Peel prevails for Premiership glory

Peel Thunder have won the 2024 WAFL Premiership, defeating East Perth by 33 points in the Grand Final.

 

The Thunder have completed their redemption after falling to East Fremantle in last year’s premiership decider.

 

Midfield star Neil Erasmus was awarded the Simpson Medal after a dazzling performance which saw him obtain 26 disposals, 2 goals, 11 tackles, and six clearances.

 

It was a cagey opening to the game on a picturesque sunny afternoon at Optus Stadium. Neither side managed to find their rhythm as the game was disrupted by stoppages.

 

East Perth eventually drew first blood in the sixth minute when Sam Van Diemen received a quick handpass and snapped through from 30 metres.

 

Peel responded four minutes later when Matt Taberner capitalised on a turnover from East Perth and beautifully snapped through from the boundary off his weaker foot.

 

The goal lifted the Thunder, and they began to dominate territory and lock the footy in East Perth’s half.

 

But they failed to convert their chances in front of goal and were made to pay when East Perth swiftly transitioned down the other end and found Hamish Brayshaw. The Sandover medallist kicked through from 40 metres, retaking the lead for his side.

 

The siren sounded to end the first quarter, with the Royals narrowly up by five points.

 

Peel turned it on in the second quarter and overwhelmed the Royals with high pressure and dominance in clearances.

 

Neil Erasmus converted a 50-metre penalty to retake the lead for Peel three minutes into the term.

 

Moments later, Blaire Bell (two goals, 14 disposals, 10 tackles) broke through a pack in the forward pocket and had a clear run at goal. The Thunder veteran slammed it through and pumped the air in celebration.

 

Fremantle pair Nathan O’Driscoll (29 disposals, one goal, six tackles) and Erasmus were involved all over the field and powered Peel through the corridor with quick handballs and driving runs.

 

Erasmus was rewarded for his efforts with a set shot from 30 metres which he converted with precision. The goal was Peels third in succession, giving them a 15-point buffer.

 

East Perth finally hit the scoreboard for the first time in the quarter when James Sturrock snapped through against the run of play.

 

East Perth were fortunate to find themselves only trailing by nine points when the siren sounded for half time.

 

Peel got off to the perfect start in the premiership quarter when Taberner skipped around a tackle and sent a looping kick inside fifty. Pat Voss (two goals, 11 disposals) lost his man with a swift lead and pulled in the footy 45 metres from goal. The Fremantle man went back and arrowed it through two minutes in.

 

East Perth responded with a goal from Van Diemen who punished Peel for a high tackle in their forward 50.

 

The Royals followed it up with another quick goal from Harrison Macreadie who converted a set shot from 30 metres, cutting Peel’s lead to three points.

 

But the Thunder hit back in lightning quick fashion.

 

Nathan Wilson swept up a loose ball in the goal square, sidestepped a challenge, and kicked through from less than a metre out.

 

Cooper Simpson made a powerful run through the midfield and found Erasmus on the run with a sharp handball. Erasmus drove inside fifty before returning the ball to Simpson with a clever kick. Simpson went back and kicked the goal, extending Peel’s lead to 16 points.

 

O’Driscoll kicked the goal of the game when he nailed a set shot from 50 metres out on the boundary line, evoking a huge roar from the crowd.

 

Peel continued to pile on the pressure with high energy around the footy, forcing turnovers from the Royals high up the field.

 

Their intensity proved too much to handle. Erasmus intercepted a loose kick from East Perth and found Scott Tuia directly in front, who added another goal to Peel’s tally.

 

Peel kicked their fifth unanswered goal when Corey Tragenza swept the footy off the deck, twisted, turned, and snapped through a beautiful goal on the run.

 

A late reply from East Perth on the siren kept their premiership hopes alive in what was a dominant quarter for the Thunder.

 

The start of the fourth term was a tense affair. Ten minutes in, neither side had managed to kick a major score, as Peel were content in focusing on defence to shut out the game.

 

Thomas Medhat eventually broke the deadlock for East Perth and cut the lead to 18 with a neat finish, energising the Royals.

 

Macreadie had two bites of the cherry from a similar position 30 metres out, slightly to the right of goal. He converted on the second attempt, peaking the anxiety of the Peel supporters.

 

But the Royals faded in the closing minutes as their energy reserves dried up.

 

The Thunder steamrolled over the top, closing out the game in emphatic fashion with four goals in six minutes from Voss, Simpson, Wilson, and Bell.

 

It could potentially be a fairytale ending for Bell, closing out the Grand Final in style with the last goal of the game which he booted through from point blank range.

 

It remains to be seen whether he will close the curtains on his illustrious career, which has now seen him win three WAFL Premierships and kick 145 goals.

 

Speaking after the game, Bell said he was over the moon and proud of the entire club.

 

“We never really doubted ourselves any time during the year. Even when we did lose to the Swans. We knew we still had the fight in us, I’m just so proud of the boys,” he said.

 

After another scintillating performance, O’Driscoll was thrilled with the result.

“As you can see, behind us in the rooms it’s going crazy at the moment, the emotions are really high. We had to bounce back from last year’s loss. I’m so proud of the boys, it’s unreal,” he said.

 

It was a rollercoaster finals run for the Thunder, who had to get it done the hard way after losing top spot to East Perth in the last game of the regular season and then falling to the Swan Districts in the qualifying final. A last gasp winner from Bell brought them back from the brink of elimination by Claremont in the semi-final.

 

Simpson medallist Erasmus reflected on the journey after the game.

“Halfway through the Claremont game things were on the ropes, but then Blair Bell got us through, and we have rallied since then and it’s been a great finals campaign. We probably just started playing our best footy priming at the right time which is nice,” he said.

 

The 2024 Premiership is Peel’s third flag since joining the WAFL in 1997.

 

Peel Thunder: 1.3 4.7 10.8 14.8 (92)

East Perth: 2.2 3.4 6.6 8.11 (59)

 

Goals:

Peel Thunder: 2 B Bell, N Erasmus, C Simpson, P Voss, N Wilson, 1 N O’Driscoll, M Taberner, C Tregenza, S Tuia

 

East Perth: 3 S Van Diemen, 2 H Macreadie, 1 H Brayshaw, T Medhat, J Sturrock

 

By Ezra Kaye, Curtin University