel Thunder over the line against South Fremantle in warm conditions at Fremantle Oval.

The Thunder were in the contest at every change, before the Bulldogs kicked seven unanswered goals to blow the margin out to 41 points at the final siren. O’Brien said skill errors and ill-discipline had been Peel’s downfall.
“We were still two points down with ten minutes to go and had fought back really hard, but it was a couple of un-disciplined acts which cost us a fifty-metre penalty and a few skill errors,” he said.
“South are a quality side and they just capitalised.”
Sandover Medallist O’Brien was excellent in his milestone match, collecting 26 possessions and laying 2 tackles to again highlight his value to the club.
“To be able to play a hundred games for the club where I started is pretty special,” he said.
“It’s taken a while, five or six years, to get there, but to finally bring up the hundred games is exciting and I’m pretty happy with it.”
Midfielders Barlow and de Boer collected 39 possessions apiece, and showed great awareness to propel Peel forward on numerous occasions.
They were well supported by Brady Grey (21 disposals, five tackles), while key forward Tanner Smith was tireless leading up the ground.
O’Brien said de Boer and Barlow brought a lot experience to the side.“They’ve taken a lot of on field leadership helping Gerald out there in terms of structures, helping the young guys, but they’ve been fantastic,” he said.
Micheal Apeness was impressive on his return to the senior side, kicking two goals and offering a strong option up front, while captain Gerald Ugle provided a target across half forward.
Key defender Sam Collins demonstrated his dynamic ability, keeping the mid-sized Ben Saunders to three goals, as he patrolled the half-back line.
Peel started the game strongly and made the most of their early pressure as first de Boer and then Ugle kicked truly, given the Thunder an 11-point lead mid-way through the quarter.
South Fremantle struck back late in the term as Ben Saunders finished from a free-kick and Jake Florenca snapped from 45 metres to tie the scores at the break.

The Thunder were forced to defend early in the second term as South Fremantle moved the ball quickly through midfield, but were unable to stop Timothy Kelly from finding the major opening on the five-minute mark.

Matt Uebergang smothered a certain goal as Peel continued to work hard in defence, before back-to-back goals from Adam Guglielmana and Ashton Hams saw the lead out to 14 points.
Peel hit back in time-on through Andrew Haydon, before Apeness and Brendan Hancock both kicked truly to bring the margin back to two-points at the long break.
Peel made the early running in the third, but the Bulldogs fought back late in the quarter and when Saunders converted his second of the match, the home side had opened up a 15-point lead.
The Thunder showed strong signs early in the final term, bringing the margin back to two points thanks to goals from Smith and Bradley Walsh. But seven unanswered goals from the Bulldogs put the result beyond doubt.

O’Brien said it was up to the senior members of the squad to help the young players finish off games.
“We’re still a very young side. A lot of our local guys are under 23, so they’re still learning the game and when they are under 23, a lot of them have played less than ten games, so we’re going to get that,” he said.
“If we can assist them during the week and help them do that, and limit that drop off late in games, I definitely think we can get the result next week.”

South Fremantle: 16.11.107
Peel Thunder: 9.12.66

Goals: 
South Fremantle: Saunders (3), Kelly (2), Shaw (2), Strom (2), Florenca, Guglielmana, Stewart, Schloithe, Hams, Johnson, Edwards
Peel Thunder: Apeness (2), Bell, de Boer, Ugle, Hancock, Haydon, Walsh, Smith