Thank You Wilo

Proud Peel Thunder individual and 2024 Premiership Player, Nathan Wilson has announced he will be hanging up the boots after a long and highly successful AFL and WAFL Career, spanning 208 games across the GWS Giants, Fremantle Football Club and Peel Thunder Football Club.

Nathan started his footballing journey at Mandurah Mustangs, before going through the Peel Thunder Talent Programs and then being pre-drafted to GWS Giants as a 17-year-old. Dash of the half back, silky skills and the ability to turn defence into attack, Nathan was one of the AFL’s most dangerous half-backs over a 12-year AFL career.

In 2024, Nathan returned home to Peel Thunder, swung himself forward and utilised his elite foot skills to become the competition’s most efficient goals scorer, finishing the season with 34 goals as the Club Leading Goal Kicker.

Shots from outside 50, from the boundary, a snap from a contest, Nathan had an eye for goal and didn’t need much time or space to turn an opportunity into a goal. When he did score a goal, the celebration and passion matched the quality of the goal, typically making sure the opposition knew about it and creating energy with his teammates.

Reflecting on his career and time at Peel Thunder, Nathan said, “It’s been a great one, to play over 150 AFL games is a dream come true and I’m thankful to every Club that has been involved with myself and family. Obviously, it means a lot to play at Peel Thunder, I have been here since I was in the Development Squads at 14/15’s. Then to come back after my AFL career and to win a Premiership, it means a lot and I’m thankful to the Club.”

Speaking about some career highlights, outside winning the Premiership this season, Nathan said, “playing in the 2016/2017 AFL Finals Series is a moment I’ll never forget. To play Prelims in those years in front of 100,000 people, and then to come back to Fremantle and play in front of family and friends.”

A final thank you to some key people, Nathan thanked his family and the Peel Thunder Family, “Thank you to my partner and kids, I love them to bits, also my family, mum, step dad and sisters. Thanks to everyone involved at Peel this year on a great year and to bring home the Premiership Cup.”

Club CEO, Paul Lekias, thanked Nathan for his contribution to Peel Thunder. “Nathan has obviously forged a sensational career across both the AFL and then at a WAFL level, and for us as a Club to have his leadership and experience to help develop our young group has been invaluable.  He will forever be a Premiership player at Peel Thunder and finishes his career as one of the great products to have come from our Club.”

Nathan retires as a heart and soul Peel Thunder individual who gave back to his community and finished from where it all started for him.

FOOTBALL JOURNEY - GAMES

• Mandurah Mustangs (Juniors)
• Peel Thunder Talent Program
• GWS Giants – 77 Games
• Fremantle – 74 Games
• Peel Thunder – 57 Games

PERSONAL ACCOLADES

• Inaugural GWS Giants Player, drafted as a 17-year old
• 2024 WAFL Premiership Player
• 2024 Club Leading Goal Kicker
• 2024 Leadership Group Member
• WAFL 200-Club Member
• 50 WAFL Games for Peel Thunder
• 150 AFL Games for GWS Giants / Fremantle Football Club