Thunder All-Stars on show with the states elite

With the NAB AFL U18 National Championships cancelled for the 2020 season due to COVID-19, two NAB AFL U18s All Stars Exhibition games were held over the past two weekends at Leederville Oval. 

Over 50 of the state’s highest rated talents were divided into two squads, WA Gold and WA Black to help showcase themselves for recruiters one last time before this year’s National Draft.

Three Peel Thunder players (Isiah Winder, David Yaccob and Tyler Nesbitt) were part of the squad, all donning the gold uniforms.

 The WA Black side dominated Game 1, leading from pillar to post on their way to a 55-point 13.15 (93) to 6.2 (38) victory. 

The Gold team rebounded in Game 2, with a 55-point win of their own 18.5 (113) to 8.10 (58).

Read on to find out each of our boys went over the two games.

Isiah Winder | #7

20 Disposals with 4 clearances and 3 inside 50’s in Game 1, 15 disposals, 3 inside 50’s and a goal in Game 2. The Thunder speedster who recorded the fastest 20m sprint with a time of 2.873 seconds at the recent WA Draft Combine, continued to showcase his dominance at an U18 level that saw him average 27.8 disposals per game in his 5 Colts games in 2020. His ball use, decision making and ability to win the ball on both the inside and outside was on display throughout. Played 3 League Games for the year in a running half-back role.

David Yaccob | #5

A rebounding left footed defender whose impeccable year at Colts level averaging 20.3 disposals and resulted in him taking out the Dave Cameron Medal the night before Game 1, played his usual run and carry game off half back. Amassing 16 disposals with 7 handball receives in Game 1 and 18 disposals with 9 handball receives in Game 2, while using the ball efficiently setting up attacks out of the back half.

Tyler Nesbitt | #14

Featured in Game 1, picked up 11 disposals and 3 marks across the half back line and used the ball well out of defence. After playing forward at Colts in 2019, Nesbitt played almost exclusively in defence in 2020, with intercept marking, spoiling and hitting targets with his raking left foot all a feature.

Luke Polson

Part of the squad but didn’t play in either of the 2 games due to injury, is another versatile player that was used all over the field in 2020 averaging 14.5 disposals and 4 marks a game.