Around the Grounds | Round 7

After a tough loss last weekend, the Rogers Cup girls were looking to cement their place at the top of the ladder against bottom of the table Subiaco. 

The Thunder began brightly and never looked back as they opened up with 3-goal to no score opening term and continued to build on their lead every quarter. Managing to overwhelm Subi in every area, keeping them goal-less for the entire game, emphatically ending the home and away season with a 71-point victory 11.7 (73) to 0.2 (2).

The Thunder had a great spread of goal kickers with 9 different girls hitting the scoreboard. Jordain Thompson and Kayleesha Ugle both kicked 2 goals, while Nel Baxter, Kaitlyn Hayes, Ella Tvrdeic, Maddison Rimmer, Rose Hambrecht, Sabrina Mccay-Tuckerman and Chloe Bilson all kicked singles.

The Rogers Cup girls will take on South Fremantle at 10:30am at Leederville Oval, with the winner progressing straight through to the Grand Final.

ROGERS CUP FINAL

PEEL GOALS: Thompson, Ugle 2; Hayes, Tvrdeic, Baxter, Rimmer, Bilston, Mccay-Tuckerman, Hambrecht 1.

The WAFLW side faced a must win situation following their close loss to Swan Districts the previous weekend. Kicking with the wind in the first term, Claremont appeared that they were going to hand the Thunder their most decisive loss of the season as they managed 6 scoring shots for 1.5 and held Peel scoreless.

The girls responded in the second, making use of the wind to keep the ball locked in their forward half and eventually getting their first goal for the day through Hannah Church. Kate Bartlett continued her strong run of form in the forward line and added a second for the term and at the half the Thunder had erased the quarter time deficit and let by 3 at the half.

The third quarter the Thunder made the most of their limited forward chances with Kate Bartlett adding her second from a handoff from Greta McKinley. Ella Roberts who once again impressed added a second for the quarter to put Peel in the driver’s seat up by 10 with the wind in the last.

Kira Phillips who had swung from defence to attack throughout the ground used the wind to full advantage as she converted a long set shot to secure the Thunder a first finals spot in the new WAFLW competition. An amazing turnaround from the side that struggled mightily last season.

Results on Sunday from the other fixture cemented the side’s second place spot on the ladder, which means they will travel to Leederville Oval this weekend to take on League Leaders Subiaco in the 2^nd Semi Final, with the winner going straight through to 2020 WAFLW Grand Final.

WAFLW LEAGUE FINAL

PEEL GOALS: Bartlett 2; Church, Phillips, Roberts 1.

PEEL BEST: Wrigley, Church, Whale, Liddle, Rowley, Roberts

The Colts were looking to pick up just the second win of the season when they took on South Fremantle in the nightcap on Saturday. Unfortunately, it was another frustrating evening for the boys as they were unable to restrict South Fremantle’s ball movement and ability to score as they eventually succumbed to an 8.12 (60) to 11.11 (77) 17-point loss.

The game was relatively slow to get going and Colts debutant Charlie Bourke was the first to hit the major opening after 14 mins. This jolted the Bulldogs into action as they kicked the next 2 before Luke Taylor put one through from distance to give the Thunder the lead at quarter time.

South’s cracked in around the stoppages in the second quarter and were +23 in contested possessions for the quarter and got on top in clearances. This translated onto the scoreboard as they booted 4 goals to 1 to take command of the game and lead by 21-points at half-time.

The third quarter proved to be one of frustration for the Thunder as they managed 17 inside 50’s to 5 but just couldn’t convert that into scoreboard pressure, only managing 1.6. Meanwhile at the other end South Freo were incredibly efficient with their limited entries, kicking 3 straight and just about put themselves out of sight at three-quarter-time.

The Thunder couldn’t afford to give up another goal if they were to have any chance to get back into the game, unfortunately Jacob Plunkett had other ideas and nailed the opening goal of the quarter to put the game out of reach with a game-high 33-point lead. However to Peel’s credit, they fought back gallantly, out possessing their opponent for the quarter and while they weren’t able to manage the sheer number of inside 50’s they had in the third, were able to impact the scoreboard with 4 goals (One to first gamer Riley Ward) to 2 and end the game with some positives.

In the absence of Isiah Winder, Jack Walsh and Bodie Kitchingman picked up the slack in the midfield both managing 26 disposals each. Kitchingman was particularly impressive, providing a lot of drive for the team down the wing and with 6 inside 50’s and 10 score involvements. David Yaccob was included in the League 25-man squad this week, highlighting how consistent a season he has had along the half-back line, he once again gathered 20+ disposals and continued to showcase his skills running and carrying the football. Zac Trigwell probably put together his best game, pushing up the ground in the last he managed his highest number of disposals at Colts level with 17 and provided a strong target in the forward line with a couple of contested marks. Finally, there is a lot to like about the alleged Ben Middleton clone Charlie Bourke who on his Colts debut kicked 4.

With the bye this week, the Colts will regroup and look to ensure they don’t go from runners-up to wooden spooners when they take on fellow strugglers East Perth in their final fixture at Leederville Oval on September 12^th.

COLTS FINAL

PEEL BEST: Kitchingman, Yaccob, Walsh, Trigwell, Bourke

PEEL GOALS: Bourke 4; Kitchingman, Trigwell, Taylor, Ward 2; Walsh, Vidovich, George, Trigwell 1