Weekend Footy Wrap

WAFL 

PEEL 7.17 (59) lost to SWAN DISTRICTS 10.7 (67)

It doesn’t happen very often when you dominate the game in all aspects and lose. But that is what happened last weekend against Swans.

We had substantially more inside 50s (58/37), more uncontested and contested possessions, more marks, won the clearance battle and broke about square in ground balls. In the last three-quarters we kept SD to 21-inside 50s to our 47. So we are really pleased with the effort of our lads.

What we did not do well was our connection to our forwards, especially in the last quarter where we had 18-inside 50’s for zero-marks and 0.5-score. We panicked a bit through score board pressure and just belted it in rather than using the ball better to find a mark inside 50.

We also let SD score 5.1 from freekicks inside their F50 which was disappointing.

And finally shots on goal, or more to the point missed shots on goal which are extremely gettable and then had a draining effect on the team.

We still were pleased with many players including Randall, Valente, Meek, Pearce, Traye Bennell and Walker.

And it was a great day in celebrating Ben Howlett’s 100^th game for Peel Thunder in the WAFL on top of his 124 for Essendon in the AFL. A rare feat indeed, one of only 21 ever in the world. WELL DONE BENNY.

We now look forward to playing Claremont this weekend and although it has been well documented that we will be missing a few with FFC injuries as well as Ben Howlett missing again through injury we expect our lads to show the fight that we have for the majority of the year.

GO THUNDER!

COLTS

Primetime colts football took the stage at David Grays Arena on Saturday night when Peel Thunder took on ladder leaders, Swan Districts.

Coming off a three-game winning streak, Swans would prove a formidable opponent for the Thunder who came off their most polished win of the season against Subiaco.

The contest began in crisp conditions with Swans taking the early ascendency, but true to the previous weeks form the Thunder steadied to only find themselves down by a goal at quarter time.

Accurate goal kicking was on the menu in the second term with Swans putting five straight on the board. In response Peel could only muster a poultry 1.2 to find themselves down by 28-points at the main break.

The challenge against a polished outfit would prove too much for the Thunder with the opposition using their run and carry game to perfection, accumulating more than 80-possessions than Peel for the game. Giving a first-class lesson on work rate and quality ball use.

Swans accurate goal kicking on the night played a big part in their 15.6 to 4.9 victory, but it was ultimately Peel’s inability to be up for the contest with only nine players getting double digit touches seeing them go down by 63-points.

It was hard to find players who won their position, but these were a few that stood out at various stages:

1. Brady Hough – the young man from the south west is building himself a consistent season and 24-possessions with four inside 50’s added another stellar game to the resume. While he didn’t hit the scoreboard this week his decision making with ball in hand is always a class above most.
2. Scott Tuia – was courageous in the clinches and serves as a good example for team mates to follow. Nineteen possessions and seven tackles showed Scott’s ability to work both ways on a day where most struggled to match Swan’s work rate.
3. Luke Polson – eighteen possessions and a goal from a player that manages to find the ball with regularity. Still unsure of where his best position is but is having an impact on the game most weeks.
4. Dominic Dravitzki – On what was a tough night for defenders, Dom sets the standard for winning one on one contests and broke even on most occasions when the contest came his way.
5. Cooper Osbourne – seems to have found his niche as a forward with his leading patterns and constant activity at forward 50 contests. Only a return of 0.2 this week but still hitting the scoreboard for what at times is a lot of traffic inside forward 50. Will break out and kick a bag in the coming weeks.

The loss drops the Thunder to 2-5 and the challenges keep coming when the boys look for their third away win for the season, against third placed Claremont up at Revo Fitness Stadium.

WAFLW 

Round 14 saw the WAFLW game against the undefeated ladder leaders Swan Districts played in front of the men in the lead up to Ben Howlett’s 100^th game.  Whilst we hadn’t beaten Swans this year we had been very competitive and knew we had the capability to challenge and with securing a top two spot on the line it was all to play for.  From the opening bounce the girls set the standard with their pressure on the ball carrier and attack on the footy to open with a three goal to one first quarter.  The second quarter saw Swans dominate inside 50’s but our defence stood firm and on the back of that we were able to gain field position and kick a goal against the run of play to go into half time with a handy seven-point lead.  A reset at half time and focus on raising the pressure on Swans had the desired effect with the girls kicking two more goals and keeping Swans scoreless.  The last quarter saw the ball rebound between both half back lines with neither side able to score another major.  We kept Swans to one-point for the whole second half, secured second spot and a double chance in the finals with a week to go in the home and away season.  Final score was Peel 6.3 (39) to Swans 2.6 (18).  Best Players were Kaitlyn Hayes, Cassie Davidson, Sabreena Duffy, Ebony Bilcich and Tanisha Anderson.  Goal kickers were Kate Bartlett with two, Hayes, Kira Phillips, Ella Roberts and Aisha Wright with one.  

The Reserves travelled to Bassendean on Sunday to take on Swans looking for a win to secure second spot in their last home and away game.  The game was a tight contest all day but with Greta McKinley and Hannah Church playing pivotal roles in the midfield and Krystal Carter kicking two late goals the victory was secured along with a well-earned second spot.  Final score was Peel 5.5 (35) to Swans 3.8 (26).  Best players were Church, McKinley, Carter, Ariana Hetherington and Kayla Bradshaw.  Goal Kickers were Carter with two, McKinley, Bailey Molloy and Ebonee Hardie with one.

The Rogers Cup team also played Swans at Bassendean on Sunday morning and dominated all game  Although wasteful in front of goals, 22-scoring shots in female football is massive with the final score Peel 4.18 (42) to Swans 2.1 (13).  Depending on results this week the Rogers team will likely finish third on the table.  Best players were Billie-Jae Thompson, Jorja Haines, Olivia Waldeck, Anke Grove and Megan Bain.  Goal scorers were Shareckah Jones and Jordain Thompson with two each.

This week the WAFLW girls take on Claremont at 12pm Sunday at Revo Fitness Stadium while both the Reserves and Rogers teams have a bye before the finals.  

I’m super proud of all the players and staff, to be the only club to have all three grades playing finals football is an outstanding achievement.

Go Thunder!