Thunder in raptures after big win

BENDIGO Bank Stadium has hosted its second quality WAFL match in a fortnight, with Peel prevailing over East Perth by 22 points in a fiery encounter.

The Thunder, rebounding after last week’s heart-breaking four-point loss to West Perth, came back from a 22-point deficit at quarter time to record a 17.12 (114) to 13.14 (92) win.

The win was made even more meritorious given the absence of Ed Langdon, who went down with injury before half time.

The Royals burst out of the blocks early, booting five goals to two on the back of dominance around the stoppages and some undisciplined play from the Thunder; however inaccurate kicking kept Peel in the game.

Following a directive from the coaches to look for the switch and win the contested ball, the Thunder responded with a resounding six-goal second quarter to take a two-point lead into the long break.

The likes of Matt DeBoer (33 touches, 7 tackles), Jacob Ballard (24 touches, one goal) and Connor Blakely (24 disposals) began to feed off the ruck dominance of Zac Clarke and Jonathan Griffin, and quick centre clearances became the norm.

Griffin and Clarke’s influence at stoppages was telling, combining for 58 hitouts while moving well around the ground.

But as the Thunder began to establish dominance, the Royals clawed their way back into the contest in the third term; booting three goals in time on to snatch back the lead.

Down by six points at the final change, Peel slammed on seven goals to two in the last quarter, highlighted by long-range efforts from Craig Moller (three goals) and Clarke (two goals, 34 hit outs).

Gerald Ugle’s switch into the forward line sparked the Thunder into action early and in combination with Leroy Jetta the pair booted six goals between them for the day, while setting up a number of others.

Jetta’s magical qualities were on show all day as he booted four goals for the second week in a row, with his fourth from 50m sealing the game for the Thunder.

Coach Cam Shepherd praised the resilience of the players, and he said the response after quarter time was fantastic.

“It’s a measure of our resilience that we were four goals down and didn’t panic, we found a way back into the contest, and although we got ahead and relinquished a lead, we still finished off strongly,” Shepherd said.

“That effort is what you need to give in order to be a good side.”

Despite being ahead in the contested ball at quarter time,
Shepherd said the comeback was due to the improved disposal efficiency, and the defenders began to spread.

“The players recognised that they needed to do what was necessary, and they made changes which got us back into the game,” he said.

Having booted back-to-back scores of over 100, Peel’s forward line has become a real weapon, something Shepherd attributed to swift ball movement and having the ‘right balance’.

“When we get the ball moving forward quickly, the talls can take big grabs and our smalls and get around the contest on the ground,” Shepherd said.

“The balance is right, but it only works if the ball comes in the right fashion, and I felt after quarter time we moved the ball with great efficiency.”

The win propels Peel to third ahead of its bye next week, with one win and percentage separating second and eighth.