Peel dust off the cobwebs for 2015

ALTHOUGH Peel’s opening encounter of 2015 ended in defeat, Peel coach Cam Shepherd is upbeat with the young talent in the Thunder side.

The Thunder went down to Swan Districts by 23 points at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday in the club’s first pre-season hit out of the year, but Shepherd said there were still positives to be drawn from the game.

“We thought that a lot of our ball movement from the back half through the middle was really slick, and we were really pleased with that, and it just fell down in delivery to our forwards so there’s a bit of work to be done there.”

The game was delayed for 10 minutes after Peel Reserves player Jackson O’Malley was hurt in a marking contest and required an ambulance; however he is reportedly out of hospital and the prognosis is quite positive.

The pre-season fixture also allowed the Thunder to get a first look at Fremantle recruits Connor Blakely and Lachie Weller, who both shone in their first outings for the club.

Playing against his old WAFL club, Blakely amassed 26 disposals and 10 clearances, while Weller showed the talent that saw him drafted at 13 with 25 touches.

But Shepherd also heaped praise on young backman Mitch Gill, who is in his first year for the club.

“Gill showed a lot in the back half, he was very solid, and we were quite pleased with a lot of our players having a taste of senior footy, and even though it’s a scratch match, we gain a bit of confidence that we can play some good football,” he said.

The issue of injuries during the pre-season has been a huge talking point in the AFL, and Shepherd said while his players suffered no real injuries during the game, his opinion on the matter is quite simple.

“Where I sit with it is we expect our players to play 120 minutes come the first round of the year, and they need to be prepared for that, and preparing them is done through practice matches,” Shepherd said.

“Although no one likes seeing injuries, there is no other way to prepare them for the upcoming season.”

The Thunder will play Claremont in a scratch match at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Saturday, followed by the club’s Season Launch.

Entry to the game is free, while tickets to the Launch – which includes a two-course meal – are $50.