Colts Grand Final Match Report

PEEL Thunder kicked six consecutive goals from midway through the first and second quarters of the 2022 Colts Grand Final and that was enough to hold on and beat West Perth by two points in a thriller at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

West Perth came into the 2022 Colts Grand Final having finished the home and away season as minor premiers and then beating Peel in a tight affair in the second semi-final to earn another week off.

The Thunder had to do it the hard way and defeat Claremont in last week's preliminary final, and it was West Perth who made a flying start to the Grand Final at Leederville Oval with two quick goals to Noah Farrow.

However, Peel soon worked on top and from the 19-minute mark of the first quarter to the 19-minute mark of the second, the Thunder kicked six of their seven goals for the match.

They would lead by as much as 31 points and still by 21 early in the fourth term, but West Perth kicked the last four goals of the game to get back within just two points.

The siren beat them, though, with Peel holding on to win 7.15 (57) to 8.7 (55) to claim their first colts premiership since going back-to-back in 2004 and 2005.

It's a second loss on Grand Final day for West Perth following the reserves also losing to start the festivities at Leederville Oval against Subiaco.

Peel ruckman Jackson Broadbent won the Mel Whinnen Medal after being judged best afield finishing the Grand Final with 17 possessions, 23 hit outs, four marks, two tackles and two inside-50 entries.

Reece Torrent also had a tremendous game for the Thunder with 24 touches, eight marks and two goals.

Scott Tuia collected 25 disposals, Clay Hall 23, Joel Rush 20, Ethan Donaghy 20, Michael Sellwood 20, Taj Wyburd 19 and Jackson Klepzig 18.

Noah Farrow was the standout forward in the game kicking two goals each in the first and last quarters for West Perth to finish with four from 17 possessions, nine marks and six tackles.

Byron Sherwood also kicked two goals to go with 23 touches, 10 tackles and six marks.

Kane Bevan racked up 33 disposals for the Falcons, Griff Julian 25, Daniel Gathercole 24, Blake Garraway 23, Mitchell Lonnie 19, Luke Michael and Clayton Taylor 18.

West Perth had to wait two weeks to play the Grand Final after beating Peel in the second semi-final and the Falcons took out that pent up frustration with the perfect start with two goals inside the opening two and-a-half minutes.

Both came courtesy of Noah Farrow with the first after just 45 seconds and the second less than two minutes later, but the Thunder worked their back into the contest from there, and then on top.

It did take until the 19-minute mark of the first term for Peel to kick its first goal but it came from Byron Finch. Then heading into quarter-time goals from Josh Draper and Reece Torrent saw the Thunder take a 10-point lead into the opening break.

The Thunder kept that momentum rolling in the second term and midway through three goals in less than five minutes blew the Grand Final wide open. 

Goals to Torrent, Corey Tregenza and Mitchell Edwards saw Peel suddenly open up a 31-point advantage but West Perth did get one back just before half-time through Eli Alexander to cut the Thunder advantage to 24 points.

Things tightened up significantly throughout the third quarter and there was just the one goal kicked despite West Perth peppering the goals. 

Eventually the Falcons did get one through Byron Sherwood at the 18-minute mark and that kept them within striking distance down just 15 points by three quarter-time.

Peel then opened up the fourth quarter with a goal to Taj Wyburd to take them out to a 21-point lead, and it appeared a match-winning advantage but with it being their only goal of the second half, the Falcons kept coming.

Farrow added his third and fourth goals of the game, and Luke Michael chipped in with another, and West Perth weren’t going to give up the ghost.

Eventually Sherwood did well to create a high tackle free-kick in front of goal and went back to kick truly. All of a sudden the margin was just two points but the siren went just seconds later and Peel held on for the drought breaking third colts premiership of the club's existence.

WAFL COLTS GRAND FINAL 2022

PEEL THUNDER            3.4    6.8    6.10    7.15 (57)
WEST PERTH            2.0    3.2    4.7    8.7 (55)

PEEL THUNDER: Goals – Torrent 2; Draper, Edwards, Finch, Tregenza, Wyburd.
Best – Broadbent, Torrent, Tuia, Rush, Donaghy, Hall, Sellwood, Wyburd.
WEST PERTH: Goals – Farrow 4; Sherwood 2; Alexander, Michael.
Best – Sherwood, Bevan, Julian, Farrow, Gathercole, Garraway, Michael, Lonnie.

Mel Whinnen Medal: Jackson Broadbent (Peel Thunder)