Spirited Peel fight back against Claremont

Peel Thunder overcame a 25-point deficit to beat Claremont by 35 points in round 18.

 

Claremont were fast out of the traps in what was a critical game for their finals chances. They came to Lane Group Stadium in sixth place, sitting just outside of the top five on percentage.

 

A beautiful snap from 40 metres by Jack Musika set the tone for the visitors.

 

Peel responded quickly when Will Brodie (31 disposals, four tackles, one goal) expertly soccered the ball through from close range.

 

However, Claremont quickly regained ascendency, with slick ball movement and high intensity. They kicked three goals in a row, giving them a commanding 20-point lead.

 

The Thunder struggled to string possessions together in what was a scrappy opening quarter. Their inability to hit targets in the forward line was a common theme.

 

Nevertheless, a late goal from Sebit Kuek (13 disposals, 2 goals) settled their nerves and kept them within touching distance going into the first break.

 

Peel’s woes continued in the opening minutes of the second quarter as they gifted Claremont two cheap goals in one play. They were punished for a lack of discipline, getting caught holding the ball deep in their own defensive 50.  Claremont’s Zac Mainwaring stepped up and converted the goal, before Peel subsequently gave away another free kick in the aftermath. Claremont booted through their second goal in as many minutes, increasing their lead to 25 points.

 

But Peel responded in spectacular fashion taking the game by the scruff of the neck.  Their midfield, led by Will Brodie (38 disposals, one goal, five tackles), Matthew Johnson (24 disposals, five tackles), and Nathan O’Driscoll (23 disposals, one goal, four tackles) asserted their dominance with powerful driving runs and clever short kicks up the field.

The Thunder overwhelmed Claremont with territorial dominance, and made the pressure count on the scoreboard, kicking five unanswered goals.

 

Two goals from Scott Tuia (22 disposals, four goals), and one from Matt Taberner, Nathan Wilson, and Nathan O’Driscoll, gave Peel their first lead of the game going into half time.

 

They started the third quarter in similar fashion with high intensity, looking to consolidate their lead. Blair Bell (20 disposals) made a crunching tackle in the centre of the field, forcing a turnover from Claremont, before quickly finding Taberner (12 disposals, three goals) inside 50, who went back and slotted through with ease.

 

A few minutes later, O’Driscoll made a brilliant smother, before linking up with Kuek, who then kicked to Taberner, who marked 30 metres out, directly in front. Taberner made no mistake, kicking back-to-back goals, and making it seven in a row without reply.

 

Claremont finally ended their scoring drought with a swift counterattack against the run of play, but a snap from Odin Jones (13 disposals, two goals) put Peel firmly in control going into the last break, up by 26 points.

 

The teams traded goals at the start of the fourth quarter, but Claremont ran out of steam. Peel found the spaces with short kicks and handballs and were clinical in front of goal. They kicked three in a row to close out the game emphatically.

 

Claremont kicked a pair of late consolation goals, but it was ultimately too little too late.

 

Wilson rounded off the victory for the Thunder with the last goal of the match. The win sees them remain top of the ladder with finals around the corner in a months time. It’s also their seventh win at home this season out of eight games.

 

Fremantle player Hugh Davies said the team enjoys the energy of the Mandurah crowd.

“It’s becoming a bit of a fortress. When we kick a goal or take a big mark or something you can really hear. I mean, it’s electric,” he said.

 

Peel faces a tough run of fixtures in the last three games of the regular season, playing South Fremantle, Swan Districts, and East Perth, who are all in finals contention.

 

Peel’s young gun defender, Joel Brown, who played his fifth league game, said they are up for the challenge.

 

“We’ll do the simple things. Prepare well, recover well, get to training, put the effort in, and the result will sort itself out on gameday.”

 

PEEL THUNDER: 2.3 7.4 11.9 17.10 (112)

CLAREMONT: 4.5 6.7 7.8 11.11 (77)

 

GOALS

 

PEEL THUNDER

5 S Tuia 3 M Taberner 2 N Wilson, S Kuek, O Jones 1 L Colton, W Brodie, P Voss, N O’Driscoll

 

CLAREMONT

3 A Manuel 2 T Delacey, J Musika 1 J Bolton, C England, A Davis, Z Mainwaring

 

By Ezra Kaye, Curtin University